The UAE is attractive because personal income tax is 0%, but the corporate side now has rules. Your provider must build substance you can run weekly: office, people, decision logs, and bankable cashflows.
Scoping the work
- Entity stack: Free-zone vs mainland; group chart that matches real economics.
- Licensing: Activity codes, ultimate beneficial owners, sector restrictions.
- Visas & HR: Golden Visa routes vs work permits, dependents, PRO services.
- Banking: Relationship mapping, SoF trail, trade lanes, and FX.
Due-diligence questions
- How many full-time compliance staff does the provider have?
- Which banks they’ve opened accounts with this year for your sector?
- Office options beyond flex-desk; who can testify to control and presence?
- Transfer pricing awareness when intercompany fees start.
Delivery pattern
- Design session → substance checklist (headcount, premises, governance).
- Company setup → license → lease → payroll → visa.
- Bank onboarding → staged limits → reporting cadence.
Red flags
“Pay a fee, get everything in 10 days.” No. Budget 2–8 weeks and several iterations.
Pricing
Fixed for setup; monthly for corporate secretarial, HR, and address. Ask for an annual governance calendar.
CTA
Choose providers willing to co-sign your operating facts memo; they’ll be accountable for what they build.
Editor’s note: In Dubai, form follows function—and substance proves both.