Names
Setting up a company in a UAE free zone
Free zones such as DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ and Meydan allow 100% foreign ownership and fast online setup. Each free zone has its own registrar, but the naming rules are close to the Dubai mainland rules.
- Legal suffix
- FZ-LLC, FZCO, FZE, DMCC
- Domains
- .com and .ae
- Corporate tax
- 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest
- Name check
- DMCC company name rules
What it costs
| Formation | Packages start from about AED 6,010 at RAKEZ, AED 12,500 at Meydan and AED 12,900 at IFZA. DMCC starts at about AED 46,780 with one visa. |
|---|---|
| Every year | Renewal usually costs about the same as the first-year package, minus one-off registration fees. |
| Registered agent or local requirement | No registered agent. The free zone is the registrar, and most packages include a flexi-desk or virtual office. |
| Online portal | Yes. Each zone has its own portal, such as the DMCC Member Portal, AXS for Dubai Development Authority zones, and Dubai Trade for JAFZA. |
Certificates (good standing, incumbency and similar)
| Good standing or incumbency (DDA zones, via AXS) | AED 1,020 |
|---|---|
| Letters and certificates (JAFZA) | From AED 200; offshore incumbency AED 400 |
| Good standing (DMCC and other large zones) | Up to about AED 3,000 |
Estimates checked October 2026. Government fees change and service providers charge on top, so confirm with the registry before you budget. Sources: DMCC, RAKEZ, IFZA.
Naming rules in a UAE free zone
The free zone adds the legal suffix itself, so don't type it into the name. The generator flags these words with an orange or red tick:
- Needs approval Bank, Banking, Insurance, Insurer, Assurance, Reinsurance, Securities, Exchange, Fund, Funds. Regulated financial term. Needs approval from the financial regulator in most countries.
- Not allowed Allah, God, Holy, Mecca, Makkah, Vatican. Religious names and divine attributes are not allowed.
- Not allowed Sheikh, Royal, King, Prince, Ministry, Government, Federal, FBI. Names that suggest a royal, government or political body are refused.
- Needs approval Dubai, Emirates, Emirate, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, DXB, AUH, SHJ, DWC, GCC, Expo. UAE place names, emirates and airport codes are restricted.
- Not allowed International, Global (at the start of the name). A trade name cannot start with International, Global or Middle East.
- Needs approval Holding, Holdings, Group. Holding and Group are only allowed for holding or group companies.
- Needs approval Partners. Partners is only allowed for partnerships, joint ventures or subsidiaries.
- Needs approval Finance, Financial, Investment, Investments, Invest, Capital, Media, Advertising, Payment, Payments, Tax, VAT, Assets, Charity, Islamic. Only allowed if your licence covers that activity.
- Not allowed LLC, Ltd, Limited, FZE, FZCO, Inc, Corp, PLC, GmbH. Leave the legal form out of the name. The registry adds it.
These checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Jurisdictions at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Legal suffix | Domain | Headline corporate tax | Typical setup cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Mainland | LLC, Sole Establishment | .ae | 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 | About AED 11,500–14,000 |
| UAE Free Zone (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ…) | FZ-LLC, FZCO, FZE, DMCC | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | From about AED 6,000 |
| DIFC (Dubai) | Limited, Ltd | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About AED 100,000 year one |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi) | Ltd, Limited | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About US$6,300 |
| Saudi Arabia | LLC | .sa | 20% on foreign-owned profit, 2.5% zakat on Saudi and GCC shares | About SAR 15,000 in fees |
| Qatar (QFC) | LLC | .qa | 10% on locally sourced profit | US$500 application |
| Bahrain | W.L.L., S.P.C. | .bh | No general corporate tax (oil and gas and large multinationals aside) | About BHD 250–450 in fees |
| United Kingdom | Ltd, Limited | .co.uk | 19% to 25% corporation tax | £100 |
| Ireland | Limited, DAC | .ie | 12.5% on trading income | €50 |
| Estonia (e-Residency) | OÜ | .ee | 0% on retained profit, 22% on distributed profit | €265 + e-Residency |
| Netherlands | B.V. | .nl | 19% up to €200,000, then 25.8% | €500–1,500 notary |
| Germany | GmbH, UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | .de | About 30% combined corporate and trade tax | About €600 + capital |
| Cyprus | Ltd, Limited | .com.cy | 15% corporate tax (from 2026) | Low registrar fees |
| USA: Delaware | Inc., LLC, Corp. | .us | 21% federal, no Delaware income tax if you don't operate there | $109–110 |
| USA: Wyoming | LLC | .us | 21% federal, no state income tax | $100 |
| Singapore | Pte. Ltd. | .com.sg | 17% headline, with partial exemptions for new companies | S$315 |
| Hong Kong | Limited | .com.hk | 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, then 16.5% | About HK$3,900 |
| British Virgin Islands | Ltd, Limited, Inc. | .vg | 0% | $550 + agent |
| Cayman Islands | Ltd | .ky | 0% | About $5,000 with a provider |
How to choose a company name that gets approved
- Check the register first: names identical or very close to an existing company are refused.
- Avoid regulated words such as Bank, Insurance, Capital or Trust unless you hold the licence.
- In the Gulf, avoid religious, royal or government terms and place names such as Dubai or Emirates.
- In the UK, sensitive words such as British, Royal, Charity or Institute need prior approval.
- Secure the .com and the country domain on the same day you reserve the name.
The rule checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Information only. CorpNameCheck does not give tax, legal or company-registration advice. Costs, rules and tax rates are simplified estimates that change over time. Many activities need a licence or regulatory approval, and only the relevant registry or regulator can confirm what applies to you. Check name availability and trademarks with the official bodies before you register or buy a domain. Full disclaimer