Services / 04
Company formation, accounting, VAT and corporate tax services in Dubai and the UAE
Corporate, accounting and tax
Company formation, bookkeeping, VAT, corporate tax and the renewals and filings that keep a company in good standing. For single companies and for every entity inside a larger group.
FTA-registered tax agent.
We file your VAT and corporate tax returns and deal with the Federal Tax Authority on your behalf. A single free zone company gets the same care as a regulated group.
AED 375,000
AED 375,000: the VAT registration threshold, and the taxable income above which corporate tax is charged at 9%.
Company formation in Dubai: mainland, free zone, offshore
Mainland, free zone and offshore companies in the UAE, and companies in Singapore and Hong Kong. The right activity, zone and entity type first time, so you are not re-licensing a year later.
What we do
- Activity, zone and entity type selection
- Incorporation documents and registration
- Bank account opening support
- Office, registered address and substance options
- Visas, Emirates ID and PRO services
Compared in words
Mainland, free zone, ADGM or DIFC
Four places to form a company in the UAE. The right one depends on what the company does, who its customers are and who regulates it.
| Centre | Where | Registered by | Legal framework | Financial regulator | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland | Onshore Dubai, trading across the UAE | Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) | UAE federal law and Dubai law | CBUAE and SCA; VARA for virtual assets | Trading and services with UAE customers |
| Free zone | One of Dubai’s free zones, each with its own authority | The free zone authority | UAE federal law and the free zone’s own regulations | Depends on the activity; VARA for virtual assets | Operating companies, service businesses and holding companies |
| ADGM | Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, Abu Dhabi | ADGM Registration Authority | English common law, applied directly | FSRA | Holding companies, SPVs, foundations, funds and regulated financial services |
| DIFC | Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai | DIFC Registrar of Companies | Its own civil and commercial laws on common law principles, with its own courts | DFSA | Holding companies, family offices, foundations, funds and regulated financial services |
The marked row is where the trading company in the example on this page starts. Every company is chosen for its own facts.
Accounting and bookkeeping services
Books that are right every month, so year end, audits, VAT and tax returns are a formality.
What we do
- Monthly or quarterly bookkeeping
- Management accounts and reporting
- Year-end financial statements
- Audit preparation and auditor coordination
- Payroll processing
VAT registration and VAT return filing
UAE VAT from registration to every return, with the records to back each one up.
What we do
- VAT registration and deregistration
- Return preparation and filing
- Representation before the FTA as your registered tax agent
- VAT treatment reviews for new business lines
- Records and invoicing checks
Corporate tax registration and filing
Corporate tax registration and returns in the UAE, Singapore and Hong Kong, coordinated with your tax advisers where a position needs an opinion.
What we do
- Corporate tax registration
- Annual return preparation and filing
- Free zone and group position reviews, with your tax advisers
- Transfer pricing documentation coordination
- Singapore corporate tax and Hong Kong profits tax returns
In figures
VAT and corporate tax in three numbers
5%
VAT standard rate
9%
Corporate tax on taxable income above AED 375,000
0%
Qualifying income of a qualifying free zone person that meets the conditions
VAT registration: voluntary at AED 187,500 and above, mandatory above AED 375,000, standard rate 5%. Corporate tax: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, 9% above.
One figure, two thresholds: AED 375,000 is where VAT registration becomes mandatory and where corporate tax steps from 0% to 9%.
Trade licence renewal and company administration
The calendar that keeps a company alive: licences, registers, filings and changes.
What we do
- Trade licence and registration renewals
- UBO, shareholder and director registers
- Changes of shareholders, directors and activities
- Annual returns and statutory filings
- Deregistration and liquidation
Example
A company built to grow
A founder starts with one free zone company. When a licence or a second market follows, a holding layer goes on top without unpicking what exists.
Illustrative only.
FAQ / Questions
Questions we are asked.
What do I need to open a company in Dubai?
Typically passport copies of shareholders and directors, a business activity, a trade name, proof of address, and for some activities a business plan or approvals from another authority. Corporate shareholders need their constitutional documents, usually attested. We give you the exact list for your jurisdiction and activity at the start.
When must a business register for VAT in the UAE?
Registration is mandatory once taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 in the previous 12 months, or are expected to in the next 30 days. Voluntary registration is possible from AED 187,500. The standard rate is 5%, and returns are usually filed quarterly.
Do free zone companies pay UAE corporate tax?
Free zone companies must register and file. A qualifying free zone person can apply 0% to qualifying income if it meets the conditions, including adequate substance and audited financial statements; other income is taxed at 9% above the threshold.
Do you provide accounting and bookkeeping for UAE companies?
Yes. Monthly or quarterly bookkeeping, management accounts, year-end financial statements and auditor coordination, so VAT returns and corporate tax filings are built on clean books.
Do you handle visas and PRO services?
Yes. Investor and employee visas, Emirates ID, establishment cards and the government transactions that go with them, plus payroll processing for your team.
Can you renew my trade licence and keep company records up to date?
Yes. We keep the calendar for trade licence renewals, UBO and shareholder registers, changes of shareholders, directors and activities, and annual filings.
One company, done properly.
Tell us the activity and where you want to trade. We will tell you the zone, the entity and what the first year of filings looks like.