Company Formation in United Arab Emirates
One documented route of this kind in United Arab Emirates, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Investor / Partner Residence Visa via Company Formation (Mainland or Free Zone)
Owners and partners of a UAE company obtain residence on the basis of a valid trade licence and shareholding; available through mainland (DED) or free-zone setups, capital requirements varying by zone.
- Processing time
- Company setup plus visa processing, commonly a few weeks
- Validity
- Typically 2-3 years, renewable (zone-dependent)
- Language requirement
- No language certificate needed
- Permanent residence
- No formal PR; higher investment can qualify for the 5-year Green Visa or 10-year Golden Visa
Requirements
- Active, valid UAE trade licence (mainland DED or free-zone)
- Proof of shareholding / ownership (investor = sole owner; partner = shareholder)
- Memorandum of association where applicable
- Meet zone-specific capital requirement (varies; some zones require a paid-up amount, others none)
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID
Required Documents
- Valid passport required
- Valid trade licence required
- Memorandum of association / share certificate required
- Proof of shareholding / ownership required
- Medical fitness certificate and Emirates ID required
Process Steps
-
1
Form the company
Register a mainland (DED) or free-zone company and obtain the trade licence and establishment card.
-
2
Apply for investor/partner entry permit
Apply through the DED/ICP (mainland) or free-zone authority for the investor or partner entry permit.
-
3
Medical & Emirates ID
Complete medical fitness test and Emirates ID registration.
-
4
Residence visa issued
Receive the investor/partner residence visa; sponsor dependants if eligible.