For Indian founders
Setting up a UAE company from India
What applies to Indian 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 Indian 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 1993 (signed 1992), with protocols in force in 2007 and 2013. | UAE Ministry of Finance, treaties dashboardChecked 21 October 2026 |
| Entering the UAE | Indian ordinary-passport holders need a UAE visa arranged before travel. A 14-day visa on arrival, extendable once, is available to those who hold a US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence visa, each valid for at least six months. | 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 India 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 India
What you prepare, and how Indian papers are attested
The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention. So Indian documents follow the attestation route, not the apostille route.
- If you own the shares yourselfYour passport, a passport photo, proof of your address in India and a short CV of your business background.
- If an Indian company is the shareholderIts certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, a board resolution approving the UAE company, and a recent good-standing certificate or equivalent.
- If someone signs for youA power of attorney, signed before a notary in India and then attested.
- Exact listEach free zone and the mainland authority set their own list. We send you the list for your chosen jurisdiction before you collect anything.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille | India has been a party to the Apostille Convention since 2005. The United Arab Emirates does not appear in the convention’s list of contracting parties. | HCCH, Apostille Convention status tableChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Step 1 in India | India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) carries out “normal attestation” for countries outside the convention. It legalises documents on the signature of the State Government, Union Territory or Chamber of Commerce authority, and does not legalise photocopies. | MEA India, Attestation / ApostilleChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Step 2 for the UAE | India-issued documents must first be attested by the MEA. The UAE Embassy in New Delhi then attests them digitally. One application covers both the Embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. | UAE Embassy New Delhi, attestation informationChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Company papers | The original physical document is required. Memorandum and articles of association must be attested separately. A power of attorney with commercial content is treated as a commercial document. | UAE Embassy New Delhi, attestation informationChecked 26 October 2026 |
Choosing a structure
Match the structure to how you will earn
Most Indian founders fall into one of four patterns. Our free setup assessment tests your plan against them.
- Trading
Selling goods inside the UAE, or between India and the UAE
A Dubai mainland licence lets you trade across the local market. For warehousing and re-export, compare JAFZA. The UAE-India CEPA has applied since 1 May 2022. It cuts or removes Indian tariffs on more than 80 per cent of products exported from the UAE.
- Services
- Holding
- Compare
Not sure yet
See all jurisdictions side by side, or get a first estimate from our cost calculator.
Banking
What UAE banks usually ask Indian owners
Each bank decides on its own file, and none can be promised. A clear paper trail from India is what helps most. See bank account opening.
- Who you are
Identity and background
Your passport, proof of your Indian address, and a CV or profile that shows you know the business you are licensing.
- Where the money comes from
Source of funds from India
Recent Indian bank statements and the record of the remittance that funds the company. The Reserve Bank of India requires your PAN for every remittance under its Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
- India-side record
Your overseas investment number
Under the RBI overseas investment directions, your Indian bank obtains a Unique Identification Number (UIN) before the first investment is sent. That number and the bank’s remittance advice help explain the money.
- What you will do
A short business plan
Expected clients and suppliers, the countries involved, and rough monthly turnover. We prepare this file with you.
Home-country rules
Indian rules to check before you invest abroad
If you live in India, Indian foreign exchange law governs how you fund and hold a UAE company. These are the points we see most often.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual remittance limit | Resident individuals can remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April to March) under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. PAN is mandatory. Permitted uses include setting up wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures abroad. Investments must follow the Overseas Investment Rules and Regulations, 2022. | RBI, LRS FAQs RBI, LRS circular No. 106Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Which company you can own | A resident individual may make overseas direct investment in an operating foreign entity outside financial services. That entity must have no subsidiary or step-down subsidiary under the individual’s control. It counts towards the LRS ceiling. | FEM (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022, Schedule IIIChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Investing back into India | A resident may not invest in a foreign entity that has invested, or later invests, into India, if this creates over two layers of subsidiaries. | FEM (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022, rule 19(3)Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Bank and reporting | All transactions for the investment go through one designated Indian bank. Form FC is filed to obtain a UIN on or before the first investment, and the UIN is not an RBI approval. Resident individuals have their Annual Performance Report certified by a chartered accountant. | RBI, Overseas Investment Directions, 2022Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Your tax residence | A stay in India of 182 days or more in the year is one residence test. An Indian citizen with Indian-source income over Rs 15 lakh may be deemed resident if not liable to tax elsewhere. The Income-tax Act, 2025 came into force on 1 April 2026, so confirm the current tests. | Income Tax Department, residence chartChecked 26 October 2026 |
The UAE has no personal income tax, so the deemed-residence test is worth raising with your chartered accountant. If an Indian company will be the shareholder, the rules for Indian entities differ; check them with a tax adviser in India. Aizaa works alongside your home-country adviser; we do not give home-country tax or legal advice.
Visas
Residence for you and your family
Owning the company opens a residence route for you. Which one fits depends on how much you invest and how you plan to live.
- Owner
Investor or partner residence
As a shareholder, you may qualify for residence linked to your company. The UAE portal lists investors and business partners among those eligible for the five-year Green visa. See our investor visa page.
- Long term
Golden visa
For investors, u.ae lists a ten-year visa for public investments with minimum capital of AED 2 million, among other conditions. See our Golden visa page.
- Family
Spouse and children
Both the Golden visa and the Green visa allow you to sponsor family members, including spouses and children, according to u.ae.
- Before you commit
A visit to explore first
A single-entry visit visa to explore investment opportunities is valid for 60, 90 or 120 days. It asks for an attested copy of your qualifications certificate, so start the MEA step early.
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 India
A composite case to show the order of work. It is not a real client.
- The founder
A software consultant in Bengaluru
This is an illustrative example. She lives in India, owns the shares herself, and serves clients in the Gulf. She opens a service licence in a free zone with one visa. Her Indian bank is designated for the investment and obtains a UIN before she remits the share capital under LRS. Her degree and power of attorney go through MEA attestation, then UAE digital attestation. Once the licence is issued, we prepare her bank file. A chartered accountant in India handles her APR and Indian tax return.
FAQs
Questions Indian founders ask us
Short answers. Your own case may differ, so ask us on a call.
How much does a UAE company cost for a founder from India?
It depends on the jurisdiction, the business activity, the number of visas and the office you need. Free zone service licences and mainland trading licences are priced very differently. Use our cost calculator for a first estimate, then book a free call. We confirm the full cost in writing before you pay anything.
Can I set up the company while I stay in India?
Much of the work can start from India. You attest your documents through the MEA and the UAE Embassy in New Delhi, and we prepare the application in Dubai. Whether you must travel depends on the authority and on your visa steps. We confirm this for your chosen jurisdiction before you book a flight.
Can I use LRS to fund my UAE company?
RBI rules list setting up wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures abroad as a permitted use of LRS. The limit is USD 250,000 per financial year, shared with your other LRS remittances. Your investment must also meet the Overseas Investment Rules, 2022. Your Indian bank and chartered accountant should confirm your case before you remit.
Will I still pay tax in India?
That depends on your Indian tax residence, not on where the company is registered. Days spent in India, your income level and whether another country taxes you all matter. India and the UAE have a tax treaty, but you should check your position with an Indian tax adviser. We do not give Indian tax advice.
Can my family move with me?
Yes, if you hold a residence visa that allows sponsorship. The UAE government portal states that both the Golden visa and the Green visa allow holders to sponsor family members, including spouses and children. Your family’s Indian documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, need MEA attestation and then UAE attestation. Official personal documents must be submitted in original form.
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.