For founders from Russia and Kazakhstan
Setting up a UAE company from Russia and Kazakhstan
What applies to founders from Russia and Kazakhstan 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 freeEntry 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 founders from Russia and Kazakhstan
Rules change, so each line shows where it comes from and when we last checked it.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Double taxation agreement | Russia: In force since 18 July 2025 (signed February 2025). Kazakhstan: In force since 2013 (signed 2008). | UAE Ministry of Finance, treaties dashboardChecked 21 October 2026 |
| Entering the UAE | Russian and Kazakh passport holders do not need a visa arranged in advance: the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists them as visa free. The permitted length of stay is set by the UAE authorities, so we confirm it for your passport before you travel. | 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 Russia or Kazakhstan 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 Russia and Kazakhstan
Preparing and legalising your documents
UAE authorities and banks rely on foreign documents only once they are attested. The route depends on the country that issued them.
- Passport copiesA clear copy for every shareholder and manager. We send you the exact list for the authority you choose.
- Proof of home addressA recent utility bill or bank letter, if the authority or the bank asks for it.
- For a corporate shareholderCertificate of incorporation, charter or articles, a board resolution approving the UAE company, and a recent registry extract or good-standing certificate.
- Power of attorney, if neededIt lets someone act for you in Dubai. A Russian one is signed before a notary before it can be attested.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille | Russia and Kazakhstan are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. The UAE is not listed as a party, so an apostille on its own is not the route for UAE use. | HCCH, Apostille Convention status tableChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Documents issued in Russia | First attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Powers of attorney are signed before a Russian notary first. One digital application then covers the UAE Embassy in Moscow and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The original paper document is needed. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy in Moscow, digital attestationChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Documents issued in Kazakhstan | Documents issued outside the UAE are subject to the applicable attestation procedures. UAE MoFA offers attestation through selected UAE missions abroad. We confirm the steps for Kazakhstan with the UAE mission before you start. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, documents attestationChecked 26 October 2026 |
Ask us before you notarise anything, so each step happens in the right order.
Choosing a structure
Which UAE structure fits your plan
Start from where your customers are and what the company will hold. The licence follows from that. Not sure yet? Try our free setup assessment, get a first budget from the cost calculator, or compare all jurisdictions.
- Selling in the UAE
Mainland company
Selling to UAE businesses or consumers, or need a local shop or warehouse? A Dubai mainland licence is usually the simplest fit. Most activities allow full foreign ownership, as the facts table above shows.
- Services and online
- Moving goods
Port-side free zone
If you import, re-export or store physical goods, a zone such as JAFZA, beside Jebel Ali Port, may suit your logistics.
- Holding assets
Banking
Opening a UAE business bank account
The bank makes its own decision. Our job is to give it a complete and consistent file. See how we handle bank account opening.
- Ownership
Who owns and controls the company
Under Central Bank of the UAE guidance, banks should generally identify and verify every owner of 25% or more before the relationship starts. Expect to give passports, a CV and a short business plan.
- Source of funds
Where your money comes from
The same guidance asks banks to verify source of funds or wealth with evidence from the customer. From Russia or Kazakhstan, that usually means home bank statements, sale contracts, dividend records or tax returns.
- Due diligence
Enhanced checks for some profiles
Banks screen customers and owners against UN and UAE sanctions lists before onboarding. Higher-risk profiles receive enhanced due diligence, which can include senior management approval at the bank.
- Consistency
One story across every document
Keep your home account active. Make sure names, addresses and figures match across passports, contracts and statements, as Latin spellings of Cyrillic names often differ.
