Companies — mainland, free zone, offshore

Why clients need a company

In the UAE, to do business legally you need a license — an official permission paper. The license lives inside a company. A company also lets the owner get a residence visa for himself, his family, and his employees. So «open a company» is usually the first step of a client's UAE life.

Three types of companies

1. Mainland company

• Registered with the emirate's economic department (in Dubai — DET).
• Can work anywhere: with any clients inside the UAE and abroad, with government contracts.
• Best when the client needs a shop, a restaurant, an office serving the local market, or government tenders.

2. Free zone company

• Registered inside a special zone — a «free zone». There are more than 40 free zones in the UAE. Our home zone is Meydan Free Zone in Dubai.
• 100% foreign ownership, fast registration, lower cost, possible tax benefits.
• Main limits: working directly on the mainland market has restrictions; some activities need extra permissions.
• Best for: consulting, IT, online business, international trade, holding personal business.

3. Offshore company

• A company that exists «on paper» for holding assets (shares, property, intellectual property). It does NOT get office space or residence visas.
• Best for: holding structures. Not for daily business.

FIXED FACT. METATRIA itself is a free zone company in Meydan. This is a red line — we do not change it.

Words you will hear all the time

• License — the permission paper of the company. It has a number and a yearly renewal date.
• Activity — what exactly the company may do (each license lists activity codes: «management consultancy», «trading», etc.).
• MOA / AOA — the founding documents of the company. Think: «the company's passport and constitution».
• Establishment Card — a card from immigration that lets the company sponsor visas. No card — no visas.
• Substance — proof the company is real: office, staff, activity. Banks and tax authorities check substance.

Example

Client Anna from Russia wants to sell online marketing services to clients in Europe and the UAE. She does not need a shop. A free zone company in Meydan fits her: 100% ownership, license with «marketing services» activity, visa for herself. Later, if she opens a physical office with walk-in clients, we can discuss a mainland company.

What you must remember

• License = permission to do business; visa comes through the company.
• Mainland = any market; free zone = fast + 100% ownership, some limits; offshore = holding only, no visas.
• METATRIA is in Meydan Free Zone — fixed.
• Know: license, activity, MOA, Establishment Card, substance.