Your Strategic Partner for Business in the UAE
Company Formation & Corporate Services in the UAE
The UAE is one of the world’s most dynamic business destinations — offering a strategic location, a favourable tax environment, and world-class infrastructure across mainland, free zone, and offshore jurisdictions. But choosing the wrong legal structure or jurisdiction can create costly problems that take years to unwind. At Fakher & Co, we guide businesses through every stage of their UAE journey — from initial setup through to governance, growth, and exit.
Since 2011, we have helped entrepreneurs, SMEs, and international corporations establish and structure their UAE operations with confidence. We are not a government-services provider or a documents agency. We are a legal consultancy that understands the commercial realities of doing business in the UAE and provides the strategic legal guidance your company needs to be built correctly from the start.
Our Company Formation & Corporate Services
We provide end-to-end legal support across the complete lifecycle of a UAE business — from choosing your structure and jurisdiction, through to governance, transactions, restructuring, and closure. Each service is led by lawyers with specialist expertise in UAE corporate and commercial law.
Mainland Company Formation
A UAE mainland company gives you the broadest operational freedom — the ability to trade anywhere in the UAE, bid for government contracts, and operate without restrictions on the clients and sectors you serve. Since 2021, 100% foreign ownership is permitted across most business activities without requiring a UAE national partner.
We manage the full mainland formation process, including:
- Business activity selection and DED trade licence application
- Legal structure advice — LLC, sole establishment, branch office, or representative office
- Memorandum of Association drafting and notarisation
- Initial approval, name reservation, and licence issuance
- Corporate bank account opening support
- Visa allocation and establishment card registration
Free Zone Company Formation
The UAE has over 40 free zones, each designed for specific industries and offering distinct benefits including 100% foreign ownership, full profit repatriation, and streamlined licensing. Choosing the right free zone for your business model and target market is the critical first decision.
We advise on free zone selection and manage the formation process across all major UAE free zones, including:
- Free zone selection based on your activity, budget, and operational needs
- JAFZA, ADGM, DIFC, RAKEZ, DMCC, and sector-specific free zone applications
- FZE (single shareholder) and FZCO (multiple shareholders) structure advice
- Licence application, share certificate, and memorandum of association
- Flexi-desk, office, and warehouse licence options
- Visa quota registration and employee visa processing
Offshore Company Formation
UAE offshore companies — available through JAFZA, RAK ICC, and Ajman Free Zone — are ideal for international holding structures, asset protection, investment vehicles, and estate planning. They offer confidentiality, zero corporate tax on international income, and full foreign ownership, without requiring a physical presence in the UAE.
We advise on and manage offshore formations including:
- Jurisdiction selection — JAFZA, RAK ICC, or Ajman offshore
- Shareholder and director structure advice
- Memorandum and Articles of Association drafting
- Registered agent appointment and compliance requirements
- Using offshore structures for property holding, IP ownership, and investment portfolios
Corporate Governance & Restructuring
As your business grows, your legal structure needs to grow with it. Weak governance — unclear board authorities, undocumented decisions, inadequate shareholder protections — creates liability exposure and investor risk. We advise companies on implementing effective governance frameworks and managing structural change, including:
- Board governance frameworks, terms of reference, and authority matrices
- Shareholders’ agreements and constitutional document updates
- Legal restructuring — converting company type, changing jurisdiction, or splitting businesses
- Regulatory compliance reviews and rectification programmes
- Corporate secretary services and board resolution drafting
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Advisory
Acquiring or merging with another business in the UAE requires specialist legal expertise across due diligence, transaction structuring, regulatory approvals, and post-merger integration. We advise both buyers and sellers on:
- Transaction structuring — share purchase, asset purchase, or merger
- Legal due diligence — corporate, contractual, employment, and regulatory review
- Letter of Intent (LOI) and term sheet negotiation
- Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Asset Purchase Agreement drafting
- Regulatory filings and competition authority notifications
- Post-acquisition integration and governance restructuring
Commercial Transactions & Due Diligence
Major commercial transactions — buying a business, entering a new market, taking on an institutional investor — carry legal and financial risks that only thorough due diligence can identify. We provide legal due diligence and transactional support for:
- Legal due diligence on target companies — corporate, contractual, regulatory, and employment
