HMB provides business setup, trade licensing, PRO services, visa processing, corporate banking assistance, accounting, VAT, corporate tax, AML compliance, and product registration services across the UAE.

Free Zones give you 100% foreign ownership, faster setup (3–7 days), lower costs (from AED 11,600), and tax benefits, but restrict direct trading with UAE local consumers. Mainland lets you trade anywhere in the UAE, bid on government contracts, and grow its visa quota with its office space, at about one visa per 9 square metres, but costs more (from AED 18,200, or AED 24,400 with one visa) and takes 7 to 12 working days. About 70% of our clients choose Free Zone for international or digital businesses; the other 30% choose Mainland for retail, restaurants, and local service businesses.

Mainland companies can operate within the UAE market subject to applicable regulations. Free zone companies operate under the rules of their respective free zone authorities. Offshore companies are generally used for international business, holding, and asset structuring, subject to applicable legal requirements.

Free-zone trade licenses start at AED 12,500 for a single-entrepreneur package in IFZA or Meydan (no visa). Adding visas brings the license into the AED 14,250–20,900 range depending on the zone and the number of dependants. Mainland licenses typically run AED 20,000–35,000 depending on activity. Residency, medical and Emirates ID add roughly AED 5,000–7,000 per applicant; corporate banking adds another AED 0–3,000 in setup fees. A written, itemised quote is sent within 24 hours of the brief.

Free Zone is best for 100% foreign ownership, international invoicing and lower running cost. It suits consultants, E-commerce, holding and SaaS Entrepreneurs who do not need to sell directly on the UAE Mainland. Mainland is required if you sell business-to-consumer in UAE shops or bid on local government work, and it allows unrestricted Dubai operations. Offshore (RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore) is for asset holding only, with no residency and no UAE banking at most banks. We review your activity, customer location and ownership structure on the first call before recommending a route.

Most free-zone licenses are issued in 3 to 5 working days once the brief is confirmed and KYC (identity checks) are complete. Residency adds 2 to 3 weeks (entry permit, medical fitness test, biometrics, Emirates ID). Corporate banking is the longest stage, typically 2 to 6 weeks at a UAE bank, and faster at digital banks. End to end, from brief to active bank account, is usually 4 to 8 weeks.

PRO services include assistance with government transactions, immigration and labour procedures, document clearance, attestations, approvals, and licence-related formalities.

Many UAE business activities allow 100% foreign ownership, subject to the applicable jurisdiction, activity, and regulatory requirements. HMB can help identify the suitable structure for your business.

Not directly. A free-zone company can sell internationally and inside its own zone freely, but to invoice UAE-mainland customers as the customer-of-record you either appoint a registered local distributor, hold a dual license, or open a Mainland branch. For business-to-business services delivered remotely, the restriction is much looser in practice. We raise the Mainland question at the jurisdiction step, so you do not Choose a zone that limits you later.

Yes. UAE Corporate Tax law requires every taxable person to keep audited-grade books and file an annual return, regardless of free-zone exemption status. Several Free Zones (DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, ADGM) require an annual audited financial statement to renew the license. FZM Solutions covers bookkeeping, VAT filings, Corporate Tax registration and audit coordination as an ongoing layer once the company is live.

UAE Corporate Tax (effective June 2023): 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, 9% above. "Qualifying Free Zone Persons" can keep 0% on qualifying income if the substance, audit and qualifying-activity tests are met. Most active free-zone companies fall outside that exemption and pay the 9% rate on the slice above AED 375,000. VAT: 5% from AED 375,000 in 12-month turnover (mandatory registration), with international and inter-zone supplies often zero-rated. We handle the corporate-tax registration, the qualifying-activity assessment and the VAT registration alongside the license.