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Insights

Plain answers for founders moving to the UAE.

What the official sources say about structures, costs, tax, visas and banking. Each article lists its sources and the date they were checked.

Choosing a structure29 September 2026 · 7 min read

Mainland, free zone or offshore: which UAE company structure fits your business?

The three structures differ in who registers the company and where it may trade. A mainland company, licensed by the emirate's economic department, can sell anywhere in the UAE and abroad. A free zone company is licensed by its free zone authority and needs a distributor, a branch or a permit to sell on the mainland. JAFZA gives an offshore company a certificate of incorporation, not a license. Free zone companies are taxable persons.

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Written for founders from the UK, the US and Europe. General information, not tax or legal advice for your circumstances.

Costs26 September 2026 · 5 min read

How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?

DET publishes no total for a Dubai company. Here are the official fees that are published, the four things they vary with and the price of every Links package.

Tax22 September 2026 · 5 min read

Are UAE free zone companies really tax free?

No. The 0% rate belongs to a Qualifying Free Zone Person and covers Qualifying Income only. Here is what the law and the decisions say.

Moving to the UAE18 September 2026 · 4 min read

Moving your business from the UK to Dubai: what changes and what does not?

A UAE visa does not by itself end UK tax residence, and a Dubai company can still be UK tax resident. What HMRC and the UAE authorities publish, in one place.

Moving to the UAE15 September 2026 · 4 min read

US citizens setting up a company in Dubai: what do you still owe the IRS?

The IRS taxes US citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. The exclusion figures for 2025 and 2026, the forms a Dubai company can trigger and what UAE banks report.

Visas11 September 2026 · 4 min read

UAE Golden Visa: is it 5 years or 10?

The UAE government portal says 5 years for property investors. ICP, GDRFA Dubai and Dubai Land Department say 10. Each source, side by side.

Banking8 September 2026 · 4 min read

How do you open a UAE corporate bank account, and what will the bank check?

UAE banks must identify the company, its owners and the purpose of the account before they open it. What the rules require, and how to prepare.

Choosing a structure4 September 2026 · 4 min read

Can a Dubai free zone company trade on the mainland?

Since 2025 a Dubai free zone company can work on the Dubai mainland with a DET license or permit. What the Resolution allows, what it costs and what is still open.

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