Dubai Business Setup

Dubai Company Setup for Indian Entrepreneurs

Dubai is one of the most practical places for an Indian business to go international: it is a few hours from every major Indian city, it trades with India under the India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and it allows full foreign ownership for most activities. Setting up still involves real decisions — mainland or free zone, which activities to licence, how many visas you need, and how the investment is routed from India — and getting them right at the start saves money and rework later.

DSTechnoverse helps Indian founders, traders, manufacturers and professionals set up and run a company in Dubai. Our team in India works with you on the plan and the documents, and our branch office in Dubai handles the applications, approvals and follow-up on the ground. You get one point of contact from the first call to an operating, licensed company with a bank account.

Mainland or Free Zone: The First Decision

Every Dubai company is licensed either by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on the mainland or by one of the free zone authorities. The right choice depends on where your customers are and what you will do:

• Mainland (DET) licence: trade directly anywhere in the UAE, bid for government and private contracts, open retail or service outlets, and sponsor staff. Most commercial and industrial activities can now be 100% foreign owned.
• Free zone licence: full foreign ownership inside a dedicated zone, simpler incorporation, and specialised zones for trading, logistics, media, technology and commodities. Trading directly with mainland customers usually needs a distributor or an additional mainland presence.
• Activity fit: some activities are only offered by certain free zones, and some professional or regulated activities need approvals from a specific authority.
• Office requirement: mainland and free zone licences each come with office or flexi-desk requirements, which affect cost and visa quota.

Licences We Help You Obtain

• Commercial (trading) licence — buying and selling goods, including general trading licences that cover a wide range of products.
• Import and export licence — trading activities on the licence plus registration with Dubai Customs so goods can be cleared in and out of the UAE.
• Professional licence — consultancy, IT services, design, engineering and other service activities.
• Industrial licence — manufacturing, assembly and processing activities.
• E-commerce and online trading licences, and activity additions or amendments to an existing licence.
• Licence renewals, activity changes, shareholder changes and branch registrations of an Indian company in Dubai.

Documents Indian Applicants Usually Need

Requirements differ by jurisdiction and activity; we give you the exact list for your case. For an individual Indian shareholder, a typical set is:

• Passport copy with at least six months’ validity, and a passport-size photograph.
• Proof of residential address in India.
• A short business profile or plan describing the proposed activities (required by some free zones).
• UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the UAE, and a no-objection letter from your sponsor if you are employed there.

1. 1For an Indian company as shareholder: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, board resolution approving the UAE company, and the authorised signatory’s passport.
2. 2Corporate documents issued in India generally need legalisation (attestation through the Ministry of External Affairs, the UAE Embassy in India and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs) before UAE authorities accept them. We guide you through each step.

The India Side: Investing Abroad Correctly

Indian residents and companies investing in a foreign company must follow India’s overseas investment rules under FEMA. Investment is routed through your authorised dealer bank with the required reporting, and individuals and companies have different routes and limits. We coordinate with your chartered accountant and bank so the Dubai setup and the Indian compliance line up from day one, instead of being fixed afterwards.

Visas, Bank Account and Ongoing Compliance

• Investor or partner residence visa for shareholders, and employment visas for staff within the licence’s visa quota.
• Emirates ID, medical fitness test and establishment card formalities.
• Corporate bank account opening support: preparing the documents and business profile banks ask for, and introductions to suitable banks.
• UAE VAT and corporate tax registration support, and bookkeeping arrangements with UAE-qualified accountants.
• PRO services: renewals, amendments, labour and immigration formalities, and government liaison handled by our Dubai office.

How We Work

1. 1Free consultation: we understand your business, customers and plans, and recommend the jurisdiction, activities and licence type.
2. 2Clear proposal: what is included, the authority fees that apply to your case, and our standard nominal service charge — confirmed in writing before you commit.
3. 3Documents: we prepare and check everything, and guide you on attestation of Indian documents.
4. 4Applications: name reservation, initial approval, licence issuance and office arrangements, handled by our Dubai branch office.
5. 5Visas and bank account: residence visas, Emirates ID and bank account support.
6. 6After setup: renewals, amendments, accounting and tax registrations so the company stays in good standing.

Why Indian Founders Work With DSTechnoverse

• Team in India and a branch office in Dubai, so you deal with one firm on both sides.
• Advice that starts with your business model, not with the package that is easiest to sell.
• A standard nominal service charge, with authority fees shown separately so you know exactly what you are paying for.
• Support in Hindi and English, on WhatsApp, phone and video calls.

Frequently Asked Questions