For UK founders
Setting up a UAE company from the UK
What applies to British founders and investors: the tax treaty position, how you enter the UAE, how UK documents are legalised, 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 on arrivalFree for British citizens, up to 90 days in 180
- 0% to AED 375,000Corporate tax, then 9%
- 100%Foreign ownership on most mainland activities
Written by Tabish Ahmed, Senior ManagerReviewed by Auj Afreen Ahmad, Founder and Chief Executive OfficerLast updated
The facts, with sources
What rules apply to UK founders setting up in the UAE?
UK founders have a UK-UAE tax treaty in force since 25 December 2016. On a British citizen passport you get a free visit visa on arrival, valid for up to 90 days in 180. Corporate tax is 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. Foreign investors can fully own most mainland companies, and individuals pay no UAE income tax.
Rules change, so each line shows where it comes from and when we last checked it.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Double taxation convention | Signed on 12 April 2016 and in force since 25 December 2016. It takes effect for amounts paid or credited, and for taxable years, from 1 January 2017. The Multilateral Instrument modified it with effect from 2020. | GOV.UK, HMRC tax treaties with the UAEChecked 4 November 2026 |
| Entering the UAE | On a full British citizen passport, a visitor visa is issued free of charge when you arrive, with no need to apply in advance. It is valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you arrive. You must not work on a visit visa. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the United Kingdom as visa free. | GOV.UK, UAE entry requirements UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa informationChecked 4 November 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 4 November 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 4 November 2026 |
| Personal income tax | The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. | u.ae, other taxesChecked 4 November 2026 |
What it means in practice
Who handles the UAE side and the UK side for a British founder?
Aizaa handles the UAE side: choosing the jurisdiction, forming the company, residence visas, the Emirates ID and the documents banks ask for. Your UK tax position is a question for a UK tax adviser, and we can work alongside them. We do not give UK tax advice and we do not file tax returns.
- 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. If your adviser says you need a UAE Tax Residency Certificate, we can apply for it.
- UK side
Your UK tax position
Moving abroad or owning a foreign company can have tax consequences in the UK. Speak to a UK tax adviser before you commit; we can work alongside them.
- From the UK
Working with us remotely
Much of the work runs by email, video call and courier. We tell you early if your chosen authority needs you in the UAE in person. See how we start a Dubai company from abroad.
Documents from the UK
How are UK documents legalised for a UAE company?
In two steps. First, the FCDO Legalisation Office in the UK legalises the document by attaching an apostille. Because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, the UAE Embassy in London then attests it digitally, in one application that also covers the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Memorandum and articles are attested separately.
- If you own the shares yourselfYour passport, a passport photo, proof of your address in the UK and a short CV of your business background.
- If a UK company is the shareholderIts certificate of incorporation from Companies House, its articles of association, 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 UK solicitor or notary, then legalised by the FCDO and attested by the UAE Embassy.
- 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 | The Apostille Convention has been in force for the United Kingdom since 24 January 1965. The United Arab Emirates does not appear in the convention’s list of contracting parties. | HCCH, Apostille Convention status tableChecked 4 November 2026 |
| Step 1 in the UK | The FCDO Legalisation Office checks signatures, stamps and seals against its records and legalises the document by attaching an apostille. Public registry documents, such as a company certificate issued by Companies House, can be legalised directly. Other documents, such as a power of attorney or a copy of a passport, must first be certified by a UK notary or solicitor. | GOV.UK, get your document legalisedChecked 4 November 2026 |
| Step 2 for the UAE | UK-issued documents must first be legalised by the FCDO. The UAE Embassy in London then attests them digitally. You apply on the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs website using UAE Pass, the physical document is collected, and you receive by email a copy attested by both the Embassy and the Ministry. The Embassy says this typically takes 2 to 3 working days. | UAE Embassy London, digital attestationChecked 4 November 2026 |
| Company papers | Memorandum and articles of association must be attested separately. A power of attorney must be signed in the presence of a UK solicitor or notary, and one with commercial content is treated as a commercial document. Documents apostilled in a bundle are not accepted, and official personal documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, must be originals. | UAE Embassy London, digital attestationChecked 4 November 2026 |
The Embassy needs the physical document to issue its digital attestation, so ask us before you choose an electronic apostille. If you do not have UAE Pass yet, ask us how the application works for you.
Choosing a structure
Which UAE structure suits a UK founder?
It depends on where your clients are. Selling goods or services inside the UAE usually points to a Dubai mainland licence. Service businesses with clients mostly outside the UAE often need only a free zone, such as IFZA, Meydan or DMCC. Holding structures suit ADGM, DIFC or RAK ICC. Our mainland versus free zone guide compares them.
- Trading
Selling goods inside the UAE, or between the UK and the UAE
A Dubai mainland licence lets you trade across the local market. For warehousing and re-export, compare JAFZA.
- Services
Consulting, marketing, design, IT or e-commerce
If your clients are mostly outside the UAE, a free zone licence is often enough. Compare IFZA, Meydan and DMCC on activity list, visa quota and office options. Working alone? Compare a company with a freelance visa.
- Holding
- Compare
Not sure yet
Read mainland vs free zone, see all jurisdictions side by side, check our business setup cost guide, or get a first estimate from our cost calculator.
Banking
What do UAE banks usually ask UK owners?
A clear paper trail from the UK: your passport, proof of your UK address and a CV; recent UK bank statements that show where the capital comes from; for a UK company shareholder, its Companies House documents, legalised and attested; and a short business plan with expected clients, suppliers and turnover. Each bank decides its own list.
- Who you are
Identity and background
Your passport, proof of your UK address, and a CV or profile that shows you know the business you are licensing.
- Where the money comes from
Source of funds from the UK
Recent UK bank statements and the record of the transfer that funds the company. If the money comes from a sale, savings or a dividend, keep the documents that show it.
