For Ukrainian founders
Setting up a UAE company from Ukraine
What applies to Ukrainian 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 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 Ukrainian 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 2004 (signed 2003); an amending protocol entered into force in October 2023. | UAE Ministry of Finance, treaties dashboardChecked 21 October 2026 |
| Entering the UAE | Ukrainian 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 Ukraine 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 Ukraine
What to prepare, and how Ukrainian documents are legalised
The paperwork for an individual founder is short. Documents for a Ukrainian company as shareholder take longer, so start them early.
- PassportA clear colour copy. We check the validity your licence and visa applications need.
- Proof of addressA recent utility bill or bank statement showing your home address, in Ukraine or where you now live.
- A short CVFree zones and banks often ask for one to understand your background and the planned activity.
- For a Ukrainian company as shareholderIts extract from the company register, its charter, a resolution approving the UAE company and naming the signatory, and recent proof of good standing.
- Power of attorneyOnly if someone will sign for you in the UAE.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille | Ukraine is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, but the UAE is not on the list of contracting parties. An apostille alone is not the route for UAE use. | HCCH, Apostille Convention status tableChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Attestation chain | First the issuing country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attests the document. Next the UAE Embassy or Consulate there attests it. Finally it is attested in the UAE through the Ministry’s website. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQsChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Language | For attestation through an approved courier in the UAE, the document must be in Arabic or English, or come with a legally certified translation. It must not be laminated. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, documents attestationChecked 26 October 2026 |
| UAE Embassy in Kyiv | The Ministry lists attestation among the services of the UAE Embassy in Kyiv. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv embassy servicesChecked 26 October 2026 |
| No mission available | If no UAE mission serves your country, the Ministry asks you to contact it through its contact centre or Contact Us page. | UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, documents attestationChecked 26 October 2026 |
So a Ukrainian certificate goes to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE Embassy, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ask your Ukrainian notary whether a document needs any other certification before that. Check the embassy’s current availability before you send papers. We confirm with the free zone or authority which documents it needs attested, so you only legalise what is required.
Choosing a structure
Which UAE structure fits how you will trade
Choose from where your customers are and what you will do, not from the licence price alone.
- Selling in the UAE
Mainland company
If your customers are UAE businesses or consumers, or you need a shop or warehouse, a Dubai mainland licence is usually the simpler fit. Most activities allow full foreign ownership, as the table above shows.
- IT and services
- Moving goods
Port-side free zone
Importers and re-exporters who move physical goods through Jebel Ali often look at JAFZA.
- Holding
- Not sure yet
Compare before you decide
Read our jurisdictions guide, take the free setup assessment or price your options with the cost calculator.
Banking
What UAE banks ask Ukrainian founders for
Each bank makes its own decision. A complete, consistent file is what moves a review forward, and we prepare it with you. See bank account opening.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Source of funds and wealth | Central Bank guidance tells banks to verify source of funds and source of wealth by obtaining evidence from the customer. | Central Bank of the UAE, CDD guidance (November 2025)Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Beneficial owners | Banks should identify every individual owning or controlling 25 percent or more, tracing ownership up the whole chain of companies. | Central Bank of the UAE, CDD guidance (November 2025)Checked 26 October 2026 |
- Ukrainian bank statementsRecent statements for the accounts that will fund the company, translated into English if the bank asks.
- Evidence of how you earned the moneySalary or sole-proprietor income records, dividend records, sale contracts or tax returns.
- CV and business planYour experience, the activity, expected customers and suppliers, and expected monthly turnover.
- Contracts or invoicesSigned contracts or letters of intent with first clients show how the account will be used.
- Transfer recordsIf money moves from Ukraine, keep your bank’s confirmation of each transfer. It helps show the funds left in line with Ukrainian rules.
