01Free Zone vs Mainland: which is right for you?
Choosing a jurisdiction is the key decision when starting a business in the UAE. The country offers two primary business structures for foreign entrepreneurs, and the right choice depends on your target market, activities and long-term plans — there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the wrong choice early on can be expensive to correct.
Free Zone Company
- 100% foreign ownership — no local partner required
- 0% corporate tax on profits up to 375,000 AED
- 45+ free zones — we identify the best fit for your activity
- Fast online setup, remote in many zones
- No physical office required
- Ideal for international trade, IT and digital services, consulting
Mainland LLC
- Trade directly with the UAE local market and government
- Eligible to take part in tenders
- No restrictions on activity type or number of visas
- Physical office address required (Ejari)
- Certain activities may require a UAE national service agent
- Ideal for retail, construction, F&B, healthcare and other services
We work with clients across all 45+ UAE free zones and have established relationships with government departments for Mainland setups. After a brief consultation, we'll recommend the specific jurisdiction that minimises your costs and maximises flexibility.
02What's included in the setup
Our company formation service covers every document and interaction — you won't need to navigate a single government portal yourself.
- Consultation, jurisdiction and activity code selection
- Trade name reservation and approval
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (MoA / AoA) drafting and notarisation
- Trade licence application and issuance
- Establishment card (Immigration card) and company status
- Ministry of Labour / MOHRE company registration
- Ejari (office lease registration) if applicable
- Post-setup guidance: corporate bank account, VAT registration
03Annual support plans
After formation, every UAE company must renew its trade licence annually. Missed renewals result in fines and can affect employee visas. Our annual support plans handle renewals, compliance filings and ongoing government interactions.
Basic
- Trade licence renewal
- Establishment card renewal
- Founder visa renewal
- Registered address maintenance
- Basic compliance
Advanced
- Everything in Basic
- Bookkeeping
- VAT and corporate tax filing
- HR and payroll for up to 3 employees
- Priority support
04Crypto & blockchain companies
The UAE is one of the few jurisdictions globally with a clear regulatory framework for virtual asset businesses. VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) in Dubai and ADGM in Abu Dhabi both offer licensing pathways. We have experience structuring crypto exchanges, custody providers and Web3 projects.
- VARA / ADGM licensing guidance and application support
- Compliant corporate structure for token issuance
- Holding company and operating entity separation
- AML/KYC policy drafting for regulatory submission
05Holding structures & trademark registration
If you own multiple businesses or need to protect intellectual property, we design multi-entity holding structures optimised for the UAE's tax and corporate framework, including international asset structuring. We also handle trademark registration in the UAE, across the GCC and internationally to protect your brand.
- Holding company formation in ADGM, DIFC or free zones
- Subsidiary structuring for multiple operating businesses
- Family offices and investment holding companies
- UAE trademark search, filing and registration
- GCC-wide trademark protection coordination
- International trademark registration under the Madrid System
06Process overview
Consultation & jurisdiction selection
We assess your activities, target market and budget to identify the optimal structure. You receive a clear recommendation with reasoning.
Document collection
Passport copies, proof of address and activity descriptions. We provide a precise checklist — nothing more, nothing less.
Name reservation & licence application
We submit the trade name and licence application, handling any rejections or queries from the authority on your behalf.
Document issuance
Trade licence, MoA, establishment card and all supporting certificates delivered to you digitally, with physical copies where required.
Post-setup support
We assist with corporate bank account opening, VAT registration and your first employee visa — all from the same team.
Relocate Group is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority. Trade licences are issued by the relevant free zone or government authority.