JURISDICTIONS · DIFC
DIFC, common law, English language,
and the region's deepest financial registry.
ENTITY FORMS
- Private Company Limited by Shares
- The standard operating and holding company.
- Prescribed Company
- The holding vehicle, no commercial activity, no employees; established through a registered CSP director; reduced fees and filing obligations. The borrowing-vehicle of choice for lender-specified structures.
- Foundation
- For succession and private wealth holding.
- Branch
- For established foreign companies.
FORMATION STEPS
- 01Confirm the entity form against the intended use (and the lender's specification, where one exists).
- 02Reserve the name with the Registrar.
- 03Assemble UBO and KYC documents, apostilled as required.
- 04File articles through the CSP channel; Registrar review.
- 05Licence and incorporation issued; establishment card where personnel follow.
- 06Corporate bank account.
TIMELINE, Typically two to four weeks from a complete file for a Prescribed Company, including the CSP's own KYC review.
TAX HIGHLIGHTS
- Corporate tax
- 0% for qualifying free-zone persons on qualifying income; 9% UAE corporate tax otherwise.
- VAT
- No personal income tax. UAE VAT at 5% where applicable.
- Legal system
- Common-law courts operating in English; independent registrar and regulator.
Formed to specification, the right form in the right jurisdiction, decided in writing before filing.
Verified as of July 2026 · reviewed quarterly