Practice 3 · Setup
Create and structure your company in Dubai, with the right licence.
Free zone or mainland, structure and licence: we frame your setup from A to Z. The goal: a properly built, operational company, with no costly first-step mistake to fix.
Who it is for
Does this sound like you?
Three questions always come up: is it feasible? how much does it cost? what are the risks?
French entrepreneur, corporate tax
- You run a company subject to corporate tax in France.
- You generate recurring revenue.
- You are considering relocating all or part of the activity.
Executive testing feasibility
- You want to know whether your model holds in Dubai.
- You are after an honest costing, not a sales pitch.
- You want to measure the risks before committing.
Founder in growth mode
- You are preparing an international setup.
- You need company, residency and visa to align.
- You want a scalable structure, not a throwaway one.
The mission
What the mission covers
A clear framework from the choice of structure to the start-up. You know what you pay for and why.
What the mission covers
- Free zone vs mainland: analysis based on your activity, clients and constraints.
- Structure and licence choice: entity type, authorised activities, scope.
- Company incorporation: file, registration, statutory documents.
- Investor or partner visa: sponsorship, Emirates ID, extension to the household if needed.
- Support for bank account opening: file preparation, subject to the bank's decision.
- Business start-up: first operational and administrative steps.
Process & duration
How the setup unfolds
A sequenced mission, whose timelines vary depending on jurisdiction, licence and banking file.
- 01
Diagnosis
We start from your real activity: clients, flows, constraints, goals. We validate feasibility before any structure.
- 02
Structure choice
Free zone or mainland, licence and entity type: we formalise the most consistent choice and its cost.
- 03
Incorporation
We drive registration and statutory documents with our selected partners.
- 04
Visa & Emirates ID
We launch the investor or partner visa, then the Emirates ID and, if needed, household sponsorship.
- 05
Bank account & start-up
We prepare the banking file and trigger the first operational steps.
- 06
Follow-up
We stay present after setup: renewals, deadlines, next decisions.
What you get
By the end of the mission
- A reasoned, costed free zone / mainland choice.
- A registered company with the licence suited to your activity.
- An investor or partner visa under way and an Emirates ID in progress.
- A banking file prepared and presented (decision up to the bank).
- An activity ready to start, with the first steps launched.
- A single point of contact for renewals and follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
Free zone or mainland: which to choose?
It depends on your activity, your clients and your intended physical presence. A free zone often suits international or service activities; the mainland opens the local market and certain public contracts. We decide after the diagnosis, based on your real case rather than a general rule.
How much does setting up a company cost?
The cost depends on the jurisdiction, licence type, number of visas and options. We produce a detailed costing during framing rather than quoting a generic price.
Do I need substance and genuine residency?
Substance and residency are central: a company must have economic reality and you must secure your residency situation. We provide guidance, but tax and legal validation is the responsibility of a qualified professional in each jurisdiction.
Is opening a bank account guaranteed?
No. We prepare and present a solid file, but the decision belongs to the bank and depends on your profile, the activity and the compliance file. We tell you frankly where the points of caution are.
Do I need to come to Dubai in person?
Part of the work is done remotely over video. Some steps — Emirates ID, biometrics, account opening, signatures — require being on site. We plan those trips to group them as much as possible.
What about leaving France?
Relocating a corporate-tax activity raises exit-tax and residency questions. These are handled upfront, with a legal or tax professional. We identify and coordinate them, without substituting for such advice.
A project to scope?
Book a 30-minute call. We review your situation together, with no commitment.