Anyone can file paperwork for a UAE company. We do more. We start with the questions that determine whether your business runs smoothly later — which jurisdiction, what legal structure, what tax and customs treatment — and form the entity once the right answer is clear. Over 200 UAE company formations completed across mainland, Free Zone and offshore since 2006.
The setup is straightforward when the structure is right. Getting the structure right is the work most setup shops skip.
SKM International has completed over 200 UAE company formations since 2006 — across mainland Dubai, every major Free Zone, and offshore jurisdictions. What sets the work apart isn't the filing — it's everything that happens before the filing. We're chartered accountants. We know UAE tax law, customs rules, ESR obligations, audit requirements and banking realities. So when an investor comes to us, we don't just ask "which Free Zone?" — we map their actual business activity to the right jurisdiction, structure, tax treatment and operating model first. The formation follows.
The engagement runs in two steps. Step one is the advisory call — we understand what the investor wants to do, what international clients are buying, what the group structure looks like, and what the tax, customs, substance and banking implications are. We tell you what to set up, where, and why. Step two is the formation itself — trade name, MOA, licence, immigration card, visas, bank introduction. Same firm, same senior team, end to end.
Because we are also approved auditors across the major UAE Free Zones, the businesses we help set up are audit-ready, tax-ready and bank-ready from day one. The questions an auditor will ask in year two, we have already answered in year one.
Six decisions that determine whether a UAE business runs smoothly or creates problems later. We work through each one with you before any forms are submitted.
Six service areas covering business setup across every UAE jurisdiction, plus feasibility, strategic advisory and exit. One firm, every stage of your business.
Set up an LLC under Dubai Economic Department (DED) or another emirate's licensing authority. Trade across the UAE without restriction, win government contracts, and operate from any address. Full PRO and visa support included.
Form a Free Zone company in DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah or RAKEZ. 0% corporate tax (QFZP), 100% foreign ownership, full repatriation of capital. We handle licence, immigration card, visas and bank account.
Set up a holding or asset-protection vehicle in JAFZA Offshore, RAK ICC or Ajman Offshore. Confidentiality, asset segregation and international banking — without UAE physical-presence requirements.
Bank-credible and investor-grade feasibility studies for UAE projects. Market sizing, competitor analysis, financial modelling and sensitivity scenarios — prepared by chartered accountants who understand what lenders and equity partners need to see.
Strategic, financial and operational advisory for UAE businesses — from corporate restructuring and outsourced management accounts to ESR/UBO compliance and group structure optimisation. Senior-team advisory, not template recommendations.
Registered liquidator services for UAE mainland, Free Zone and offshore companies. Final audit, creditor notices, ministry & Free Zone clearances, visa cancellations, bank closure and trade licence cancellation — handled end-to-end.
Mainland or Free Zone? LLC or offshore holding? The right structure depends on what you actually plan to do. One short call clears it up — honest, no upsell.
Different investors face different questions. The advisory and the formation both adapt to where you're starting from.
What separates SKM from typical Dubai setup firms — the credentials, the experience, and the senior team behind every engagement.
Four phases. Clear deliverables. No surprises on scope or fee.
Quick answers to what prospects usually ask before engaging a setup firm. Need something more specific? Speak to our team.
It depends on what you want to do. Mainland licences let you trade freely across the UAE, take on government contracts and bid for public tenders — with 100% foreign ownership now allowed for most commercial and industrial activities. Free Zone licences offer 0% corporate tax (if you qualify as a Qualifying Free Zone Person), 100% foreign ownership and full capital repatriation — but you can only trade with other Free Zone companies, internationally, or with mainland customers through a distributor. We take a short call to map your actual business activity to the right structure — no upsell.
For a Free Zone company, typically 2–4 weeks from document submission to licence issuance and visa stamping. For a mainland LLC, 3–6 weeks depending on activity approvals. For offshore companies (RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore, Ajman Offshore), usually 1–2 weeks. The variable is document quality — apostilled, notarised, translated where needed. We pre-check everything before submission to avoid the delays that catch out most setup attempts.
Because the licence is reversible; the structure is not (easily). You can renew, transfer or amend a licence in weeks. Changing a sole establishment to an LLC, converting a branch to a subsidiary, or unwinding a shareholder structure takes months and costs significantly more than getting it right at the start. The structure determines your tax treatment, your liability exposure, your ability to bring in new investors, and your exit options. Our advisory step exists precisely so the structure is right the first time — because restructuring a UAE company later is painful and expensive.
Yes. SKM International provides registered liquidator services across major UAE Free Zones including DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone and RAK Free Zone (RAKEZ). As your liquidator, we publish creditor notices in local newspapers, prepare the final liquidation audit, secure clearances from each Free Zone or ministry, cancel visas and bank accounts, and close the trade licence — typically in 90–120 days for a standard winding-up.
Mon–Fri 9:00AM–6:30PM | Sat 9:00AM–3:00PM | Office 102, Al Tawhidi Building, Al Mankhool, Dubai UAE