Licences and legal entities
Choose your legal entity and licence
- Business activities
- 1,500+
- Shareholders (FZC)
- 2 to 50
- Licence validity
- 1 year minimum
- Physical presence to form
- Not required
Step 1 — choose your legal entity
All entities have limited liability. Every entity needs a natural person as manager, director and secretary.
- Free Zone Establishment (FZE)For a single shareholder — an individual or a company.
- Free Zone Company (FZC)For two to 50 shareholders.
- BranchA branch of an existing UAE or foreign company.
Share capital
Step 2 — choose the licence for your activities
Your licence follows from what your business will do. One company can hold more than one licence type.
- CommercialImport, export, distribute and store listed goods. Up to 10 similar activities or 3 different categories.
- General tradingTrade a wide range of products under one licence, except items needing special approval.
- Service / consultancyProfessional, technical and consultancy services. Up to two activities.
- IndustrialManufacture, process, assemble or package. Requires a warehouse or land plot.
- Freelance permitWork under your own name with two related activities and one residence visa.
- E-commerceSell online via marketplaces, your website and social media.
What your licence lets you do
- Do business within the free zone and outside the UAE.
- Sell into the UAE mainland market through a local agent or distributor.
- Take part in exhibitions anywhere in the UAE.
- Add a second licence type to the same company (dual licensing).
- Amend your activities at any time during the licence term.
- Choose a one-year or multi-year licence.
Common questions
What types of company can I set up?
A Free Zone Establishment (FZE) for one shareholder, a Free Zone Company (FZC) for two to 50 shareholders, or a branch of an existing company. All free zone entities have limited liability.
Source: /licenses-entity
What is the minimum share capital?
UAQ FTZ publishes a minimum capital of AED 300,000 with a share value of AED 1,000, and states that proof of start-up capital is not required. Confirm the current requirement for your entity with an adviser.
Source: /licenses-entity
How many activities can one licence include?
A commercial licence can include 10 similar activities or 3 different categories. Service, consultancy and freelance permits can include two activities. You can choose from more than 1,500 activities.
Source: /licenses-entity
Can one company hold more than one type of licence?
Yes. A company with a commercial licence can add a consultancy or service licence to the same entity, without setting up another company.
Source: /licenses-entity
How long is a licence valid, and can I change activities?
Licences are valid for at least one year and multi-year licences are available. Activities can be amended at any point during the licence term.
Source: /licenses-entity
Can I sell to customers in the UAE mainland?
A free zone licence lets you do business within the free zone or outside the UAE. To sell into the local UAE market you work through a local agent or distributor. You can take part in exhibitions in the UAE without restriction.
Source: /licenses-entity
Talk it through with an adviser
Share what you have planned so far. An adviser will confirm what applies to your business, what it costs and what happens next — no obligation.