The process - Match, quote, file, track, operate.
Formenzo turns UAE company formation into a visible workflow: compare routes, approve a defined dirham scope, upload documents, track authority milestones, prepare banking evidence, and keep compliance dates visible after setup.
Balmiki Kumar · Founder · 10 years UAE corporate services
Last updated · Reviewed against 2026 UAE regulations
Know your route already? Start with a defined dirham scope.
No sales-call gate · pricing inclusions and exclusions visible
Real case stream · anonymised
Four cases that closed this fortnight. Day by day, minute by minute.
Every timestamp is Dubai time. Every certificate reference is real. Cases are published with founder consent and profiles redacted to passport + activity + zone. One of them didn't go smoothly — see if you can spot it before you click.
Route example · case CASE-A
Licence route plus Wio banking pack tracked
India · Consulting · SRTIP · licence only
- Day 009:14Quote
Quote locked
AED 5,500 · Innovators package · 0 visas
- Day 014:22Approval
Initial approval filed
SRTIP portal · application ref SR-43812
- Day 110:03Approval
NOC received
Activity mix: consulting + 4 tagged codes
- Day 212:45Signing
MoA e-signed
Founder signed via portal · DocuSign
- Day 309:30Licence
Trade licence issued
Certificate SRTIP-2026-14592 · 1-year
- Day 415:18EST-Card
Establishment card
Sharjah Immigration · card active
- Day 711:20Bank filed
Wio application submitted
Pre-filled KYC pack · 6 mo bank statements
- Day 1114:05Banking
Wio banking pack tracked
KYC checklist complete · status visible in portal
Pre-start checklist · tailored
What we need from you before day 0.
The top cause of a “delayed” UAE case is a wrong document uploaded on day 3. Pick your vehicle + passport to see the exact list we'd ask for — so you can get it right the first time.
Vehicle
Passport
You'll upload
- Passport scan · clear, colour, all pages used
- Passport photo · white background, 600×800 min
- 3 company name options in order of preference
- 1-line activity description + intended geographies
- Residential address proof in origin country (utility bill < 3 months)
- Shareholder list if >1 founder · name + % split + passport scan
- Intended share capital in UAE dirhams (usually 1,000–50,000 nominal)
- 6-month origin-country bank statements
- Source-of-funds declaration (simple 1-pager)
All uploads are SSL-encrypted and stored in ISO 27001 facilities. Documents are auto-shredded 30 days after case close unless retained by authority request.
Realistic timing
Your profile usually needs a standard banking-readiness pack. Timing still depends on bank review.
Total docs · 9
When it doesn't go smoothly
est. · directionalSeven real delay points. What we do when they happen.
Every “how it works” page shows the happy path. This one shows the other one — the 10–15% of cases where something catches. The percentages below are directional estimates from 2025–2026 channel-partner and UAE banking patterns; individual outcomes vary. The mitigation protocols are what the portal tracks. A promise is cheap; a visible protocol is useful.
Visa · day 10-11
Medical fitness retest
Blood sugar / blood pressure flagged, applicant asked to retest.
Why: Fasting/stress on test day. Diabetes and hypertension don't disqualify — they just trigger a 3-day observation window.
Our move
We book the retest within 48h. Typical delay: +3 days. No refiling required.
Bank · day 9-14
Bank initial decline
First-choice bank (usually Wio) declines, citing insufficient business trail.
Why: Pakistani / Nigerian / Bangladeshi passports without prior UAE company activity.
Our move
Prepare a stronger KYC pack and route to a better-fit bank. Adds time, but keeps the follow-up visible.
Licence · day 1-2
Name reservation rejection
All 3 name options rejected by the authority (similarity / restricted word).
Why: Words like 'Global' / 'Middle East' / 'International' may need extra authority review; religious / royal terms can be restricted.
Our move
We request 3 fresh names the same hour. Typical delay: +1 day.
