Company setup in Dubai: when it is the residency route, and when it is a distraction

Setting up a company in a free zone remains the fastest way for an entrepreneur to hold UAE residency, and the easiest to get wrong for someone who only wants the visa.

What it delivers

A renewable investor residency for the owner, sponsorship capacity for family and staff, and a licence that has to be maintained, filed and paid for every year.

What it costs beyond formation

Licence renewal, office or flexi-desk, corporate tax registration, accounting and, where applicable, VAT. Model three years, not one.

If the company exists only to produce a visa, the deposit route is usually cheaper and quieter.