UAE Company Residency

Company Residency

Register a UAE free-zone or mainland company and obtain residency as its legal representative or shareholder, with sponsorship options for a spouse, children and parents.

• National advantages： A strategic tourism hub connecting Europe, the Americas and Asia, with short flights to Europe and South Asia. Persian Gulf energy resources and maritime links underpin energy trading and petrochemicals. Its intercontinental location attracts capital, offshore finance, wealth management and cross-border settlement services.

• Capital： Abu Dhabi

• Area： 83,600 square kilometres

• Population： Approximately 10.24 million, with expatriates accounting for 88%.

• Official language： Arabic; English is widely used.

• Currency： UAE dirham (AED), pegged at approximately AED 3.67 to USD 1.

• GDP (2025)： Approximately USD 569.1 billion; GDP per capita of USD 51,000, a high-income economy.

• The United Arab Emirates lies in the eastern Arabian Peninsula and comprises seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah. At the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, its sea, land and air connections support trade, logistics, finance and tourism.

• UAE investor residency supports international financial asset planning in the following ways:

• One of the Middle East’s wealthiest economies, the UAE has an independent financial system and a developed banking sector. Dubai has become a leading Asian financial centre alongside Hong Kong and Singapore. HSBC, Standard Chartered and Citi operate locally, as do Chinese banks including ICBC, China Construction Bank and Bank of China. Emirates NBD and First Abu Dhabi Bank rank among the world’s top 100 banks.

• UAE residents can use their Emirates ID to open local personal resident accounts. The program describes these resident accounts as outside the non-resident account information exchanged under CRS, keeping the account information within the UAE rather than transferring it to third countries.

• The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries, dividends or interest. Residency offers access to a developed financial sector, privacy features and a favourable environment for personal tax planning.

• Application process (1–3 months):

• 1. Company registration: Reserve a name, select a free zone such as DMCC or DIFC, submit documents and obtain a trade licence.

• 2. Obtain an Establishment Card linking the company to immigration for visa sponsorship.

• 3. Apply for an entry permit from overseas and enter after approval; the permit is valid for 60 days.

• 4. Visit Dubai for medical screening, biometrics and personal/company bank account opening (5–7 working days).

• 5. Obtain an Emirates ID (10–15 days).

• 6. Receive two-year company residency, renewable while the company remains active.

• Open UAE resident financial accounts, described by the program as outside CRS exchange.

• Open overseas brokerage accounts where international residency is required for mainland clients.

• Register an Amazon store as a UAE seller, with local business information handling.

• Open cryptocurrency trading accounts and complete KYC for digital asset holdings.

• Apply for a UAE police clearance certificate for other immigration applications.

• Receive and send international business payments without personal income tax; corporate tax exemptions may be applied for.

• Obtain an Emirates ID and access local resident services.

• Complement a second passport with a new local banking and credit profile.

• Apply for visas to major destinations from the UAE.

• Children may attend local international schools and work toward overseas Chinese student eligibility.