For Bangladeshi founders
Setting up a UAE company from Bangladesh
What applies to Bangladeshi founders and investors: the tax treaty position, how you enter the UAE, and how we set the company up for you from our office in Dubai. Every fact below links to the official source we checked.
- In forceTax treaty with the UAE
- Visa requiredEntry to the UAE
- 0% to AED 375,000Corporate tax, then 9%
- 100%Foreign ownership on most mainland activities
The facts, with sources
What applies to Bangladeshi founders
Rules change, so each line shows where it comes from and when we last checked it.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Double taxation agreement | In force since 2011. | UAE Ministry of Finance, treaties dashboardChecked 21 October 2026 |
| Entering the UAE | Bangladeshi passport holders need a UAE entry visa arranged before they travel. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists them as visa required. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa informationChecked 21 October 2026 |
| UAE corporate tax | 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, and 9% above that. A separate rate applies to large multinational groups under the global minimum tax rules. | u.ae, corporate taxChecked 21 October 2026 |
| Owning the company | Since 2021, foreign investors can fully own most mainland (onshore) companies. A short list of strategic activities, such as defence, banking and telecoms, stays restricted. | u.ae, full foreign ownershipChecked 21 October 2026 |
| Personal income tax | The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. | u.ae, other taxesChecked 21 October 2026 |
What it means in practice
The UAE side and the home side are two questions
A double taxation agreement can stop the same income being taxed twice, but whether it helps you depends on where you are tax resident and on your home country’s own rules.
- UAE side
Structure, licence, visas, bank file
We choose the jurisdiction with you, form the company, and handle residence visas, the Emirates ID and the documents banks ask for.
- Home side
Your home-country tax position
Moving abroad or owning a foreign company can have tax consequences at home. Speak to a tax adviser in Bangladesh before you commit; we can work alongside them.
- Language
Ask in your own language
Write to us on WhatsApp in your language and we will reply, or arrange a call.
Documents from Bangladesh
What to prepare, and how Bangladeshi papers are legalised
UAE authorities and banks need to trust papers issued in Bangladesh. That trust comes from a chain of stamps, and each link takes time.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille Convention | Bangladesh joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force for it since 30 March 2025. The UAE is not listed as a party, so an apostille alone does not finish the job. | HCCH, Apostille Convention status tableChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs | The Ministry issues apostilles online through mygov.bd. For countries outside the Convention, you then take the apostille and documents to its consular counter, which adds a consular sticker. | Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizen charterChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Company and family certificates | Commercial certificates must first be attested by a body such as the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies or a chamber of commerce, and notarised. Hospital birth certificates need the Civil Surgeon or Ministry of Health first. | Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizen charterChecked 26 October 2026 |
| The UAE step | The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attests documents issued outside the UAE through selected UAE Missions abroad. The UAE Embassy in Dhaka lists this attestation service. We confirm with the UAE authority whether any further stamp is needed on arrival. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attestationChecked 26 October 2026 |
- For you as a shareholderA clear copy of your passport, a recent proof of address, and a short CV showing your business background.
- For a Bangladeshi company as shareholderCertificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, a board resolution approving the UAE company and naming the signatory, and a list of directors and shareholders.
- For your familyYour marriage certificate or nikahnama and each child’s birth certificate, if you plan to sponsor them later.
- Before you startWe confirm with the free zone or department exactly which papers need the full chain, so nothing is stamped twice.
Choosing a structure
Match the structure to how you will trade
Founders from Bangladesh usually arrive with one of a few plans. Each points to a different starting place, and to a different cost. Our setup assessment narrows it down.
- UAE customers
Selling inside the UAE
If your buyers are UAE shops, contractors or consumers, start by looking at a Dubai mainland licence.
- Sourcing trade
- Services
Software, design and consulting
If you sell services to clients worldwide, a free zone such as Meydan or IFZA often gives a simpler, lower-cost start.
- Holding
- Compare
See every option side by side
Browse all jurisdictions or price a licence with the cost calculator.
Banking
What UAE banks ask Bangladeshi owners for
Each bank sets its own checklist and makes its own decision. We prepare the bank file so the usual questions are answered up front.
- Profile
Who you are
Banks typically ask for your passport, your UAE visa or entry stamp, and a CV that explains your trade experience.
- Funds
Where the capital came from
Expect questions on the source of your starting capital. Personal or company bank statements from Bangladesh, with the documents behind large credits, are the usual evidence.
- Trail
How the money left Bangladesh
Under Bangladesh Bank’s guidelines, you apply to an authorised dealer bank to buy foreign currency. Remittances other than import payments use form TM. Keep that record. It shows the funds moved through the proper channel.
- Plan
What the account will do
A short plan naming your suppliers, buyers and expected monthly flows helps the bank understand the account from day one.
