Company Setup in the Middle East
structure, jurisdiction, and first steps.
Before committing to a specific jurisdiction or entity type, the structural decisions matter. We help you evaluate free zone versus mainland, UAE versus KSA, and the right legal form — so the setup serves your business, not just the paperwork.
Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Tokyo
What the advisory covers.
Comparative assessment of UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, RAK), KSA, Qatar, Bahrain — covering market access, regulatory requirements, and operational cost.
Structured comparison of free zone and mainland entity types — covering ownership rules, business scope, geographic restrictions, and compliance obligations.
Evaluation of LLC, branch, representative office, and free zone entity options — matched to your business model, ownership structure, and risk appetite.
Sector-specific licensing requirements, foreign ownership rules, and applicable compliance obligations in the target jurisdiction.
Indicative government fees, establishment costs, and setup timelines for the recommended structure — to support internal budgeting and planning.
A clear structural recommendation with supporting rationale, ready for internal approval and as a brief for the formation process.
How an engagement works.
Understand your business model, target activities, ownership structure, and operational requirements for the Middle East.
Present 2–3 structural options with a structured comparison of jurisdiction, entity type, cost, timeline, and compliance implications.
Confirm the recommended structure based on your priorities and obtain internal alignment on the approach.
Prepare the documentation checklist and brief the formation team. Transition to the relevant jurisdiction-specific setup service.
Where required, provide advisory support during the formation process — addressing questions as they arise from government authorities or legal requirements.
Markets we cover.
How we differ.
- Jurisdiction comparison based on secondary sources only
- Free zone vs mainland trade-offs oversimplified
- Regulatory requirements not sector-specific
- No link from advisory to actual formation support
- Structural recommendation without implementation pathway
- Jurisdiction assessment from a team that operates in each market daily
- Free zone vs mainland trade-offs evaluated against your specific business model
- Sector-specific regulatory requirements drawn from direct experience
- Seamless handoff to the formation team for the next phase
- Advisory informed by 200+ company setup engagements in the region
is right for your business?
We start from your business objectives and work backwards to the right structure. The initial consultation is free of charge.