Dubai business setup — done right, in 14 days.
Most founders arrive at YABS after being quoted “from AED 4,999” somewhere else, then hit with AED 8,000 in “extras” two weeks in. We fixed that. One fixed fee, one 14-day timeline, one senior partner from your first call to your corporate bank account — or we refund 20% of our fee.
- Fixed all-in fee, written quote day 1
- 94% corporate bank approval rate
- Same partner from day 1 to year 5
- 20% refund if we miss the deadline
Dubai business setup shouldn’t feel like a trap.
After 500+ setups, we’ve seen every version of what goes wrong. Here’s what we built YABS to fix.
“Why is the final invoice AED 8k higher than the quote?”
That’s the “starts from” trick. Our fee includes government costs, MoA, 1 visa eligibility, Emirates ID, and bank intro — itemised before you pay a dirham.
“My license took 6 weeks and I still don’t have a bank account.”
Most firms hand you the license and vanish. We don’t bill the final tranche until Emirates NBD, Mashreq or WIO has approved your corporate account.
“Every time I call I get a different junior on WhatsApp.”
Your senior partner’s mobile is on your quote. Same person handles your license, visa, bank, and year 2 accounting renewal.
“They picked the wrong free zone and I had to liquidate.”
We don’t push the free zone that pays us the highest commission. We map activity codes to your actual revenue model — then name the zone that fits.
Everything from activity code to corporate bank account — one team, one invoice.
No sub-contractors, no “that’s not our department”, no surprise government fees. Every service below is delivered by a YABS partner with fixed pricing in writing.
Mainland LLC
For founders who want to sell B2C to UAE residents, win government tenders, or open a retail or F&B location. DED license, Ejari, 100% foreign ownership under 2021 reform, unrestricted banking.
Free Zone Company
Best for B2B trading, consulting, tech, or international revenue. 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on QFZP income, full profit repatriation, 40+ zones ranked by your actual activity.
Offshore Holding
Asset protection, IP holding, and international structuring via JAFZA, RAK ICC, and Ajman Offshore. Zero tax, zero audit, zero UAE visa — fully remote incorporation in 14 days.
PRO & Visa Services
Investor visas, employment visas, family sponsorship, Emirates ID, medical, biometrics, and MoFA attestation. Priced to your actual visa count, activity, and nationality mix — not a generic headline number. Tracked live on CorporatePRO Cloud.
Golden Visa (10‑year)
10-year UAE residency for investors (AED 2M+), entrepreneurs, specialists, and family. Stay unlimited time abroad without losing residency, sponsor children of any age.
Accounting, Tax & VAT
9% corporate tax registration & filing, QFZP compliance, quarterly VAT returns, IFRS financials, and FTA audit defence. Fixed monthly retainer, no “extra transaction” fees.
Compare UAE free zones by price, speed, and specialty.
Published 2026 package prices from every major free zone authority. Full 100% foreign ownership, 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, written Price-Locked quote in your inbox the same business day.
RAKEZ
UAE's lowest published price. Fully remote setup. Ideal for SMEs & e-commerce.
IFZA (Dubai)
Dubai-address free zone with fast digital licensing and multi-activity flexibility.
SHAMS & SAIF
Sharjah media and industrial zones. Creative, media, trading licences.
Ajman Free Zone
40% cheaper than Dubai. 10-day approval. Flexible multi-activity licences.
Fujairah Creative City
Media, production, consultancy. 2-visa entry package. Full remote setup.
Masdar City
Abu Dhabi clean-tech free zone. Sustainability, EV, smart mobility.
DMCC
World's #1-ranked free zone. Commodities, trading, professional services.
ADGM
Financial services under English common law. FSRA-regulated, fintech & crypto.
DIFC
Dubai's premier financial free zone. Banks, funds, fintech, wealth management.
Real founders. Real 14-day setups.
These are clients we can name (with permission). Ask us for the 450+ we can’t talk about publicly — we’ll connect you directly for a reference call.
“Three other consultants quoted me ‘around AED 12k’ for my RAKEZ setup. YABS was the only one who wrote a fixed number and stuck to it. License in 9 days, Mashreq account in 13. No post-invoice drama.”
“We moved our e-com arm from the UK and needed a mainland LLC for VAT-registered UAE sales. YABS mapped the right DED activity, flagged a tenancy issue I would’ve missed, and had everything live in 18 days including the WIO account.”
“Got rejected by two banks before YABS took over our KYC. They rewrote it to match Emirates NBD’s actual internal policy, and we were approved in one meeting. That alone paid for the whole setup ten times over.”
The only Dubai setup firm that publishes its numbers.
Every firm claims “fast, reliable, transparent.” We publish the receipts, audited internally every quarter.
Other firms put “integrity” on their wall. We put it in your contract.
Every consultant in Dubai claims “fast, transparent, reliable.” Here are four commitments we actually sign, with penalties if we miss.
Price-Locked on day 1, or we eat the difference.
Your quote lists every government fee, service fee, and add-on — broken down, before you pay. If a cost moves for any reason inside our control, YABS absorbs it. Zero “starts from” footnotes, ever.