Home-country rules
Ukrainian rules to check before you invest abroad
Wartime currency restrictions and Ukraine’s controlled foreign company (CFC) rules both touch a UAE company. Check them before you transfer money or sign.
| Topic | Position | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Currency restrictions | At the outbreak of the full-scale war, the National Bank of Ukraine imposed administrative FX restrictions. It is easing them gradually, in stages, with no fixed dates. | National Bank of Ukraine, FX restrictionsChecked 26 October 2026 |
| CFC report | An individual controller files a report for each foreign company with the annual declaration. For 2025 the deadline was 1 May 2026. An abbreviated report could be filed then, with the full version added by 31 December. | State Tax Service of Ukraine, April 2026Checked 26 October 2026 |
| Notifying changes | Every acquisition, change in share or end of control over a CFC must be notified to the State Tax Service within 60 calendar days. Legal entities that are controllers filed their 2025 report by 2 March 2026. | State Tax Service of Ukraine, CFC deadlinesChecked 26 October 2026 |
| Penalties | In December 2025 the State Tax Service noted that CFC penalties do not apply during martial law, while still urging controllers to file. | State Tax Service of Ukraine, December 2025Checked 26 October 2026 |
So do not assume you can send capital from Ukraine to a UAE company. Limits on transfers abroad and on foreign investment change as the easing moves on. Check the current NBU rules and ask your Ukrainian bank before any transfer. Tax residency, who counts as a controller and how UAE profits are taxed in Ukraine are questions for a Ukrainian 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
Owning a UAE company opens a residence route for you. The longer-term visas also let you sponsor your family.
- Shareholder
Investor or partner visa
As a shareholder you can apply for residence through your company. We handle the applications, the Emirates ID and renewals. See investor visa.
- 5 years
Green visa
The u.ae Green visa page lists investors and business partners among those eligible for a renewable five-year visa.
- 5 or 10 years
Golden visa
The u.ae Golden visa page lists investors in public investments or real estate, with a minimum capital of AED 2 million. See Golden visa.
- Family
Spouse and children
Both u.ae pages list the ability to sponsor family members, including spouses and children.
- Travel
Coming to sign
UAE MOFA lists Ukrainian passport holders as visa free, as the table above shows. You can travel in to sign documents and complete visa steps.
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 Ukraine
This is an illustrative example, not a real client. Your own case may differ.
A software developer works as a sole proprietor in Ukraine and serves clients in Europe and the Gulf. She wants a UAE company to sign Gulf contracts and to live in Dubai part of the year. She takes our setup assessment and chooses a free zone licence for IT services. We tell her which documents need attesting before she starts. Her Ukrainian tax adviser explains her CFC reporting and checks the current NBU rules on funding the company. She then flies in to sign and to complete her residence visa steps. We then prepare her bank file with Ukrainian statements, contracts and her CV.
FAQs
Questions founders from Ukraine ask us
Short answers. For your own case, book a free call.
How much does a UAE company cost?
It depends on the jurisdiction, the activity, the number of visas and whether you need an office. Free zone and mainland packages are priced differently. Use our cost calculator for an estimate, then we confirm a written quote for your case before you pay anything.
Can I set up from abroad, or do I need to travel to the UAE?
Much of the work can start remotely. You send copies of your documents and we prepare the application. Your Ukrainian documents need attesting first, which takes time. You then travel for signing, residence visa steps and bank meetings. UAE MOFA lists Ukrainian passport holders as visa free, so you can arrive without arranging a visa first.
Will I still have to report the company in Ukraine?
Possibly. The State Tax Service of Ukraine requires controllers of foreign companies to file a CFC report and to notify changes within 60 calendar days. Whether you are a controller depends on your tax residency and ownership. Ask a Ukrainian tax adviser. We do not give Ukrainian tax advice.
Can I send money from Ukraine to fund the company?
Check first. The National Bank of Ukraine imposed currency restrictions at the start of the full-scale war and is easing them gradually, in stages. Limits for individuals and on investing abroad can change at short notice. Ask your Ukrainian bank and adviser what is currently permitted before you transfer.
Can my family move with me?
Yes, if you hold a residence visa that allows sponsorship. The u.ae pages on the Green visa and the Golden visa both list the ability to sponsor family members, including spouses and children. We prepare the family applications once your own visa is issued.
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.