🇦🇪 Business Structures in United Arab Emirates
Compare the available legal structures for company formation in United Arab Emirates. Each structure has different requirements, costs, and tax treatment.
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
مؤسسة منطقة حرة
Min. 1 shareholder
Varies by free zone — often AED 1,000 to AED 50,000; many zones no longer enforce a paid-up requirement
3–5 business days (some zones offer same-day approval)
Solo founders and single-owner businessesE-commerce, consulting, and tech companiesBusinesses that do not need to trade directly with the UAE mainland market
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Mainland Limited Liability Company (LLC)
شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة
Min. 1 shareholder
No statutory minimum for most activities (previously AED 300,000; requirement removed for most sectors)
5–7 business days
Businesses that need to sell goods or services directly to the UAE local marketGovernment contractors and companies bidding on public tendersRetail, hospitality, and real-estate-related businesses
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