Visit HMA Dubai
Meet our team for cross-border advisory, business setup, tax, accounting and audit at Park Lane Tower.
Office 504, Park Lane Tower
Al Amal Street, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
Monday – Saturday
09:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Call office
(+971) 4 583 7001
HMA Service
Company formation support for international businesses establishing in the UAE, covering licensing, documentation, office considerations and post-setup coordination.
Mainland, free-zone and offshore setup coordinated around your operating plan.
Overview
Business setup in Dubai is most effective when the licence, office footprint, ownership model, banking preparation and compliance obligations are planned together. HMA assesses your activity, compares relevant mainland, free-zone and offshore options, prepares documentation, coordinates authority submissions and supports bank-account preparation where appropriate. The focus is technical establishment: licensing, documentation, authority coordination and the post-setup requirements that help the business begin operating properly.
Still evaluating how to enter the UAE? Market-entry strategy, commercial access and operating-model decisions sit in the UAE Market Entry & Commercial Access hub.
A Dubai mainland company, registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), can support UAE trading, government-related opportunities where eligible and wider local operations. HMA handles activity selection, initial approval, MOA coordination, Ejari and final trade licence issuance, while identifying any ownership or service-agent requirements that apply to the selected activity.
The UAE has many free zones, each with its own activity scope, office options, visa rules and regulatory expectations. HMA helps compare relevant zones on cost, activity coverage, visa quotas, office requirements and tax or substance considerations before you commit.
An offshore company in jurisdictions such as JAFZA Offshore or RAK ICC may be relevant for selected holding, international trading or asset-ownership structures. Offshore entities have important limitations, including restrictions on trading inside the UAE, and should be assessed against banking, tax, substance and reporting expectations before use.
Dubai trade licences generally align to the activity being carried out, such as commercial, professional, industrial or tourism activities. The licence type drives downstream decisions: activity codes, visa quotas, office space requirements, renewal costs and any external approvals. HMA matches the licence route to the intended operating model.
Closing a UAE business requires careful handling of authority procedures, visas, creditor notifications, final accounts, liquidator reporting where applicable and licence cancellation. HMA coordinates liquidation and de-registration requirements with the relevant mainland, free-zone or offshore authority.
Process
We map your activity, ownership preferences and visa needs to the right jurisdiction — mainland, free zone or offshore — with a transparent cost breakdown.
We draft your MOA, coordinate initial approvals, reserve your trade name and submit the licence application to the relevant authority on your behalf.
Once the licence is issued, we guide you through Emirates ID, residence visa, bank-account preparation and ongoing compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked
Timelines depend on the activity, jurisdiction, documentation and any external approvals required. We give you a realistic timeline after reviewing your intended activity and setup route.
Many mainland activities now allow 100% foreign ownership, while certain activities may still require a UAE national partner, service agent or specific approval. HMA confirms the requirement after reviewing the selected activity.
Mainland and free-zone routes differ in activity coverage, UAE trading scope, office requirements, visa quotas, cost and tax or substance considerations. HMA recommends the fit after reviewing the activity, customer base and operating model.
Often, yes. Visa eligibility and quota depend on the jurisdiction, licence, office package and authority rules. HMA coordinates the relevant investor, employment and family-sponsorship steps where applicable.
The lowest-cost route depends on activity, visa needs, office requirements, banking expectations and whether the business must trade directly in the UAE market. HMA compares suitable options before recommending a setup route.
Free Consultation
Share your activity, current structure and deadlines. HMA will help clarify the practical route, documents and compliance considerations.