Home-country rules
Bangladesh’s foreign exchange rules come first
Bangladesh controls payments abroad by its residents. Check which route applies to you before any money leaves the country.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| The basic rule | Section 5(1) of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 bars people in or resident in Bangladesh from making payments linked to acquiring property abroad. The exception is a general or special Bangladesh Bank exemption. | Laws of Bangladesh, Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Overseas equity investment rules | The Capital Account Transaction (Overseas Equity Investment) Rules, 2022 set a formal route for applicant institutions. Applications go to Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Investment Department, and a committee chaired by the Governor reviews them. | Bangladesh Bank, FEID circular letter 01/2022 (in Bangla)Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Start-up route | A circular of 27 March 2025 gives general permission to invest up to USD 10,000 or equivalent in a legal entity abroad. It must support a start-up business in Bangladesh, and only one entity is allowed under it. A resident enterprise using it must have operated in Bangladesh for less than 10 years. Funds must come from internal sources, not bank borrowing or refinance. Outside these conditions, ask your bank and adviser which route applies. | Bangladesh Bank, FEID circular 02/2025Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Reporting afterwards | Under that circular, the bank reports the remittance to Bangladesh Bank. You then file annual reports through your bank. The overseas entity’s audited accounts go to Bangladesh Bank within three months of its year end. | Bangladesh Bank, FEID circular 02/2025Checked 26 October 2026 |
If you already live outside Bangladesh, ask an adviser how these rules treat you and any money still held at home. How Bangladesh taxes you depends on your residence status under its income tax law, so check with a Bangladesh tax adviser. Aizaa works alongside your home-country adviser; we do not give home-country tax or legal advice.
Visas for you and your family
Your residence route through the company
You need an entry visa first, as shown in the facts above. Once the company exists, it opens a residence route for you and then your family.
- Partner
Investor or partner visa
u.ae lists investors and business partners among those eligible for the green visa, a renewable residence visa valid for five years. See our investor visa page.
- Long term
Golden visa
For investors, u.ae lists a minimum capital of AED 2 million. The Golden visa is valid for five or ten years. See our Golden Visa page.
- Family
Bringing your family
Both u.ae pages say holders can sponsor family members, including spouses and children. Start the Bangladesh attestation of your family certificates alongside your company papers.
How we set you up
Four steps, one named contact
- Step 1
Choose the right structure
Mainland, free zone or offshore, chosen for how you will trade. Start with our free setup assessment.
- Step 2
Form the company
Licence, documents and approvals, done for you. See company formation.
- Step 3
Visas and Emirates ID
Residence visas for you, your team and family. See PRO services.
- Step 4
Bank account and compliance
The bank file, then UBO records, licence renewals and visa dates kept on track. See business compliance.
An illustrative example
A typical setup for a founder from Bangladesh
This is an illustrative example, not a client story. It shows how the pieces above fit together.
A founder in Dhaka runs a garment sourcing business and wants to serve buyers in the Gulf. She talks to her Bangladesh adviser first about which Bangladesh Bank route covers her starting capital. Meanwhile she gets her company papers attested by the issuing body and notarised, apostilled through mygov.bd and stamped at the consular counter, then attested by the UAE Embassy in Dhaka. We compare free zone trading licences with her and form the company. She enters the UAE on a visa arranged in advance, completes her visa formalities and Emirates ID, and receives her partner visa. We then prepare her bank file, including the record of her outward remittance.
FAQs
Questions Bangladeshi founders ask us
Short answers based on the sources above. Your own situation may change the details.
How much does a UAE company cost for a founder from Bangladesh?
It depends on the jurisdiction, the activity and how many visas you need. Add the cost of notarising, apostilling and attesting your papers in Bangladesh. Our cost calculator gives a first estimate, and a free call firms it up.
Can I set up the company while I am still in Bangladesh?
Much of the work can start from Bangladesh. You can prepare and legalise your documents there, and we can file the licence application in Dubai. Bangladesh’s foreign exchange rules still decide how your capital leaves the country, so agree the route with your bank and adviser first.
Do I need to travel to the UAE?
Usually yes, at least once. In our experience, the residence visa and Emirates ID steps need you in the UAE, and banks often prefer to meet the owner. Bangladeshi passport holders need an entry visa arranged before they travel. We plan the trip so you can finish several steps in one visit.
Will I still pay tax in Bangladesh?
That depends on your residence status under Bangladesh income tax law and on the tax treaty between the two countries. Please ask a Bangladesh tax adviser. We do not give home-country tax advice, but we can work alongside your adviser.
Can my spouse and children join me?
Yes, in most cases. The UAE government portal says investor and Golden Visa holders can sponsor family members, including spouses and children. You will need your marriage certificate and the children’s birth certificates legalised in Bangladesh first, so start that early.
Related
Next steps for Bangladeshi founders
Talk to us before you pay for a licence
A free call to check the structure, the costs and the visas for your situation. No obligation.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Sources checked 21 October 2026.