UAE Corporate Tax 2025: A Startup Playbook
UAE corporate tax now applies at 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above that, with special rules for qualifying free zone entities and large multinationals in 2025.This playbook explains who must register, which rates and reliefs apply, key 2025 deadlines, and the compliance steps every new UAE business should plan for. […]
Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid
Picking the wrong jurisdiction: Choosing a free zone while needing unrestricted onshore sales or government contracting can force costly restructuring.
Best Business Activities for 2025
Digital and AI-driven services align with the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which targets nearly doubling the digital economy’s GDP contribution by 2031, supporting software development, AI integration, and cloud services.E-commerce, digital marketing, and last-mile logistics continue to benefit from nationwide digitization, data center growth, and advanced telecom infrastructure supporting online transactions and platforms.Compliance-focused professional services […]
How to Open a Business Bank Account
Open the corporate account after obtaining your license and establishment documents, ensuring your trade license, company documents, and signatory KYC are complete.Banks and fintechs offer varied onboarding speed, documentation requirements, and minimum balance policies; evaluate timelines and digital onboarding options before applying.
How to Register a Company in UAE
The core steps to register a mainland company include selecting an activity, choosing a legal form, reserving a trade name, obtaining initial approval, executing the MOA/LSA as applicable, securing premises, completing external approvals, and issuing the license.For free zones, the authority typically requires an application, business plan (where applicable), ID documents, activity selection, name approval, […]
Mainland vs Free Zone
Mainland companies are licensed by an emirate’s Department of Economy and can trade anywhere in the UAE without geographic restrictions, while free zone companies are licensed by a free zone authority and generally need a local agent or mainland branch/distributor to conduct onshore business.Foreign investors can own 100% of many mainland LLCs under the updated […]
