UAE corporate operations — managed so you don’t have to

DET Dubai mainland licence renewal requires a valid Ejari-registered tenancy contract, cleared outstanding fines, and submission through the DET portal. A straightforward renewal completes in 14–21 calendar days. DET imposes a penalty of AED 250 per month per licensed activity for late renewal — accruing from the expiry date without a warning notice. (Source: det.gov.ae) Free zone renewals follow each authority's own schedule — DMCC, IFZA, JAFZA, and RAKEZ each have distinct renewal portals and submission windows. We manage submission, document tracking, and fee payment across both mainland and free zone licences, with 90-day advance renewal flags.

Employment visa processing follows a defined sequence: MOHRE work permit → ICA entry permit → status change or entry on permit → medical fitness test → Emirates ID application → GDRFA visa stamping. A standard employment visa takes 3–5 weeks for a straightforward application. Investor and partner visas follow a different route — linked to the company's ownership structure rather than an employment contract. Dependent visas for spouses and children require proof of the sponsor's valid visa, minimum salary thresholds, and attested family documents. (Source: mohre.gov.ae, icp.gov.ae) We manage every stage of all three visa types end-to-end.

Opening a UAE corporate bank account requires a valid trade licence, Memorandum of Association, passport copies for all shareholders and authorised signatories, residential address proof, and a business plan outlining the expected transaction profile. The process typically takes 2–6 weeks depending on the bank and shareholding structure complexity. What banks actually assess — beyond the document list — is whether the business plan is credible and projected transaction volumes are consistent with the nature of the activity. We prepare the supporting documentation and business narrative before submission, and maintain working relationships with multiple UAE banks to facilitate introductions and follow-up.

Government liaison means physical and digital representation before UAE authorities — submitting application files, attending MOHRE, ICA, GDRFA, and DET service centres, and following up on pending status through official portal channels. Many transactions can now be initiated online through the ICA smart portal and MOHRE's e-services platform, but physical attendance remains required for document collection, biometric registration, and certain amendment applications. Operating an employee without a valid MOHRE work permit carries financial penalties and can trigger a workforce inspection. (Source: mohre.gov.ae) Our PRO team handles all physical government office interactions on your behalf.

Corporate secretarial maintenance covers the statutory obligations that run quietly in the background — until missed. This includes maintaining and updating the statutory shareholder register, filing Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) notifications under Cabinet Decision No. 58 of 2020, drafting MOA amendments for shareholder changes, activity additions, and address updates. Board resolutions are required for opening bank accounts, authorising signatories, approving major contracts, and confirming management changes. We draft, execute, and file all necessary resolutions in the correct legal format and track the annual compliance calendar items that fall under corporate secretarial.

Attestation, legalisation, and apostille are three distinct processes that are not interchangeable. Attestation authenticates a UAE document's origin for use abroad, handled by MOFAIC. Legalisation authenticates a foreign document for use in the UAE — requiring attestation in the country of origin, then UAE Embassy attestation, then MOFAIC verification. Apostille is a simplified legalisation available for Hague Convention countries. Common use cases include educational certificates for employment visas, company documents for bank account opening, and marriage certificates for dependent visas. We manage the full chain — from initial notarisation to MOFAIC clearance. (Source: mofaic.gov.ae)