Frequently asked - Every question we get, answered without the sales pitch.

Cost & pricing

What's the cheapest UAE free zone in 2026?

ANCFZ (Ajman Free Zone) at AED 4,888 for a zero-visa licence, then SRTIP and DIFC Innovation at AED 5,500, then SHAMS at AED 5,750. Per-visa add-ons vary; ANCFZ is AED 5,912 per visa while most Dubai zones are AED 4,420.

Are there hidden fees I should watch for?

With Formenzo, no. The price you see on /pricing is the wholesale rate we pay the free zone plus our flat setup fee. No 'admin', 'platform', or 'service' fees bolted on at signing. If a competitor quotes lower, ask what's excluded — usually the establishment card, flexi-desk, or first-year renewal.

Do I pay visa fees separately or is it bundled?

Visa fees are quoted per applicant because most founders don't need every shareholder on a visa. Standard UAE residence visa runs AED 3,500–5,900 per person including medical, Emirates ID, and stamping. Some zones (IFZA, Meydan, DMCC) offer visa-included packages at a discount.

What's the renewal cost after year one?

Typically 85-95% of the first-year licence cost. Visa renewals are roughly AED 2,500-3,500 per person every 2 years. We send renewal reminders 90 / 60 / 30 days out so you never lapse.

Timelines

How fast can I get my UAE company licence?

First-party fast zones (IFZA, ANCFZ, SHAMS) issue a trade licence in 3-5 business days after documents are submitted. DMCC, JAFZA, DIFC take 7-14 days due to additional due-diligence checks. Mainland (Dubai DED) takes 5-10 days.

How long does the full formation take end to end?

Trade licence 5 days → residence visa 10-14 days → UAE bank account 14-21 days → FTA tax registration 2-4 weeks. Total 45-60 days for a 'fully operational' company with visa and bank. We run these in parallel where possible.

Can I travel to the UAE before the company is formed?

Yes — you don't need to be in the UAE to start. Most zones accept remote KYC via video call. You do need to be in the UAE for the residence visa medical + Emirates ID biometrics (both day-trips, can be done in 24 hours).

Eligibility & documents

What documents do I need to form a UAE company?

Passport copies (all shareholders + managers), passport-size photos, address proof dated within 3 months, UBO declaration. That's the common set. Some zones (DIFC, DMCC) require business plan + CV for regulated activities. We send the exact per-zone list once you pick your zone.

Can I form a UAE company if I'm not UAE-resident?

Yes. Free zones allow 100% foreign ownership; no local sponsor needed. Mainland also allows 100% foreign ownership since the 2021 reform, though some 'strategic' activities still require an Emirati partner.

Does my nationality affect my zone choice?

Bank approval rates vary by passport — Indian founders have 92-96% approval at IFZA/Meydan/RAKEZ but lower at some banks for other zones. We show real approval rates per nationality × bank combination in the wizard.

Banking

Which UAE bank is easiest to open for a new company?

WIO (digital-first, 2-day opening, 85% approval), Mashreq NEO, RAKBANK for SME. For larger trade businesses: ADCB, Emirates NBD, FAB. We have direct relationships with 12 UAE banks and sequence the application to match your profile.

Will I definitely get a UAE bank account?

Approval depends on activity + nationality + business plan clarity. Our overall approval rate is 87% — higher than the UAE average of ~60%. If the first bank declines we re-package and re-apply to a better-fit one.

Can I run my UAE company from a non-UAE bank account?

Legally yes for a short window (residence permits and some contracts require UAE banking). For invoicing and AED settlements you'll want UAE banking within 90 days of licence issuance.

Tax

Do UAE free zone companies pay corporate tax?

Qualifying Free Zone Persons pay 0% on qualifying income (trade with other free zones, exports, intra-group) and 9% on non-qualifying income (mainland trade). Most SMEs qualify. Mainland is 9% on profits above AED 375,000, 0% below.

Do I need to register for VAT?

Only if your taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000/year. Under that threshold, voluntary registration is available from AED 187,500/year. We handle the FTA registration + quarterly filing as part of our accounting package.

About Formenzo

Is Formenzo regulated?

Formenzo is built by YABS Public Relations Management LLC, a UAE-registered corporate services firm (Trade Licence 788672). We're a registered channel partner with 10 UAE free zones with direct wholesale agreements.

How does Formenzo make money if the price is the wholesale rate?

Our channel-partner agreements with zones let us earn a commission from the zone, not the customer — aligned with the zone's sign-up goals. So the customer pays the same whether they go direct or through us. With Formenzo they get software + specialists + banking help.

Is my data safe? Where is it stored?

All data is stored in UAE-compliant Neon Postgres (EU region) with PDPL-compliant retention. Documents go to private Cloudflare R2 buckets, downloaded only via signed URLs. We never share data with third parties except where legally required for licence filing.