- Identification and reporting of material risks and deal-critical issues
- Contract review and negotiation for major commercial agreements
- Structuring advice for complex commercial transactions
- Regulatory approvals and government liaison
Business Closure & Liquidation
Closing a UAE company requires a structured, compliant process. Failing to follow the correct procedures can result in personal liability for directors, outstanding regulatory obligations, and complications with future UAE business activities. We manage the full closure process, including:
- Voluntary liquidation applications and deregistration procedures
- Creditor notification and claims settlement
- Employee termination, gratuity payments, and visa cancellation
- Asset distribution to shareholders
- Final account filing and licence cancellation with DED, free zone, or offshore authority
- Bank account closure and regulatory deregistration
Local Sponsor & Service Agent Services
Certain UAE mainland business activities and professional licences still require a UAE national as a local sponsor or service agent. Choosing the right local partner and structuring the relationship correctly is critical to protecting your business interests. We assist with:
- Identifying and vetting reputable, professional local sponsors and service agents
- Drafting robust side agreements that protect your operational and financial independence
- Structuring arrangements to ensure your business remains under your effective control
- Advising on activities that now permit 100% foreign ownership without a local sponsor
- Resolving disputes or replacing local sponsors when arrangements break down
Why Choose Fakher & Co for Company Formation & Corporate Services?
Establishing and structuring a UAE business correctly at the outset determines your legal position for years to come. Whether you are an international investor entering the UAE market, an entrepreneur launching your first company, or an established business restructuring for growth, the decisions you make now have long-term consequences. When you choose Fakher & Co, you choose a legal partner who treats your business as seriously as if it were our own.
Strategic advice, not just process execution. We advise you on the right structure and jurisdiction for your specific business model before we touch a single document. The wrong jurisdiction choice or the wrong company type is very difficult and expensive to correct once your business is operating.
End-to-end legal support across the business lifecycle. We handle formation, governance, transactions, restructuring, and closure. You never have to switch between providers as your business grows and your legal needs evolve.
Deep knowledge of UAE corporate law. Our lawyers understand mainland, free zone, and offshore regulations, the Companies Law, DIFC and ADGM frameworks, and the specific licensing requirements across different business activities and sectors.
Non-conflict policy. When we work for your company, your interests are our only concern. We will never advise a counterparty in the same transaction or act for a party whose interests conflict with yours.
Proven track record since 2011. We have helped hundreds of businesses across all sizes and industries establish, structure, and grow their UAE operations. Our clients return to us because we deliver on our promises.
How We Work with You
Step 1 — Understand your business. We begin with a consultation to understand your business model, objectives, target market, and investor or ownership structure. We advise you on the optimal legal structure and jurisdiction before any formation steps begin.
Step 2 — Execute your formation or transaction. We handle the entire process from start to finish — document preparation, government authority submissions, licence issuance, and any associated corporate documentation. You receive regular updates and know exactly where things stand at each stage.
Step 3 — Ongoing corporate support. Our relationship continues after your company is formed. We are available for governance advice, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, and any corporate legal matters that arise as your business grows.
Start Building Your UAE Business Today
Do not navigate the complexities of UAE company formation and corporate law alone. The right legal foundation makes everything easier — from attracting investors to signing contracts to eventually exiting your business. Fakher & Co has been helping businesses build that foundation since 2011.
Contact us today for a confidential consultation and take the first step towards establishing or restructuring your UAE business.
Frequently Asked Questions
+–What is the difference between a mainland and a free zone company in the UAE?
A mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economic Development (DED) of the relevant emirate and can trade anywhere in the UAE and internationally without restrictions. A free zone company is licensed by a specific free zone authority and can generally trade freely internationally and within the free zone, but trading directly on the UAE mainland requires appointing a mainland distributor or agent. Free zones often offer faster setup, 100% foreign ownership, and sector-specific infrastructure. The right choice depends on your business activity, target market, and operational needs — our lawyers advise you before you commit to either path.