14 working days to a live bank account — or 20% back.
No other Dubai firm publishes a written timeline with a refund clause. 2025 scorecard: 485 of 487 setups delivered on time (99.6%). The two that missed were refunded inside 48 hours, no email chase required.
Same senior partner from day 1 to year 5.
You’ll never be passed to a junior. Your YABS partner on call one stays with you through license, visa, Emirates ID, bank, corporate tax filing, and every renewal. Their mobile is on your quote.
94% corporate bank approval — or we re-route free.
Most bank rejections come from generic KYC templates. We write yours to each bank’s actual internal risk policy — which is why Emirates NBD, Mashreq, WIO, RAKBank, and ADCB clear YABS files 9 times out of 10.
From first call to bank account, in 14 working days.
The free‑zone track. Mainland LLCs add ~7 days for MoA notarisation and Ejari tenancy. One senior partner, five milestones, zero hand‑offs.
Day 0
30‑min discovery call. Jurisdiction mapped. Price‑Locked written quote in your inbox.
Days 1–3
Trade name reserved, activity approved, MoA e‑signed remotely. No office visit needed.
Days 4–8
Trade license issued. Share certificate and establishment card hand‑delivered.
Days 9–11
Entry permit, medical fitness, biometrics, Emirates ID—coordinated in a single 3‑day UAE trip.
Days 12–14
Corporate bank RM meeting. KYC pre‑drafted to bank policy. Account active.
What founders actually ask us — and the straight answer.
No sales speak. If your situation isn’t here, WhatsApp the founder for a reply inside one business hour.
One call. One quote. No runaround.
Tell us what you’re trying to build. We’ll map your activity code, jurisdiction, visa quota, and banking route — and email a fixed-fee, Price-Locked quote in writing before you end the day. Zero pressure, zero obligation, zero “starting from.”
Replies inside 1 business hour · Office at Dubai Investment Park 1 · Licensed since 2015
Mainland vs Free Zone vs Offshore — Which Dubai Setup Fits Your Business?
The right structure depends on three variables: who your customers are, where you want to bank, and how you plan to pay tax in 2026. Here’s the honest short version.
Most founders pick the wrong structure because they optimise for the cheapest setup cost rather than for where they’ll actually earn revenue. Spend 20 minutes on a free call with YABS and we map the right structure to your actual model before any paperwork is started.
40+ UAE Free Zones — The Six YABS Uses Most.
There are more than 40 free zones across the Emirates. Most are specialist or legacy. These six cover 90%+ of modern SME and mid‑market needs in 2026.
IFZA (International Free Zone Authority)
Lowest entry cost at AED 5,500. Covers 2,500+ activities. Flexi desk included. Ideal for SME consultants, digital businesses, and freelance founders.
DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre)
Blue‑chip JLT free zone. AED 13,000+. Strongest brand for trading, commodities, crypto‑adjacent businesses, and consulting that wants banking ease.
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone)
AED 15,000+. Built around Jebel Ali Port — ideal for trading, logistics, re‑export, and manufacturing with containerised operations.
Meydan Free Zone
Prime Meydan City location. AED 12,500+. Popular for luxury, fashion, creative, and founder‑led SMEs that want a Dubai‑centric image.
RAKEZ (RAK Economic Zone)
Most cost‑effective multi‑activity zone outside Dubai, AED 7,500+. Strong for industrial, manufacturing, e‑commerce, and cost‑focused SMEs.
Ajman Free Zone
Entry‑level free zone at AED 6,500+. Good for startups needing a UAE base with modest operations and fast setup.
Week‑by‑Week — From Day 1 to Live Company.
Most real timelines look like this. Government queues can extend or compress any week; YABS books activity‑specific approvals in parallel to minimise elapsed days.
Week 0 (free, no obligation)
30‑minute discovery call. We map activity, ownership, residency plan, tax exposure, and preferred banking. You get a shortlist of 2–3 structures with fixed pricing for each within 1 business hour.
Week 1 — Paperwork & Approvals
Initial approval, trade name reservation, MoA drafting, activity approval. For free zones, most approvals are issued within 3–5 business days. Mainland activities with special approvals (healthcare, education, food) may take 7–10 days.
Week 2 — Trade Licence Issued
Trade licence printed. Immigration establishment card issued. E‑channel activated. MOHRE labour file opened for mainland and free zones with employment visas. Company officially exists.
Week 3 — Visa, Medical, Emirates ID
Investor visa or first employment visa issued. Medical fitness test (same day). Emirates ID biometrics (same day). Visa stamped inside the passport. This week usually requires you in the UAE.
Week 4–6 — Corporate Bank Account
KYC dossier submitted to shortlisted bank. One in‑branch meeting (45 minutes) for signatures and biometrics. Internal compliance review. Account activated, debit card delivered, online banking live. Most activations complete in weeks 4–6; digital banks (WIO, NEOBiz) can finish inside week 3.
