Dubai‘s sophisticated telecommunications and transport facilities are one of the many reasons it serves as the storage and distribution hub of the Middle East

1. www.hlbhamt.com

2. DUBAI
Dubai‘s sophisticated telecommunications and transport facilities
are one of the many reasons it serves as the storage and
distribution hub of the Middle East. Today, Dubai serves as a global
gateway, re-exporting goods from around the world to large,
neighboring markets such as Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as well
as the countries of the Indian subcontinent and East Africa.
Dubai is continuing its development into one of the world‘s major
economic and business hubs, which makes it a great place for
doing business. With the ever increasing numbers of foreigners
coming to Dubai, new markets and opportunities are constantly
emerging.

3. ADVANTAGES
The list of advantages that has led many multi-national companies
from around the world to move to Dubai:
* No taxation on profits or income
* No foreign exchange controls or restrictions on capital
movement
* A stable, freely convertible currency
* Strategic location, bridging time zones between Europe and the
Far East

4. ADVANTAGES
* Efficient and well-developed support services,
telecommunications and air links
* High quality, reasonably-priced office accommodation
* Excellent conference and exhibition facilities
* A cosmopolitan lifestyle and tolerant, safe and secure
environment

5. COMPANY FORMATION
*Federal Law No. 8 of 1984, as amended by Federal Law No. 13 of
1988 - the "Commercial Companies Law" - and its by-laws govern
the operations of foreign business.
*The Federal Law stipulates a total local equity of not less than
51% in any commercial company and defines seven categories of
business organization, which can be established in the UAE.
*It sets out the requirements in terms of shareholders, directors,
minimum capital levels and incorporation procedures.

6. COMPANY FORMATION
The seven categories of business organization defined by the Law
are:
General partnership company
 Partnership
Joint Venture Company
Public Shareholding Company
Private shareholding company
Limited Liability Company
Share Partnership Company

7. DOING BUSINESS
Over the years, Dubai has become a destination for non-UAE
nationals to be able to do business. To further expand business
opportunities for international companies seeking to operate in the
region, Dubai offers the following list of business entities:
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Professional Firms ( Civil Companies )
Branch Or Representative Office Of Foreign Companies
Free Zone Company
Offshore Company

8. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC)
Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the most common form business
in UAE. A Limited Liability Company can be formed by a minimum
of 2 and a maximum of 50 shareholders whose liability is limited to
their shares in the businesses capital.
Fifty-one per cent participation by UAE nationals is the general
requirement for the Limited Liability Companies. Therefore the
normal shareholding pattern for an LLC will be: 51% Local sponsor
(Partner) and 49% Foreign Shareholder(s).

9. PROFESSIONAL FIRMS (CIVIL COMPANIES)
Foreign investors, who are qualified, can set up partnership
firm to carry out their professional practice activities in
UAE. A civil company can only practice professional business
and is 100% owned by the professional partners, whatever
their nationalities.
A civil company for engineering must have one partner who
is a UAE National, who owns no less than 51% of the business
and must be an engineer of the same type as the business‘s
activity. Most civil companies require a Local Service Agent
(LSA) if there is no UAE-National partner in the business.

10. BRANCH OR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF
FOREIGN COMPANIES
UAE Commercial Company Law (13) of 1988 allows foreign
companies and corporations to open Branch/Representative office
to exercise their main activities in UAE.
A representative office is limited to gathering information,
soliciting orders and projects to be performed by the company‘s
main office; and limited also in the number of employees they may
sponsor. A representative office serves only as an administrative
and marketing unit for the foreign company.
On the other hand, a branch office is a full-pledged business,
permitted to perform contracts or conduct other activities as
Specified in its license.

11. FREE ZONE COMPANY
UAE Free Zones are designed according to specific or different
business industry categories and offer licenses to companies and
entities within those classifications.
The investor has the complete ownership of the business and there is
no local sponsorship or staff recruitment essentials are imposed in
free zones.
Each free zone is managed by separate Independent Free Zone
Authority, and this authority is responsible for issuing business permits
and licenses, employee visa and regulating the business requirements.
Each Free zone has their own rules and regulations and the provisions
pertaining to Commercial Companies Law do not apply to Free Zones.

12. OFFSHORE COMPANY
Going offshore is the most modern popular way of managing
business as they offer excellent and tax-efficient strategies for
entrepreneurs. Important prima facie benefits are freedom of
operations, confidentiality and ease of running business.
As―tax-free business territory, UAE is one of the well- known
jurisdictions in the world for incorporating offshore company.
Overall, Dubai presents international business with a wide range of
opportunities for different activities and operations.

13. WE CAN HELP YOU..
We are here to guide you step by step. This would help the
investors to minimize their concerns over incorporation of company
within their expected deadline and to commence the operation.
Our professionals help you with all the base work that needs to be
done before setting up your company in Dubai.

14. CONTACT US
HLB Hamt
18th floor, Suite 1801
City Tower -2, Sheikh Zayed Road
PO Box No 32665
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
+971 4 3277775
+971 4 3277677
john@hlbhamt.com
www.hlbhamt.com