Office Solutions
We match your company to the right office address, Ejari, flexi-desk or virtual office, so your licence and visa quotas hold up.
Almost every UAE company needs a registered address before its trade licence can be issued, and the type of space you hold often decides how many residence visas you can sponsor. Choosing badly means a licence that cannot be renewed, a visa quota that falls short, or rent you simply do not need. Our office solutions help you pick the right option, an Ejari-registered tenancy, a flexi-desk, or a virtual office, so your set-up is correct from day one. We are an independent, bilingual consultancy based in Al Qusais, Deira, working with founders, SMEs and GCC investors who want clear guidance in plain English and Arabic.
Everything we do is compliance-first and transparent. You receive a clear plan, a checklist of what each licensing authority accepts, and a quote with no hidden fees. Rents, registration charges and free-zone package prices change frequently and free-zone prices are not official, so any figure we share is indicative and confirmed before you commit. Message us on WhatsApp and we will map your address and visa requirements to the cheapest compliant option.
The right address for your licence
Mainland trade licences generally need an Ejari-registered tenancy, while many free zones accept a flexi-desk or virtual office. We match the address type to your activity and authority so the licence issues and renews without surprises.
Visa quota that fits your plan
The space you hold can cap how many residence visas you sponsor. We help you choose an office that supports the headcount you actually need, rather than paying for desks you will never use.
Transparent, indicative pricing
We separate our service fee from rent, Ejari and authority charges, and label every cost as indicative. Free-zone package prices are not official, so we present them only as ranges and confirm a written quote before you pay.
Bilingual and local
Our Al Qusais team works in English and Arabic and knows what DET, the free-zone authorities and the immigration system accept as a valid address, which keeps your submission clean and your approval moving.
Independent guidance
We are a private consultancy with no government affiliation or endorsement. Our job is to recommend the office solution that genuinely fits your licence and budget, not to upsell space you do not require.
Ejari, flexi-desk and virtual office explained
An Ejari is the official registration of a tenancy contract in Dubai. For most mainland companies, a physical office or shop with a registered Ejari is what the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) expects before issuing or renewing the trade licence, and it typically unlocks a larger visa quota tied to the square footage you lease. A flexi-desk is a shared or hot-desk arrangement, common inside the free zones, that satisfies the address requirement for smaller set-ups at a lower cost, usually with a modest visa allocation. A virtual office provides a registered business address and mail handling without dedicated desk space; many free zones accept it for licensing, though the visa allocation is usually limited.
The right choice depends on where you incorporate and how many people you plan to sponsor. If you are still deciding between structures, our team can walk you through mainland company formation, free-zone company formation and offshore company formation, and explain the trade-offs in our free zone vs mainland guide. Note that an offshore company cannot trade inside the UAE; it is used for holding and international purposes only, so it does not take a working UAE office. You can compare popular options such as IFZA and DMCC on our free zones page.
Ownership, the address rule and what it costs
Since 2021, 100% foreign ownership has been available for most mainland activities under Federal Decree-Law 26/2020, but not all. Strategic or restricted sectors may still require an Emirati partner, and certain professional licences and foreign branches need a Local Service Agent who holds 0% equity. The office requirement runs alongside this: a mainland licence generally needs a leased, Ejari-registered space, whereas a free-zone licence may be satisfied by a flexi-desk or virtual office within that zone. As an indicative guide to related government charges, DET trade-name reservation is roughly AED 620 and, for a foreign branch, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MOET) levies an initial-approval fee of around AED 3,500. On the immigration side, ICP residence-permit government fees are about AED 100 per year, plus medical testing, Emirates ID and typing. Every one of these figures is indicative and changes often, and free-zone office package prices are not official, so always request an exact, written quote.
For official guidance you can check the UAE Government portal at u.ae and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism at det.gov.ae. Once your address and licence are settled, we can coordinate the next steps, including PRO and government services, a corporate bank account and investor residence visas. To estimate your set-up budget, try our cost estimator or read the cost to set up a business in Dubai.
Tax and compliance once your office is in place
A registered address is also where your tax obligations begin. UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that under Federal Decree-Law 47/2022, effective for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. Corporate Tax registration is mandatory, the late-registration penalty is AED 10,000, and returns must be filed and tax paid within nine months of the end of the tax period. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can benefit from 0% on qualifying income (9% on non-qualifying income, with no AED 375,000 band), and Small Business Relief is available where revenue is under AED 3,000,000 per period, currently until 31 December 2026. VAT is charged at a standard 5%, with mandatory registration once taxable supplies reach AED 375,000 and voluntary registration from AED 187,500.
If you are scaling up, the office you choose can also support residence routes. The Golden Visa offers 5 or 10 years, with real-estate or public-investment routes at AED 2,000,000, an entrepreneur project value of at least AED 500,000, and salary-based talent routes from at least AED 50,000 per month; confirm the exact threshold for your route on ICP at icp.gov.ae. We coordinate registrations and deadlines through our accounting, VAT and Corporate Tax support and can advise on the Golden Visa. Confirm current tax rules at the Federal Tax Authority, tax.gov.ae, then contact us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Ejari and do I need one?
An Ejari is the official registration of a tenancy contract in Dubai. For most mainland companies, the Department of Economy and Tourism expects a leased office with a registered Ejari before issuing or renewing the trade licence, and the space you lease usually determines how many residence visas you can sponsor. Free-zone companies often do not need an Ejari, as a flexi-desk or virtual office within the zone can satisfy the address requirement. We confirm what your specific authority accepts before you sign anything. See mainland company formation for details.
What is the difference between a flexi-desk and a virtual office?
A flexi-desk is a shared or hot-desk arrangement inside a free zone that gives you a workspace and a registered address at a lower cost, usually with a modest visa allocation. A virtual office provides a registered business address and mail handling without dedicated desk space; many free zones accept it for licensing, though the visa allocation is typically more limited. We help you pick whichever satisfies your licence while supporting the headcount you actually plan to sponsor. Compare options on our free zones page.
How does my office affect my visa quota?
In most cases the type and size of your office influence how many residence visas your company can sponsor. A larger Ejari-registered mainland office generally supports more visas, while a flexi-desk or virtual office in a free zone usually carries a smaller allocation. We map your planned headcount to the right space so you are neither short of visas nor paying for desks you will not use. For residence routes, see investor residence visas.
Are your office costs transparent?
Yes. We keep our service fee separate from rent, Ejari and authority charges, and explain each one up front, with no hidden fees. Rents and government fees change frequently, and free-zone package prices are not official, so every figure we publish is indicative and presented only as a range; we confirm an exact, written quote before you proceed. You can also get a quick estimate using our cost estimator.
Does my office address affect Corporate Tax or VAT?
Your registered company, wherever its office sits, must meet UAE tax obligations. Corporate Tax registration is mandatory, with a 0% rate up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above, and a late-registration penalty of AED 10,000; returns are filed and tax paid within nine months of your tax period end. VAT registration is mandatory once taxable supplies reach AED 375,000, with voluntary registration from AED 187,500. We coordinate both through our accounting, VAT and Corporate Tax service. Confirm current rules at tax.gov.ae.
Can you guarantee my licence or visas will be approved?
No honest consultancy can guarantee a government approval, licence or visa, and we will never promise one. We are an independent consultancy with no government affiliation. What we can do is recommend a compliant office solution, prepare a complete and accurate file, and follow up diligently so your application has the best possible chance. We can also handle the surrounding paperwork through our PRO and government services.
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