Week 6+ — Corporate Tax & VAT Registration
Federal Tax Authority (FTA) Corporate Tax registration completed. VAT registration if your forecast revenue crosses AED 375,000. First bookkeeping month begins. QFZP compliance assessed for free‑zone companies with qualifying income.
What Changed in UAE Business Law Last Year — And What It Means for You.
Tax, compliance, and immigration changed meaningfully in 2024–2025. Here’s the short version of what now affects your UAE setup decisions.
9% Corporate Tax is Live
Introduced June 2023, now fully operational. Applies to profits above AED 375,000. All UAE companies (even 0% free zones) must register with the FTA and file annually. Penalties for late registration start at AED 10,000.
QFZP Rules Clarified
Ministerial Decision 265 of 2023 defined “qualifying income” for free zones to keep 0% tax. Four conditions: adequate substance, qualifying activities, audited financials, and transfer‑pricing compliance. Many free‑zone companies now need audited accounts for the first time.
Golden Visa Expansion
Golden Visa criteria relaxed for property investors (AED 2M threshold) and added new categories for creative, educational, humanitarian, and digital talent. Self‑sponsored visa quota for specialists was increased.
Foreign Ownership for Mainland
Since 2021, most mainland LLCs can be 100% foreign‑owned without a local sponsor. Strategic sectors (oil, banking, telecoms) still require Emirati partnership, but the typical mainland SME no longer needs one.
ESR & UBO Reporting
Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) and Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) reporting are actively enforced. Non‑reporting penalties start at AED 20,000. YABS includes ESR assessment and UBO registration in every new setup.
Transfer Pricing & CbCR
UAE adopted OECD transfer‑pricing rules effective with Corporate Tax. Companies with related‑party transactions above AED 40M must maintain transfer‑pricing documentation. Country‑by‑country reporting (CbCR) applies to groups above AED 3.15B global revenue.
Ten More Things Founders Ask Before They Pick YABS.
How do I know my quote is really fixed?
Every YABS quote is delivered as a Price‑Locked Agreement: fixed line items (government fee, service fee, typing, medical, Emirates ID, bank introduction) with each amount pre‑agreed in writing and signed before any payment is taken. Change orders require written approval and a new signed addendum — which almost never happens because we scope correctly the first time.
I already have a quote from another consultant. Can YABS review it?
Yes. Forward any existing quote to [email protected]. We benchmark it against our actual 2026 cost base and return a line‑by‑line comparison within one business hour. If we can undercut it, we will; if we can’t, we tell you plainly and explain why. Most quotes we review have AED 4,000–12,000 in hidden or inflated items.
What happens if my bank account gets declined?
We re‑route to the next bank on your shortlist at no additional cost. Bank account success is built into our pricing — our 2025 first‑submission approval rate was 94% across seven UAE banks. When a bank declines, we analyse the specific reason and target the re‑submission at a bank whose risk appetite actually fits your activity.
Can I keep my existing international structure and just add a UAE entity?
Yes, and this is common. We coordinate with your existing international accountant or lawyer to ensure the UAE entity sits correctly inside your broader structure — as subsidiary, holding parent, IP licensing vehicle, or branch. We also handle certified translations and attestations required by your home jurisdiction.
What activities can I put on a UAE trade licence?
DED publishes 2,500+ approved activities across commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism categories. Free zones each publish their own activity lists, which overlap heavily. Multi‑activity licences are allowed — most YABS clients hold 3–5 related activities on one licence for flexibility. Some activities require special approvals (e.g., healthcare, education, food handling, financial services).
Do I need an auditor for my UAE company?
Mainland LLCs always require audited financial statements. Free‑zone companies increasingly require audits to claim QFZP 0% status and to satisfy compliant Corporate Tax filings. YABS includes audited statements in our accounting packages and partners with registered UAE auditors.
What about trademark and IP protection?
Trademark registration in the UAE runs through the Ministry of Economy. YABS handles initial search, filing, publication, and registration — typically 6–9 months end‑to‑end with a fixed fee. We also handle copyright registration, utility patents via WIPO, and design protection for product companies.
What’s the process if I want to close my company later?
Company liquidation in the UAE is a structured 60–90 day process involving auditor’s liquidator report, newspaper publication for creditor claims, clearance from labour and immigration, tax deregistration, and final trade‑licence cancellation. YABS handles the full liquidation with a fixed fee so you leave the UAE cleanly.
Can my spouse and kids live in the UAE on my visa?
Yes. Once your residence visa is active, you can sponsor your spouse and children under a family visa. Minimum salary/income for sponsorship is AED 4,000 with accommodation or AED 4,000 + accommodation allowance. YABS handles full family sponsorship including Ejari, attestation of marriage/birth certificates, medical, Emirates ID, and visa stamping.
Is there any reason YABS would turn down a client?
Yes. We decline work on activities we can’t serve well (specialist regulated activities like fund management or crypto exchanges where we’d be out of depth), and structures that look like they exist only to avoid tax or compliance in another jurisdiction. If we can’t do your work properly, we say so up front and refer you to a specialist.