Can I Move My Company to Dubai in 2026

Quick answer

Yes, you can move an existing company to Dubai. The process is called a jurisdiction transfer or company migration. You keep your original legal entity, assets and contracts while re-domiciling into a UAE free-zone or mainland licence. The fastest route for most owners is to set up a new Dubai company and transfer contracts, staff and IP within 90–120 days.

Why Dubai attracts relocating founders in 2026

Dubai now hosts over 200,000 active companies and added 1,900 new mainland licences in the first quarter alone. Corporate tax is a flat 9 % above AED 375,000 profit, personal income tax remains zero, and 100 % foreign ownership is allowed everywhere. RTA Golden Visa rules also let company founders sponsor themselves and their families for 10-year residency when they invest AED 2 million or employ 10 UAE residents.

Step-by-step: how to move your company to Dubai

1. Decide on jurisdiction and licence type

Compare mainland (100 % ownership, full market access) versus free zones such as DMCC, IFZA, SPC Free Zone or ADGM. Check your industry against the current Negative List on the Ministry of Economy portal. Most consulting, e-commerce, software and holding companies can choose either route.

2. Reserve your trade name and obtain initial approvals

Log into the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) portal or your chosen free-zone portal. Pay the AED 200 name-reservation fee. Upload passport copies and a brief business plan. Mainland applicants also need an Ejari tenancy contract for the registered address.

3. Transfer or replicate share capital

Free-zone minimums range from AED 0 (IFZA) to AED 300,000 (DMCC). Mainland requires AED 100,000 for LLCs. You do not have to inject fresh capital if you can prove your overseas entity has equivalent net assets; an auditor’s certificate usually suffices.

4. Draft the legal documents

Prepare a shareholders’ resolution approving the migration, a share-transfer agreement between the old and new entities, and updated articles of association. Engage a UAE-licensed notary for mainland documents or use the free-zone’s online attestation service.

5. Cancel or suspend the old licence

Notify your home regulator at least 30 days in advance. Some jurisdictions require a “no-objection certificate” before they allow the move. Keep records; ICP may request them when you apply for new UAE residency visas.

6. Apply for UAE visas and open corporate bank accounts

Once the new licence is issued, apply for an establishment card through GDRFA. Founders receive a 2-year residency visa (AED 3,000) renewable every three years after medical fitness and Emirates ID. Open a corporate account with Emirates NBD, Mashreq or ADCB; expect KYC turnaround of 7–14 days.

7. Move contracts, IP and staff

Assign existing client contracts via novation agreements. Register trademarks with the Ministry of Economy’s IP department (AED 1,000 per class). Transfer employees under MOHRE rules; new work permits cost AED 1,200 each plus medical insurance.

Common mistakes founders make

• Choosing a free-zone activity that later blocks mainland clients without an extra mainland branch licence.
• Forgetting to update domain WHOIS and payment-gateway merchant accounts, causing cash-flow gaps.
• Underestimating the 9 % corporate-tax filing burden; appoint a CT-compliant auditor early.
• Leaving the original entity active, creating dual-tax residency issues.

Cost snapshot (2026 estimates, verify with each authority)

• Free-zone licence (IFZA): AED 12,500 first year, AED 10,500 renewal.
• Mainland DET licence: AED 15,000–25,000 depending on activity.
• Visa and Emirates ID per person: AED 4,500–5,500.
• Corporate tax registration with FTA: free, audit fees AED 5,000–15,000.
• Notary and legal fees: AED 3,000–8,000.

Tips to speed up the move

1. Appoint a PRO service that handles both mainland and free-zone filings in parallel; saves 3–4 weeks.
2. Pre-open a personal account with the same bank you plan to use corporately; KYC is faster.
3. Use e-signatures accepted by ADGM and DIFC courts for shareholders’ resolutions.
4. Start tenancy contract early; mainland approvals stall without Ejari.

Mainland vs free-zone comparison 2026

Tax residency after migration

Once your company is tax-resident in the UAE, you must file an annual Corporate Tax return with the Federal Tax Authority within nine months of year-end. Keep audited financials for five years. Personal tax residency is triggered by 183 days physical stay or a permanent home; apply for a Tax Residency Certificate via the FTA portal if you need it for foreign treaty relief.

Key takeaway

Moving your company to Dubai is straightforward if you map the jurisdiction, line up documents and budget AED 25,000–45,000 for the first year. Start with a free-zone feasibility call, secure your trade name, then execute the share-transfer and visa steps in sequence. With the right PRO and banking partner, most owners complete the relocation inside four months and gain immediate access to the UAE’s zero personal-tax, 9 % corporate-tax regime.