
Setting up a branch or representative office in the UAE Mainland is a great way for Pakistani companies to expand their business in the GCC region. This setup allows you to operate in the UAE under your existing corporate identity, without creating a new legal entity.
A branch office is not a separate legal entity. It’s a direct extension of the parent company based in Pakistan or elsewhere abroad.
A branch can do all business activities of the parent company except trading in the UAE mainland.
A representative office is a liaison or marketing arm. It cannot do commercial or profit-generating activities. Its purpose is to promote the parent company’s products or services in the UAE.
Both branch and representative office require prior approval from the UAE Ministry of Economy.
You need to appoint a UAE national service agent for both setups. The agent has no ownership or profit rights in the business.
A bank guarantee of AED 50,000 in favour of the UAE Ministry of Economy is mandatory as part of the licensing process.