Founder or consultant relocating
You want a licence, a residence visa and a bank account, and to invoice clients in Europe from Dubai.
- Free zone or mainland licence
- Investor visa
- Bank account file
HBS Corporate Services · Business Bay, Dubai
Company formation, visas and accounting in Dubai — by one licensed team.
Mainland, free zone or offshore. Residence visas, bank account file, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax returns, wills. Operated by Home & Business Solutions FZE, a licensed corporate services and accounting practice.
In this practice
Who we are
More than 5,000 companies since 2004.
Founders, consultants and holding companies from every continent come to HBS for the same reason: one team that carries the company from its first licence to its annual return.
HBS Corporate Services works directly with the free zone authorities, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and the banks. Your licence, your visas, your bank file and your filings move on one timeline instead of four, and you deal with the people who hold the file.
Most clients are founders, consultants, e-commerce and technology businesses, and holding structures from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. Many also own property in Dubai, which is where HBS Real Estate comes in. We do not give tax advice for your country of residence; we work with your adviser there.
- Mainland (DET licence)
- Free zone
- Offshore and holdings
- Corporate tax and VAT (FTA)
- Residence visas
- Wills (DIFC Wills Service Centre)
Services
Set up, then stay compliant.
Formation takes weeks. Compliance is every year. We are organised for the second part as much as the first.
- 01
Mainland company
Licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), approvals and office lease. Invoices freely across the UAE and bids for government work. 100% foreign ownership for most activities since 2021.
- 02
Free zone company
Free zone chosen by activity, cost, office requirement and visa quota. Licence, establishment card and lease handled with the authority. Qualifying income may be taxed at 0%, under FTA conditions.
- 03
Offshore company
A holding vehicle for assets, property or shares, with no local operations and no visas. Structured with succession and banking in mind, in coordination with your adviser at home.
- 04
Accounting and bookkeeping
Bookkeeping and annual financial statements, prepared by an in-house team in a format your accountant at home can read. Statements are ready when a free zone or a bank asks for them.
- 05
VAT and corporate tax
VAT registration (mandatory above AED 375,000 of turnover) and returns. Corporate tax registration and annual return: 9% above AED 375,000 of taxable profit, 0% below. Filed with the FTA, with a reminder before each deadline.
- 06
Residence visas
Investor, employee and family visas, medical and Emirates ID, sponsored by your company. Golden Visa file through the company route where the ICP criteria are met.
- 07
Bank account opening
A complete KYC file, an introduction to the bank suited to your profile and support at the meeting. The decision rests with the bank; we do not guarantee an account.
- 08
Wills and succession
Registration of a will at the DIFC Wills Service Centre or the Dubai Courts non-Muslim wills registry, coordinated with qualified legal counsel.
Which structure?
Mainland, free zone or offshore?
The answer depends on where your clients are, whether you need visas and how you will bank. We settle it with you on the first call, not from a catalogue.
01
Mainland
Licensed by the DET. Sells freely within the UAE and bids for government contracts. 100% foreign ownership for most activities since 2021. An office is required.
02
Free zone
Under its own authority, with a one-stop counter and flexible offices. Common for consultants, online businesses and holdings. Direct trade on the mainland is limited.
03
Offshore
No visas, no local operations: a holding vehicle for assets and shares. Often paired with a free zone operating company or a property.
9%
Corporate tax above AED 375,000 of taxable profit
0%
Corporate tax below AED 375,000; qualifying free zone income, under conditions
5%
VAT; registration mandatory above AED 375,000 of turnover
Statutory rates as published by the Federal Tax Authority, September 2026. General information, not tax advice.
How it works
From decision to operating company.
Formation, visas, bank and accounting follow one sequence. Timings depend on the authority and the bank, and are given in writing for your case.
Diagnosis and written quote
A call to map activity, clients, visas and banking profile. You receive a written recommendation and a quote before any engagement.
Incorporation
Name reservation, licence application, establishment card and lease. Signed remotely where the authority allows it.
Visas and Emirates ID
Residence visas, medical and Emirates ID for you, your family and your staff. Biometrics require your presence in Dubai.
Bank and accounting
A complete KYC file presented to the bank suited to your profile. Then bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax returns, renewals and reminders, every year.
Who we work with
Three situations we see every week.
Choose yours and start the conversation with the right adviser.
Company already in Dubai
You hold a licence and need the books kept and the VAT and corporate tax returns filed on time.
- Bookkeeping
- VAT returns
- Corporate tax return
Investor or family office
You want to hold property or shares through the right structure, with succession in mind.
- Offshore or holding
- Property holding
- Will registration
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
What founders ask us before they set up. Ask us the rest.
Mainland, free zone or offshore: how do I choose?
A mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and invoices freely across the UAE; since 2021 most activities allow 100% foreign ownership. A free zone company sits under its own authority, with a one-stop counter, flexible offices and, under conditions, a specific tax regime. An offshore company holds assets without local operations. HBS compares the three against your activity, your clients and your visa needs.
Do I need to live in Dubai to set up a company?
No. A non-resident can own a free zone or offshore company without living in the UAE, and most of the file is prepared remotely. If you want a residence visa, your company can sponsor it; you will then come for biometrics and the Emirates ID, and enter the UAE at least once every six months to keep it valid. HBS gives you the list of steps that require your presence.
How is a Dubai company taxed?
Since June 2023, corporate tax is 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below. Small Business Relief applies up to AED 3 million in revenue, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026. Qualifying free zone income can benefit from a 0% rate, under conditions. VAT is 5%. Every company must register and file, even at 0%. Source: Federal Tax Authority.
Can HBS keep my company’s accounts in the UAE?
Yes. HBS Corporate Services keeps the books, prepares the annual financial statements requested by some free zones and banks, files VAT and corporate tax returns with the Federal Tax Authority and reminds you of every deadline in advance. The team is in-house, in the office that formed your company. Records are kept in a format your accountant at home can read, in English or French.
Can I open a business bank account remotely?
Rarely. Most UAE banks require a residence visa and at least one meeting in person; some licensed payment institutions accept remote onboarding for certain profiles. HBS prepares a complete file (KYC, proof of activity, forecast), matches you with the bank suited to your profile and accompanies you to the meeting. The decision always rests with the bank: we do not guarantee that an account will be opened.
Do I need a UAE will if I own property or a company in Dubai?
For a non-Muslim who owns property or shares in Dubai, registering a will with the DIFC Wills Service Centre or the Dubai Courts non-Muslim wills registry lets you decide how assets pass on, rather than relying on default rules. HBS Corporate Services points you to the procedure that fits your family and asset situation and coordinates the file with qualified legal counsel.
Contact HBS Corporate Services
Tell us about the business.
Company formation, visas, bank, accounting or tax. A corporate adviser replies during office hours, usually the same day, with a written quote where relevant.
Also at HBS
Relocating to Dubai, or holding property through your company?
HBS Real Estate, a RERA-licensed brokerage (ORN 1774), handles sales, rentals, off-plan and property management from the same office.