Business setup in Dubai for Indians

UAE company law does not treat Indian shareholders differently from other foreign shareholders. Ownership, licensing and corporate tax rules are the same for every nationality. What does depend on your passport is how you enter the UAE, which of your documents must be attested at home, and which Indian rules apply to money you send abroad.

This page covers those three points for Indian founders, and what a first year typically costs. Prices are typical market ranges for October 2026, not quotes.

Typical first-year costs for one Indian founder in a free zone

Typical market ranges, not a quote. A mainland licence typically costs AED 10,500–18,000 and needs a registered office with an Ejari tenancy contract.

Business setup in Dubai for Indians: can you own 100%?

Yes. Free zone companies can be fully foreign-owned. On the mainland, the Commercial Companies Law changes that took effect in 2021 removed the rule that a UAE national must hold a majority share, so most activities can now be 100% foreign-owned. The UAE government portal lists the exceptions: activities with a strategic impact, which the Cabinet can restrict.

• Security, defence and military-related activities
• Telecommunications
• Banks, exchange, financing and insurance
• Commercial agencies, which stay under their own law

How to open a company in Dubai from India

Registration can be done without travelling at some licensing authorities. DMCC states that its company registration is fully remote through its member portal, and IFZA says incorporation can be completed with e-signatures and a licence emailed to you. Each authority sets its own process, so confirm it before you pay.

Some steps are still in person. DMCC says residence visa applications and Emirates ID enrolment require biometrics to be completed in person, and IFZA says visa medical tests and the Emirates ID need a visit. UAE banks may also ask the applicant to be present. A zero-visa package lets you register first and add visas when you travel.

Do Indians need a visa to enter Dubai?

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the Republic of India as "visa required", so Indian passport holders normally apply for an entry permit before flying. There is one published exception. The Dubai residency authority offers a 14-day visa on arrival, extendable once, to Indian ordinary passport holders who hold a US green card or a UK or EU residence visa. Both the passport and that document must have at least six months' validity.

An entry permit lets you visit. It is not a residence visa, and it does not replace the medical test, security check and Emirates ID that the residence visa needs. Check the current list of qualifying documents on the ICP or GDRFA Dubai portals before you travel.

Attesting Indian documents for a UAE company

UAE rules for foreign-issued documents are a chain: the foreign ministry of the issuing country first, then the UAE Embassy, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For India, the UAE Embassy in New Delhi says Indian documents must first be attested by the Ministry of External Affairs, then processed through the UAE MoFA website. Originals are needed, and laminated documents are not accepted.

Which documents need this depends on the licensing authority and on whether a shareholder is a person or a company, so ask for the exact list first. A power of attorney, for example, is notarised in India and then attested by the Indian foreign ministry.

Sending money from India to fund a Dubai company

Indian rules apply on your side of the transfer. The Reserve Bank of India's Liberalised Remittance Scheme lets resident individuals remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year across permitted transactions, and investing in a foreign entity has its own foreign-exchange rules. Ask your bank or a chartered accountant in India how your transfer should be classified before you send it.

Tax for Indian founders in the UAE

The Ministry of Finance's list of UAE double tax agreements shows an agreement with India that has been in force since 1993, with later protocols signed in 2007 and 2012. A treaty does not remove your Indian obligations. Whether India taxes you depends on your Indian tax residency, so take advice from an Indian tax professional. On the UAE side, corporate tax is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000, with a 0% rate for income that qualifies in free zones. This is general information, not tax advice.

Steps to set up a company in Dubai as an Indian citizen

1. 1

   Choose the activity and the licensing authority

   The activity decides whether a free zone or the mainland fits, and which approvals apply.

2. 2

   Confirm which documents must be attested

   Ask the authority for its list, then start the MEA step in India early because it runs before the UAE steps.

3. 3

   Sign and submit remotely where the authority allows it

   Share capital, shareholder details and the Memorandum of Association are agreed and signed digitally.

4. 4

   Receive the licence and establishment card

   The establishment card is the immigration file needed before any residence visa.

5. 5

   Enter the UAE for the residence visa steps

   Arrange your entry permit, then complete the medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID.

6. 6

   Open the business bank account

   Banks review the company and each owner. Start the application early.

Typical documents for an Indian shareholder

• Valid passport copy, with at least six months' validity for visa steps
• Passport-size photo with a white background
• UAE entry permit or visa page, once you have it
• Attested board resolution and company documents if a company is the shareholder
• Notarised and attested power of attorney if someone signs for you

Things to weigh up

• Free zone and mainland rules are the same for every nationality; the differences are travel, attestation and your home-country obligations.
• A short entry permit is for visiting. Plan your residence visa steps before you book flights.
• The licensing authority, not this page, confirms the final document list.