Ingenious Corporate Services – Company Set-up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Representative Office Set-up in Dubai, UAE

Dubai is no less than a giant tourist and expat-magnet, which makes the United Arab Emirates utopia for foreign investors and business persons around the world. Given that the UAE is a natural springboard to significant other regional markets in the Middle East, North and East Africa, and South Asia, this is a considerable advantage. Emirates Airlines, the national carrier equipped with direct flights to several destinations worldwide, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, plays a significant role in making the UAE a regional transit hub which further makes the country a substantial regional trade and business development center. Not to mention the liberal tax system, ultra-modern infrastructure, and the advantageous location of the emirate on the world map. No wonder companies from all corners of the world want to open their Representative offices in Dubai. A company’s Representative office is an expansion of the parent company in another country. Opening a Representative office in Dubai is not just cost-effective but also an easy route for your brand to enter the UAE market.

The Concept of Representative Office in Dubai, UAE

A Representative office in Dubai is nothing but a branch company established to promote its parent company and introduce its offerings to UAE businesses. Simply put, Representative offices in Dubai are not allowed to make any profits in the UAE and must outsource all the work to their parent firm. Such companies can only indulge in activities related to brand promotion and sourcing contracts for their parent establishment in a foreign country. For example, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) doesn’t have a full-fledged company or branch in Dubai but a Representative office. So has Aeroflot – Russian Airlines.

Features

  • A foreign company can have 100% ownership of its Representative office in the UAE
  • No Representative office in the UAE is authorized to earn a profit
  • Any contracts nailed by the UAE-based Representative Office must be outsourced to the Head Office and any UAE entity
  • A Representative office in Dubai, UAE, is only permitted to undertake marketing and advertising for its parent company

8 Steps to Set Up a Representative Office in Dubai, UAE

Freedom to trade internationally

Find a reliable local service provider who is a UAE National, or a corporation wholly controlled by UAE nationals.

Complete business ownership

Submit an application to the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) for trade name registration. We also provide trademark and patent registrations in the UAE.

8 Steps to Set Up a Representative Office in Dubai, UAE

Freedom to trade internationally

Find a reliable local service provider who is a UAE National, or a corporation wholly controlled by UAE nationals.

Complete business ownership

Submit an application to the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) for trade name registration. We also provide trademark and patent registrations in the UAE.

Flexibility to choose office

Send an application to the Ministry of Economy containing a detailed overview of the company, including information about the share capital, the headquarters, the nature of the business, and the general manager appointed in the UAE, attached with any other supporting documents necessary for approval.

Freedom to trade internationally

Obtain initial approval from the Department of Economic Development (DED) for establishing a Representative Office in the UAE upon receipt of all required paperwork, including copies of shareholders’ passports and corporate records.

Complete business ownership

Provide all the information about the parent company, such as the type of the firm, head office address, share allocation, and so forth, requested by the Ministry of Economy through the specific permission-seeking application form

Flexibility to choose office

Send an application to the Ministry of Economy containing a detailed overview of the company, including information about the share capital, the headquarters, the nature of the business, and the general manager appointed in the UAE, attached with any other supporting documents necessary for approval.

Freedom to trade internationally

Obtain initial approval from the Department of Economic Development (DED) for establishing a Representative Office in the UAE upon receipt of all required paperwork, including copies of shareholders’ passports and corporate records.

Complete business ownership

Provide all the information about the parent company, such as the type of the firm, head office address, share allocation, and so forth, requested by the Ministry of Economy through the specific permission-seeking application form

A mainland company

Secure the DED license by submitting all the relevant documents along with the Ministry of Economy’s clearance to the department. 

No limit on visa issuance

Once the approval comes, duly make the payments towards the license and collect it.

Easy and quick business setup

The last step of the Representative office setup process is registering with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For this, applications must be made with copies of the office leasing agreement (RERA-registered) and a business license granted by the DED.

A mainland company

Secure the DED license by submitting all the relevant documents along with the Ministry of Economy’s clearance to the department. 

No limit on visa issuance

Once the approval comes, duly make the payments towards the license and collect it.

Easy and quick business setup

The last step of the Representative office setup process is registering with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For this, applications must be made with copies of the office leasing agreement (RERA-registered) and a business license granted by the DED.

How the UAE Representative Office Setup Process Works

  • The foreign entity applies with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MoE) to legally secure a trade license to operate as a Representative Office in the UAE. Along with the application, the applicant entity submits the necessary paperwork, including an Agency Agreement with a 100% UAE-owned company or a UAE national.
  • The MoE will then forward the application to the local Department of Economic (DED) to obtain the local government’s approval.
  • Bearing a note from MoE stating the specific activity/ies the Representative office will be permitted to undertake in the emirate, the application will move from the DED to the Federal Foreign Companies Committee for approval. 
  • Once the Federal Foreign Companies Committee approves the application, the required Ministerial license detailing intended activity/ies, permitted to the foreign Representative branch, will be granted by the Ministry of Economy & Commerce.
  • At this step, the Representative office will then be entered into the Commercial Register of the Economic Department, and the requested license will be dispensed.
  • After the Representative office receives the necessary license from DED, it will be entered into the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s Foreign Companies Register.
  • And the Representative branch setup process completes with its registration at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Documents Required for Representative Office Setup in Dubai

  • Board Resolution stating the formation of a Representative Office in Dubai
  • Parent Company Documents (Incorporation Certificate, Memorandum & Articles of Association, current dated Incumbency Certificate, or Extract of Commercial Register)
  • Notarized Passport copies of the Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) of the Parent Company
  • Passport copy of the appointed Manager
  • Residence visa and Emirates ID card copy of the appointment Manager
  • EJARI of the commercial unit

NOTE: Board Resolution and Parent Company Documents must be notarized by a notary public and attested by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE. Documents must then be translated into Arabic or English by a sworn translator.

Documents Required for Representative Office Setup in Dubai

  • Board Resolution stating the formation of a Representative Office in Dubai
  • Parent Company Documents (Incorporation Certificate, Memorandum & Articles of Association, current dated Incumbency Certificate, or Extract of Commercial Register)
  • Notarized Passport copies of the Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) of the Parent Company
  • Passport copy of the appointed Manager
  • Residence visa and Emirates ID card copy of the appointment Manager
  • EJARI of the commercial unit

NOTE: Board Resolution and Parent Company Documents must be notarized by a notary public and attested by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE. Documents must then be translated into Arabic or English by a sworn translator.

Need Professional Assistance in Representative Office Setup in Dubai, UAE?

If you are interested in targeting the UAE market but aren’t necessarily ready to launch a full-fledged company here, opening a Representative branch office in Dubai might just be the way to go. Get in touch with your best business setup advisor at Ingenious Corporate Services in Dubai for expert assistance in forming a Representative office anywhere in the UAE. We are happy to help you with every step of your business setup journey. If you are too busy to meet our business setup consultants in Dubai, click here to schedule a Zoom meeting with them.

Need Professional Assistance in Representative Office Setup in Dubai, UAE?

If you are interested in targeting the UAE market but aren’t necessarily ready to launch a full-fledged company here, opening a Representative branch office in Dubai might just be the way to go. Get in touch with your best business setup advisor at Ingenious Corporate Services in Dubai for expert assistance in forming a Representative office anywhere in the UAE. We are happy to help you with every step of your business setup journey. If you are too busy to meet our business setup consultants in Dubai, click here to schedule a Zoom meeting with them.

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