The UAE is one of the world’s most attractive markets to enter — and one where the entry decisions genuinely matter. Ownership rules, the mainland/free-zone choice, licensing, tax and employment all interact, and international businesses that structure well from the start avoid the costly re-work that afflicts those who do not. We create a clear, compliant path to market.
The headline reform: most onshore activities now permit up to 100% foreign ownership under the amended Commercial Companies Law, ending the old local-majority requirement — though a defined list of strategic-impact activities keeps special rules. Around that sit the free zones, each with its own regulator, activity list and benefits; branch and representative office options for a lighter footprint; the 9% corporate tax regime and its free-zone qualifying rules; and the licensing, visa and substance requirements that follow whichever route is chosen. We map these against your business model before anything is signed.
We advise on the optimal entry structure — mainland, specific free zone, branch or acquisition; confirm the ownership and licensing position for your exact activity; incorporate and license the entity; localise your commercial contracts and employment arrangements to UAE law; and connect the tax, substance and regulatory threads so the structure works as a whole. For groups, we design the holding and IP arrangements above the UAE entity too.
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