Business Setup in Dubai, Handled by One Specialist
Free zone, mainland or offshore — our consultants match you to the right licence, then handle your visas, Emirates ID and corporate bank account. Every cost is itemised before you commit.
HOW IT WORKS
Setting up a business in Dubai comes down to three decisions made in the right order: the legal structure, the jurisdiction and the licence activity. Get one wrong and you can end up with a licence that cannot invoice UAE clients, a visa quota that is too small, or a bank that declines your account. goCorp’s business setup consultants in Dubai make those decisions with you, then run the licence, visa and banking steps in parallel. You work with one named specialist from the first call to your first invoice. After launch, the same team keeps your renewals, tax filings and PRO work on schedule.
Business setup support for every stage of your company
I'm setting up in Dubai for the first time
New to the UAE or expanding into it. We handle your licence, visas, and business bank account — from first call to fully operational.
- Mainland, Free Zone & Offshore
- Visa processing for you & your team
- Bank account opening support
I'm already trading and need back-office support
You're live in the UAE. Now you need accounting, PRO services, payroll, and compliance handled so you can focus on growth.
- Monthly accounting & reporting
- PRO & government liaison
- Payroll & HR admin
I need tax & compliance sorted out
Corporate tax and VAT without the anxiety. We register you, file on time and keep your records ready for the FTA — every year.
- Corporate Tax & VAT registration
- Beneficial owner (UBO) register
- FTA audit support
From first call to trading: how setup works
Most consultants sequence every step. We run them in parallel where the authorities allow. Each authority and bank sets its own timing, which depends on your jurisdiction, activity and how quickly documents are ready.
Your quote gives the current timing for your jurisdiction and activity, stage by stage.
Start your setupYour trade licence
The first milestone — timing set by the licensing authorityActivity, trade name and initial approval, then the licence itself. Free zone licences are usually quicker than mainland ones, which need an office and sometimes extra approvals.
Residence visa and Emirates ID
Starts once the licence is issuedEstablishment card, entry permit, medical, biometrics, insurance and labour registrations. A short visit to the UAE is needed for the medical test and biometrics.
Corporate tax registration
Runs in parallel with the visasEvery UAE company registers with the Federal Tax Authority, even if it expects to pay no tax. We prepare it alongside the visa process.
Corporate bank account
Set by the bank’s own reviewKYC, source of funds and board resolutions prepared before submission; we start the file while the licence is processing. Approval is always the bank’s decision.
Business setup services in Dubai, under one roof
Company formation
Free zone, mainland and offshore companies, from activity selection to licence. Compare free zone company formation, mainland company formation and offshore companies.
Explore Company formationCorporate bank accounts
We prepare your KYC file and introduce you to banks that accept your profile. Business bank account opening
Explore Corporate bank accountsAccounting, VAT and corporate tax
Monthly books, VAT returns and your annual corporate tax return, on one calendar. Accounting and bookkeeping services
Explore Accounting, VAT and corporate taxVisas and PRO services
Investor and employee visas, Emirates ID and every government transaction. PRO services in Dubai
Explore Visas and PRO servicesTrade licence renewals
Mainland and free zone trade licences renewed before they lapse, by the team that set up your company. Trade licence renewal in Dubai
Explore Trade licence renewalsExpansion and restructuring
New activities, branches, shareholder changes and relocations between jurisdictions.
Explore Expansion and restructuringFree zone, mainland or offshore?
Most founders choose between three structures. The right one depends on where your customers are, how many visas you need and whether you need an office.
Compare company structuresFree zone guides
| Free zone | Mainland (DET) | Offshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | International trade, services, e-commerce | Selling to UAE customers, shops, government contracts | Holding assets and shares |
| Ownership | 100% foreign | Up to 100% foreign for most activities | 100% foreign |
| Trade inside the UAE | Through a distributor or with mainland approval | Anywhere in the UAE | Not permitted |
| Residence visas | Yes, by package | Yes, by office size | Generally no |
| Office | Flexi-desk options | Physical office with Ejari | Registered agent address |
Why founders choose goCorp as their setup consultant
Most formation companies hand you off after setup. At goCorp, the advisor who sets up your company handles your renewals, filings, and compliance — every year.
No handover. Ever.
The same specialist who sets you up handles your renewal a year later. No re-explaining. No dropped context.
Parallel, not sequential.
We submit visa, banking, and compliance applications at the same time — not one after the other. That is why we are faster.
Costs shown upfront.
Every government fee, service charge, and disbursement is listed in your quote. No surprise invoices.
Compliance built in.
Corporate tax, VAT and your beneficial owner register. We register you, file on time and keep the paperwork ready for inspection.
What founders say about setting up with goCorp
"goCorp got our DMCC licence and three visas done while we were still in London. By the time we landed in Dubai, we were operational."
"Most agents gave us a 6-week timeline. goCorp did it in 11 days — licence, visa, and Emirates ID. Everything was transparent from day one."
"The same person handled our setup and our VAT registration six months later. That kind of continuity is rare. We recommend goCorp to every founder we know."
Business setup in Dubai: questions founders ask first
No fluff, no spin. The most common questions — answered honestly.
Ask your own questionNo. Most free zones accept fully remote applications, and mainland documents can usually be signed through remote notarisation or a power of attorney. If you want a residence visa, you need one short visit for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics, which we schedule so you spend as few days in Dubai as possible. Some banks also ask to meet you in person.
Your total depends on the jurisdiction, your activity, the number of visas and your office. Free zone packages are usually the lowest-cost route; mainland setups usually cost more because they need a physical office and extra approvals. Each residence visa adds its own fees, including the medical test and Emirates ID. Try our business setup cost calculator, then we send an itemised quote before you commit.
The trade licence comes first: free zone licences are usually issued faster than mainland ones, which depend on more approvals. Becoming fully operational — residence visa, Emirates ID, corporate tax registration and bank account — takes longer, and the bank’s own review is usually the longest step. We run these steps in parallel wherever the authorities allow it, and your quote gives the current timing for each stage.
Choose a free zone if most of your clients are outside the UAE or in free zones and you want the lowest cost. Choose mainland if you need to sell directly to UAE customers, open a shop or bid for government work. Our free zone vs mainland guide compares both line by line.
Yes, for most activities. Free zone companies have always allowed full foreign ownership, and since 2021 foreign investors can also fully own most mainland companies. A short list of strategic and regulated activities, such as banking, insurance and telecoms, still carries restrictions.
Yes. The same specialist handles your licence renewal, visa renewals, VAT and corporate tax filings and PRO work, so nothing falls between providers. Ongoing support is optional and priced separately.
Dubai setup guides and cost breakdowns
Ready to start your Dubai company?
Tell us your activity and visa needs — we’ll send a costed plan within 24 hours.