- Corporate owner
If a UK company holds the shares
Its Companies House documents, legalised and attested as above, and details of who owns and controls it.
- 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. See bank account opening.
Home-country rules
Which UK rules should you check before moving or investing?
Mainly your UK tax residence and, for a company, where it is controlled. HMRC’s statutory residence test works out your residence for each tax year. You must tell HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad. HMRC says a company incorporated abroad resides where its central management and control actually is. Check all three with a UK tax adviser.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Your tax residence | The Statutory Residence Test (SRT), introduced in Finance Act 2013, lets you work out your residence status for a tax year. HMRC’s RDR3 guide explains how HMRC applies it to individual circumstances. | GOV.UK, RDR3 Statutory Residence TestChecked 4 November 2026 |
| Leaving the UK | You must tell HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad permanently, or go to work abroad full-time for at least one full tax year. If you do not usually complete a Self Assessment return, you fill in form P85. If you do, you complete the residence section (form SA109) and send it by post. | GOV.UK, tax if you leave the UK to live abroadChecked 4 November 2026 |
| UK income after you leave | If you are non-resident, you do not pay UK tax on income or gains you get outside the UK. You may still need to pay UK tax on UK income, such as rent from a UK property. Whether you are non-resident from the day after you leave depends on split year treatment. | GOV.UK, tax if you leave the UK to live abroadChecked 4 November 2026 |
| Where a company is resident | For a company not incorporated in the UK, HMRC applies the case law rule: it resides where its real business is carried on, which is where its central management and control actually abides. In the De Beers case, a company incorporated abroad whose board exercised its powers in the UK was held to be UK resident. | HMRC International Manual, INTM120060Checked 4 November 2026 |
The UAE has no personal income tax, but your UK position depends on the UK rules above, not only on where the company is registered. If a UK company will be the shareholder, other UK rules apply; check them with a UK tax adviser. Aizaa works alongside your UK adviser; we do not give UK tax or legal advice, and we do not file tax returns.
Visas
How do UK founders get UAE residence for themselves and their family?
Through the company: u.ae lists investors and business partners among those eligible for the five-year Green visa, and lists a ten-year Golden visa for public investments with minimum capital of AED 2 million. Both let you sponsor spouses and children. Until your residence visa is issued, a British citizen can stay on the visit visa issued on arrival.
- 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. Source checked 4 November 2026
- 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. Source checked 4 November 2026
- 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. Their UK birth and marriage certificates need FCDO legalisation and UAE attestation, and must be originals.
- Medical
The residence medical
The UK travel advice notes that residence visa applicants take a blood test, and explains what happens if it shows certain communicable diseases. Source checked 4 November 2026
How we set you up
How does Aizaa set up a UAE company for a founder from the UK?
For founders from the UK, Aizaa uses four steps with one named contact: choose mainland, free zone or offshore through a free setup assessment; form the company, with licence, documents and approvals; arrange residence visas and the Emirates ID for you, your team and family; then prepare the bank file and track UBO records, licence renewals and visa dates.
- 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
What does a typical UAE company setup look like for a founder from the UK?
A typical setup starts with the documents. In this illustrative example, not a real client, a Manchester marketing consultant who owns the shares herself opens a free zone service licence with one visa. Her degree and power of attorney get FCDO legalisation and UAE Embassy attestation, then we form the company, arrange her visa and prepare her bank file.
- The founder
A marketing consultant in Manchester
This is an illustrative example. She lives in the UK, owns the shares herself, and serves clients in the Gulf and Europe. She opens a service licence in a free zone with one visa. Her degree certificate and power of attorney are certified by a UK solicitor, legalised by the FCDO and attested digitally by the UAE Embassy in London. She flies in on the visit visa issued on arrival for her visa medical and Emirates ID. Once the licence is issued, we prepare her bank file. A UK tax adviser handles her UK residence position and anything she must tell HMRC.
FAQs
Questions UK 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 the UK?
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 the UK?
Much of the work can start from the UK. Your documents go through FCDO legalisation and UAE Embassy attestation, 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.
Do I need a visa to visit the UAE to set up?
Not in advance, if you travel on a full British citizen passport. The UK government says a free visitor visa is issued when you arrive, valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period. You must not work on it. Once your company is formed, you apply for residence through it.
Will I still pay tax in the UK?
That depends on your UK tax residence, not only on where the company is registered. HMRC’s statutory residence test decides your residence for each tax year, and UK income can still be taxed after you leave. The UK and the UAE have a tax treaty. Check your position with a UK tax adviser. We do not give UK 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 UK documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, need FCDO legalisation and then UAE attestation. Official personal documents must be submitted in original form.
Sources
Official sources for this page
Each source was checked on 4 November 2026. Rules change, so check the source before you act.
- GOV.UK, United Arab Emirates: tax treaties Checked 4 November 2026
- GOV.UK, UAE travel advice: entry requirements Checked 4 November 2026
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa exemptions for non-citizens Checked 4 November 2026
- HCCH, Apostille Convention status table Checked 4 November 2026
- GOV.UK, get your document legalised Checked 4 November 2026
- UAE Embassy in London, digital attestation Checked 4 November 2026
- u.ae, corporate tax Checked 4 November 2026
- u.ae, full foreign ownership of commercial companies Checked 4 November 2026
- u.ae, other taxes Checked 4 November 2026
- GOV.UK, RDR3 Statutory Residence Test Checked 4 November 2026
- GOV.UK, tax if you leave the UK to live abroad Checked 4 November 2026
- HMRC International Manual, INTM120060: central management and control Checked 4 November 2026
- u.ae, Green visa Checked 4 November 2026
- u.ae, Golden visa Checked 4 November 2026
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 4 November 2026.