Home-country rules
What to check in Russia and Kazakhstan first
Owning a UAE company can create reporting duties at home. These are the points we confirmed on official pages.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Russia: notice of participation | Russian tax residents holding more than 10% of a foreign company notify the tax authority within three months of the participation starting. | Federal Tax Service of Russia, notices of participationChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Russia: controlled foreign company | You are a controlling person of a foreign company above 25%, or above 10% where Russian residents together hold more than 50%. | Federal Tax Service of Russia, controlled foreign companiesChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Russia: CFC notice date | Individuals who are controlling persons file the CFC notice by 30 April of the year after the year concerned. | Federal Tax Service of Russia, CFC notice deadlinesChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Russia: foreign bank account | Currency residents notify the tax office within one month of opening, closing or changing a foreign account. This does not apply to residents abroad for more than 183 days in a calendar year. | Federal Tax Service of Russia, foreign account noticeChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Kazakhstan: capital movement | A currency contract for taking a stake in a foreign company is registered with the National Bank’s territorial branch. This applies to individuals as well as companies. Ask your bank whether any exemption covers your case. | National Bank of Kazakhstan, registration of capital-movement contracts (as at 15 September 2024)Checked 26 October 2026 |
Thresholds and exemptions change, and tax residence decides which rules apply to you. We could not confirm Kazakhstan’s rules on taxing foreign company profits from an official page, so check them with a Kazakhstan tax adviser. Aizaa works alongside your home-country adviser; we do not give home-country tax or legal advice.
Visas
Residence for you and your family
Entry is visa free for both passports, as the facts table shows. Living in the UAE needs a residence visa.
- Through your company
Investor or partner visa
Owning a UAE company is the usual route to residence. The UAE portal describes a Green visa for investors establishing or participating in commercial activities. See our investor visa page.
- Long term
Golden Visa
The Golden Visa is renewable and valid for 5 or 10 years. Investor routes start at AED 2 million in public investment or real estate. See our Golden Visa page.
- Family
Spouse and children
Residents with a valid visa can sponsor their family with a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Family members aged 18 and over pass a medical test in the UAE.
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 Russia or Kazakhstan
This is an illustrative example, not a real client. Your own case may need different steps.
- The plan
A software consultant moving to Dubai
A founder from Almaty runs an IT consultancy with clients in Europe and the Gulf. She chooses a free zone licence for services and one investor visa. Before she signs anything, she checks with her Kazakhstan adviser whether any currency-control registration applies to her transfer. She has her marriage certificate and her son’s birth certificate attested through the correct channel. She then gathers two years of bank statements and client contracts for the bank file. Once the licence is issued, she enters the UAE visa free, completes her medical test and Emirates ID, and opens the account. Her husband and son follow on her sponsorship.
FAQs
Questions founders from Russia and Kazakhstan ask
Short answers. Ask us on WhatsApp for your own case.
How much does a UAE company cost?
It depends on the jurisdiction, the activity, the office and the number of visas. A free zone licence with one visa costs differently from a mainland company with a warehouse. Use our cost calculator for a first budget, then book a free call. We confirm the figures for your activity before you pay anything.
Can I set up the company from Moscow or Almaty?
Yes, much of the work can start from abroad. You send scanned documents, sign forms and attest papers at home. Entry to the UAE is visa free on Russian and Kazakh passports. You usually travel once the licence is issued, for the medical test, Emirates ID and bank meeting. We tell you in advance which steps need you in Dubai.
Do I have to report the UAE company at home?
Often, yes. Russia has notice rules for shares in foreign companies, controlled foreign companies and foreign accounts. Kazakhstan has currency-control rules that can apply to paying for a foreign stake. The thresholds and deadlines depend on your situation. Check them with your home adviser before you invest. Aizaa does not give home-country tax or legal advice.
How long does the whole process take?
The timeline depends on how quickly your documents are attested at home, on the authority you choose, and on the bank. Attestation in Russia or Kazakhstan is often the longest step, so start it early. We give you a step-by-step plan with realistic dates once we know your structure.
Can my family move with me?
Yes. Once you hold a valid UAE residence visa, you can sponsor your spouse and children. The UAE portal sets a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Family members aged 18 and over pass a medical test in the UAE. Golden Visa holders can also sponsor their family.
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.