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From Pakistan · Company setup

Company setup in Dubai from Pakistan: the process, and what Pakistani founders need

How Pakistani nationals set up a company in Dubai: the mainland and free-zone process is the same for every nationality (100% foreign ownership since 2021), plus the documents a Pakistani founder specifically prepares — a valid CNIC copy and an HEC/IBCC-then-MOFA attested degree where needed.

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Checked against official UAE sources · re-reviewed every 60 days

The short answer

Setting up a company in Dubai works the same way for a Pakistani founder as for anyone else: since Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 took effect in early 2021 (consolidated by Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021), 100% foreign ownership is allowed on the mainland for most activities, and free zones have always allowed it. What is Pakistan-specific is documents — a valid CNIC or NICOP copy, and any degree you rely on must be attested by the Higher Education Commission and MOFA Pakistan before the UAE side. This page keeps the process and the Pakistani-founder documents apart, and cites only official fees.

Key facts

Ownership
100% foreign ownership on the mainland for most activities since early 2021; strategic-impact activities excepted (u.ae)
Mainland licence types
Industrial, commercial, professional, tourism, agricultural, crafts (Ministry of Economy and Tourism)
Free zones
More than 40; 100% ownership; office space required; mainland sales via a distributor or branch
National ID
A valid CNIC/NICOP copy is required for Pakistani applicants on UAE visa and work-permit applications
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above; all businesses register (u.ae)
Establishment card
MOHRE establishment card Ta'qeem fee AED 406; a company also holds an ICP establishment card

The process is nationality-neutral

There is no "Pakistani founder" version of a Dubai company. The route depends on your activity and where you trade, not on your passport. On the mainland, licensed by the emirate's economic department (in Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism), Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 — effective in early 2021 and consolidated by Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 — permits 100% foreign ownership and removed the majority-Emirati and local-agent requirement for most activities. Activities of strategic impact and a defined restricted list are the exception, and they apply to every foreign nationality. Free zones have always offered 100% ownership; a free-zone company reaches the UAE mainland market through a licensed distributor or a mainland branch. Compare the two on mainland versus free zone.

The mainland process in outline

  1. Choose the activity (this sets your licence type: industrial, commercial, professional, tourism, agricultural or crafts).
  2. Choose the legal form, commonly a limited liability company, which can have a single owner.
  3. Reserve the trade name with the economic department under the naming rules.
  4. Get initial approval; foreign investors first obtain GDRFA approval, and initial approval alone does not let you trade.
  5. Draft the Memorandum of Association, and a service-agent agreement where an activity still requires one.
  6. Secure premises — every business needs a physical address; in Dubai the tenancy is registered on Ejari.
  7. Obtain any regulator approvals, then collect the licence and pay within the stated period.

Free-zone setup is a shorter, more digital version run by the zone authority. See free zones and IFZA.

What a Pakistani founder specifically prepares

The Pakistan-specific work is documents.

  • A valid CNIC or NICOP copy. Pakistani applicants are named on the UAE's home-country national-ID rule (GDRFA Dubai, Emirates and MOHRE), so keep a clear copy of both sides available for visa and work-permit steps.
  • An attested degree, where the activity or a partner visa needs one. A Pakistani degree is attested by the Higher Education Commission through its online system, then by MOFA Pakistan, then by the UAE Embassy Islamabad or Consulate Karachi and UAE MOFA. School certificates go through IBCC instead of HEC. The From Pakistan hub sets out the chain.
  • A Memorandum of Association that may need notarisation and attestation; if executed in Pakistan, it enters the same MOFA-then-UAE chain, and a relationship affidavit for UAE authorities must be in Arabic and English.

Owner visas and business taxes

Owning a company can support a residence visa through the investor or partner route; ICP states an investor contribution of at least AED 1,000,000 for the investor residence, and free-zone owner visas follow each zone's quota tied to office size. A company holds a MOHRE establishment card (Ta'qeem fee AED 406) and an ICP establishment card before sponsoring staff. Corporate tax is 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above, with a 0% rate on qualifying income for a qualifying free-zone company; all businesses register. VAT is 5%, mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000. See investor and partner visa and corporate tax and VAT.

Next step

Use the business setup finder to narrow mainland versus free zone, and get any Pakistani certificates into the HEC/IBCC and MOFA chain early. Ask for a review below if you want a person to check the structure.

Any "starting from" figure is an indicative price for our service and excludes government and third-party fees, which vary by activity, visa count and jurisdiction. Government fees shown are official charges from the cited pages at the review date. Your exact, itemised quote is confirmed free of charge in a consultation, with nothing hidden.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Pakistani national own 100% of a Dubai company?

Yes. Free zones have always allowed it, and since Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 took effect in early 2021 the mainland allows it for most activities. Strategic-impact and restricted activities are the exceptions and apply to all foreign nationals.

Do I need my CNIC to set up a company?

You will need a valid CNIC or NICOP copy for the UAE visa and work-permit steps that accompany setting up, because Pakistani applicants are named on the UAE's home-country national-ID rule. Keep a clear copy of both sides.

Do I need to attest my Pakistani degree?

Only if your activity or a partner visa requires a degree. When it does, the degree is attested by HEC, then MOFA Pakistan, then the UAE Embassy Islamabad or Consulate Karachi and UAE MOFA. School certificates use IBCC instead of HEC.

Mainland or free zone?

It depends on where you sell. Mainland lets you trade directly in the UAE market; a free-zone company sells into the mainland through a distributor or a mainland branch but offers a fast, digital, 100%-owned setup. Compare them on the mainland versus free zone page.

Will my company pay UAE corporate tax?

Corporate tax is 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above. A qualifying free-zone company can get 0% on its qualifying income. All businesses register regardless of the rate.

Official sources and review

The rules on this page were checked against the official pages below. We re-check every 60 days and after any announced change.

Last reviewed

Government fees, thresholds and processing times change without notice. Where an official page does not state a figure, we say so rather than estimate. Nothing here is legal advice or a decision of any UAE authority.

Immigration UAE is a brand of Cosmos Immigration, a private immigration and business-services consultancy. It is not affiliated with the Government of the UAE, ICP, GDRFA, MOHRE or any UAE government authority.

Have your Dubai structure reviewed

Tell us your activity, whether you will sell in the UAE or export, and how many visas you need. A consultant will tell you whether mainland or a free zone fits, and which of your Pakistani documents need HEC, IBCC or MOFA attestation first.

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