+–Can a foreigner own 100% of a UAE mainland company?
Yes, in most cases. Following the UAE’s 2021 Companies Law amendments, 100% foreign ownership is permitted for the majority of mainland business activities without requiring a UAE national shareholder. However, a small number of strategic and restricted activities still require a UAE national partner holding at least 51% of shares. Our lawyers confirm whether your specific activity qualifies for full foreign ownership before formation begins.
+–How long does it take to form a company in the UAE?
Timeline varies by jurisdiction and company type. A free zone company can typically be formed in three to seven working days once all documents are in order. A mainland LLC generally takes seven to fifteen working days depending on the emirate and business activity. Offshore formations typically take five to ten working days. We confirm the specific timeline for your formation at the outset and manage the entire process to avoid unnecessary delays.
+–Do I need to be physically present in the UAE to set up a company?
Not necessarily. Many free zone and offshore formations can be completed remotely with notarised and attested documents. Mainland formations typically require the physical presence of shareholders or directors at certain stages, though this can often be handled through a Power of Attorney issued to our lawyers. We advise you on the specific requirements for your formation and can manage the process on your behalf where remote execution is possible.
+–What is a local sponsor and do I still need one?
A local sponsor is a UAE national who historically held 51% of shares in a mainland company on behalf of a foreign investor. Following the 2021 ownership reforms, most activities no longer require a local shareholder. However, certain professional licences and restricted activities still require a UAE national service agent — a different arrangement where the UAE national does not hold shares but provides regulatory support for a fixed annual fee. Our lawyers confirm whether your activity requires either arrangement and, if so, structure the relationship to protect your interests fully.
+–Can Fakher & Co help me close a company I no longer need?
Yes. Business closure and liquidation is a specialist legal process that must be handled carefully. Failing to follow the correct deregistration procedures can result in ongoing licence fees, regulatory fines, and personal liability for directors. We manage the full closure process — creditor notification, employee termination and visa cancellation, asset distribution, and final deregistration with the relevant authority. We advise on the most efficient closure route for your specific company type and jurisdiction.
Start Your UAE Business Journey with Expert Legal Guidance
Company formation and corporate structuring decisions have long-term legal and financial consequences. Every situation is different and requires tailored legal advice — not a standard package. Whether you need to form a mainland LLC in Abu Dhabi, establish a JAFZA offshore holding structure, restructure your existing business for an investor, or close a company and exit the market cleanly, Fakher & Co covers it all.
Fakher & Co Legal Consultancy offers a personal, boutique firm approach backed by over a decade of expertise in UAE corporate and commercial law. Our transparent fees and non-conflict policy mean you get clear, dedicated, and authoritative legal guidance from your first consultation to your company’s ongoing operation.
Call us today for a confidential consultation and build your UAE business on the right legal foundation.
Related Services
Why Getting Your Structure Right Matters from Day One
The most expensive corporate legal problems we handle at Fakher & Co are not disputes — they are structural mistakes made at formation that surface years later when the business is established, valuable, and difficult to unwind.
A company formed in the wrong free zone for its actual business activities finds itself unable to operate legally on the UAE mainland without a distributor, limiting its growth and adding cost that a mainland licence would have avoided. A company formed without a robust shareholder agreement reaches a deadlock between equal shareholders three years later, and neither party has a legal mechanism to break it without going to court.
A local sponsor arrangement drafted without adequate protections leaves the foreign investor dependent on a UAE national who later demands renegotiation at the worst possible time. An offshore holding structure not properly documented for its intended purpose creates tax and regulatory complications in the investor’s home country that could have been avoided with proper planning.
None of these problems are inevitable. They are all preventable with the right legal advice at the formation stage. This is why our
Client’s Interest Comes First policy starts from your very first call — not from when you sign an engagement letter. Contact
Fakher & Co today.