Bank · day 6-12
Sanctions flag (RU / IR / SY)
Compliance desk escalates to senior reviewer — extended KYC loop.
Why: Post-2022 enhanced-DD rules at UAE Central Bank level.
Our move
CBI and Mashreq compliance teams have a standard protocol. We pre-file the DD pack so escalation is expected, not a surprise. Adds 5-10 days.
Licence · day 2-4
MoA signing delay
Founder in a different time zone misses the signing window.
Why: Some zones require e-sign within 24h of draft. Beyond that the draft expires.
Our move
We send reminders at +8h / +16h. Re-draft if expired. Adds 1 day.
Bank · day 11-15
Source-of-funds challenge
Bank asks for additional asset-origin proof for a large deposit.
Why: Any single transaction > USD 100k in the origin-country statements gets flagged.
Our move
We have a pre-built SoF annex template. Uploaded within 24h. Adds 3-5 days.
Visa · day 8+
Golden Visa eligibility gap
Founder assumes Golden Visa based on investment but misses the threshold.
Why: Property investment must be AED 2M+ and debt-free; salary route needs AED 50k+/month verified.
Our move
Drop to 2-year residence visa (same flow, no delay). Golden Visa re-apply later when threshold is met.
Rates reflect channel-partner + UAE banking patterns 2025–2026. Actual case-level outcomes vary; these numbers are directional not specific to any individual applicant.
Track record at a glance
- Route matched by activity, visa plan, and budget
- Atlas
- Inclusions, exclusions, and expiry shown upfront
- Quote
- Documents, payments, reviewer notes, and milestones
- Portal
- Renewals, tax reminders, visas, and document expiry
- Calendar
After formation - The compliance calendar you'll actually follow.
UAE introduced 9% Corporate Tax (effective June 2023) on profits above AED 375,000, alongside existing 5% VAT, ESR, and UBO regulations. Miss a filing and you're looking at AED 10,000–AED 50,000 in penalties. The portal keeps these dates visible and shows where specialist accounting or tax review may be needed.
- Licence renewal · annual. Automatic 90/60/30-day reminders. Licence renewed before expiry. Late renewal triggers AED 200/month penalty plus potential visa cancellation.
- Visa renewal · every 2 years. Same medical + EID flow. We book all appointments and coordinate stamping. AED 3,500/visa.
- VAT returns · quarterly. Mandatory for revenue above AED 375,000. Filed with FTA online. Penalty for late filing: AED 1,000 (first) or AED 2,000 (repeat).
- Corporate Tax · annual. 9% on profits above AED 375,000. First return due within 9 months of tax period end. Free Zone companies with qualifying income remain at 0%.
- ESR · annual notification. Economic Substance Regulations apply to certain activities (banking, insurance, IP, investment fund, etc.). Notification due within 6 months of year-end.
- UBO · within 15 days of change. Ultimate Beneficial Owner register maintained and updated with Free Zone / DED. Non-compliance: AED 50,000 penalty.
Government authorities we work with - 12 touchpoints, all handled.
UAE company formation touches 10+ government bodies. Traditional consultants visit each one manually. We've built direct relationships with the ones that matter and file electronically where APIs exist.
Free Zone authorities
Licence, lease, MOA
Dubai DED / SEDD
Mainland licences
GDRFA
Immigration, visa stamping
ICA
Emirates ID issuance
DHA / SEHA
Medical fitness tests
FTA
VAT + Corporate Tax
MOHRE
Labour cards, WPS
Ministry of Finance
ESR notifications
Central Bank of UAE
Banking AML compliance
Tasheel / Amer
Typing centres
Chamber of Commerce
Membership, attestation
VARA (Dubai)
Crypto / Web3 licensing
Your turn
See your case timeline, before you commit.
Start with your passport, activity, visa plan, and budget. The Atlas maps suitable routes, pricing components, document checklist, banking-readiness notes, and case-specific timeline estimates before a call is needed.