Overview of Mainland Professional Sole Establishment and Civil Company Formation in UAE
Mainland Professional Sole Establishment and Civil Company Formation in the UAE is ideal for French professionals and service providers planning to offer consultancy and skilled services in Dubai and other Emirates. These professional companies operate based on the qualifications and expertise of their owners, ensuring high standards and quality services delivered to clients across the UAE.
A professional company is defined as a firm where activities depend on the intellectual efforts and skills of its partners. Examples include law firms, consultancy agencies, and design studios. Their services rely on academic qualifications and industry experience, which is why the UAE government requires all shareholders to present valid educational credentials during the company setup process.
To maintain professional standards in companies operating within the UAE Mainland, proper licensing and adherence to procedures are mandatory. French entrepreneurs and professionals looking to establish such companies must follow the formal process for company formation in Dubai and other Emirates to ensure compliance with local regulations.
The UAE continues to attract foreign investors and skilled professionals from around the world. Many multinational service firms, as well as French consultancy and professional businesses, have expanded their operations by opening branches in Dubai and across the Emirates to serve a growing international clientele.
Nonetheless, the Emirate has exclusive rules that guide the conduct of companies. For instance, professional service providers, including French entrepreneurs, can only apply for specific trade licenses. Additionally, the government monitors service providers’ marketing tools, such as websites and advertisement content, to ensure compliance with cultural norms and professional conduct standards.
Some professional trade licenses require the attainment of additional qualifications and examinations.
These companies can be 100% owned by expatriate shareholders, including French nationals.
A UAE national is required as a service agent.
The UAE national does not hold any share in the company.
As a service agent, the UAE national receives fixed annual charges.
There is no minimum share capital requirement, which is beneficial for small and medium-sized French businesses.
Degrees, professional experience, and relevant certificates for shareholders are mandatory.
For companies with more than one shareholder, they are designated as civil companies.
Renting an office or shop is mandatory to set up a mainland professional company in Dubai or any other Emirate. However, in Dubai, recent government policies have allowed mainland professional companies to operate using desk facilities (Sustainability Centers), offering flexibility for startups and consultants.
Some of the fields in professional companies include; management consultancy, IT consultancy, administrative services, legal consultancy, accountancy services, and educational services. To obtain a consultancy professional license in Dubai Mainland, it is mandatory to pass an exam.
The shareholder of the mainland professional company is eligible to get a residence visa valid for 3 years and can also sponsor family members subject to fulfilling document requirements, which is attractive for French professionals relocating to the UAE.
Any number of employees can be recruited in an LLC subject to fulfilling requirements from the Labour department.