Offshore Company Formation

An offshore company is designed to operate outside the UAE. You can use it to hold assets, own shares in other businesses, hold intellectual property, and contract with and invoice clients abroad. What you cannot do is trade inside the UAE, sign local supply contracts, rent commercial premises to run an onshore business, or obtain UAE residence visas through the offshore entity itself.

If you need to reach UAE customers, a different route fits better. A mainland company lets you trade anywhere in the UAE, while a free zone company suits export, services and many regional models and can sponsor visas. Many founders use both: an offshore holding company on top of an onshore operating company. Not sure which way to go? Our free zone vs mainland guide and a quick WhatsApp chat will make the choice clear. You can also browse the available free zones to compare the wider landscape.

Being offshore does not put you outside UAE compliance, and we plan for it openly with you. UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, effective for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023 (tax.gov.ae). Corporate Tax registration is required, the late-registration penalty is AED 10,000, and returns must be filed and tax paid within 9 months of the end of the tax period. Small Business Relief is available where revenue is under AED 3,000,000 per period, until 31 December 2026. VAT is charged at the standard 5% rate, with mandatory registration at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and voluntary registration available from AED 187,500 (u.ae).

How these rules apply depends on what your offshore company actually does, so we work this through with you and connect the dots with your wider setup, including any free zone qualifying-income position. Our accounting, VAT and corporate tax service keeps you registered and filing on time, and our PRO and government services team handles the paperwork. If you also want a UAE banking relationship, see corporate bank account support, but note that banks decide independently and we cannot guarantee approval.

We keep things simple and transparent. First, a no-pressure conversation, usually on WhatsApp, where we confirm whether offshore is the right structure or whether you need an onshore licence instead. Then we agree a clear scope, prepare and submit the documents, and keep you updated at each step. We never imply any government affiliation, and we never promise approvals, visas or bank accounts, because those decisions sit with the authorities and banks.

On cost, every figure is indicative because official fees change, and we will give you an exact quote for your case. As a rough guide, a DET trade-name reservation is around AED 620 and a Ministry of Economy and Tourism foreign-branch initial approval is around AED 3,500 (moet.gov.ae, det.gov.ae). Any free zone package prices we mention are indicative ranges, not official tariffs. Use our cost estimator and our cost to set up a business in Dubai guide for a fuller picture, then contact us for an exact, itemised quote with no hidden fees. If your wider plans include residency, we can also advise on investor residence visas and the Golden Visa through a separate onshore route.