Foreign Company Branch Registration in Dubai

A branch allows an established foreign company to operate in the UAE under its own name and track record, without creating a separate subsidiary. It is often the fastest way for an international business to serve UAE clients, bid for contracts or place staff on the ground.

Dawn Consultancy registers branches of foreign companies on the Dubai mainland and in UAE free zones. We manage the document legalisation, licensing, registrations and ongoing compliance, so your branch is operational and correctly set up for Corporate Tax and VAT from day one.

Branch or subsidiary?

Legal status. A branch is part of the parent company, not a separate legal entity, so the parent is responsible for its obligations.
Name and activity. A branch uses the parent’s name and conducts activities the parent is licensed to carry out.
Credibility. A branch benefits from the parent’s history, financial strength and references, which can help in tenders.
Tax. A UAE branch of a foreign company is generally within scope of UAE Corporate Tax on the profits attributable to it and must register.

We compare a branch with a mainland LLC or free zone company and recommend the structure that best fits your plans.

Documents usually required

Parent company certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents
Board resolution approving the branch and appointing its manager
Recent parent company financial statements
Power of attorney for the branch manager
Passport copies of the manager and relevant signatories

Documents issued abroad generally need to be notarised, legalised through the relevant UAE embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and translated into Arabic. We manage the legalisation chain for you.

Our registration process

Structuring advice on branch location and licence activity.
Document preparation and legalisation coordination.
Name and activity approval with the licensing authority.
Premises and lease registration.
Licence issuance and chamber of commerce registration.
Establishment card and visas for the manager and staff.
Bank account opening support.
Tax registration for Corporate Tax, and VAT where required.

After registration

We support branches with accounting, audit, Corporate Tax, transfer pricing between branch and head office, and annual licence renewals.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign company open a branch in Dubai?

Yes. Foreign companies can register branches on the Dubai mainland and in many free zones, subject to the activity and the licensing authority’s requirements.

Is a branch subject to UAE Corporate Tax?

A UAE branch of a foreign company is generally subject to Corporate Tax on profits attributable to the branch and must register with the Federal Tax Authority.

Do parent company documents need legalisation?

Yes. Documents issued outside the UAE usually require notarisation, legalisation through the UAE embassy and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Arabic translation.

How long does branch registration take?

Timing depends mainly on how quickly legalised parent documents are available. Once documents are ready, licensing typically takes a few weeks.

Speak to our team

Tell us where your parent company is incorporated and what the branch will do, and we will set out the requirements, timeline and fees.

Call +971 55 441 1036, email info@dawnconsultancy.com or visit us at Office 1509, Citadel Tower, Business Bay. Contact us to arrange a consultation.

Foreign Company Branch Registration in Dubai, UAE | Dawn Consultancy