Tax·6 min read
UAE corporate tax at 9%: what a free-zone company actually pays
Qualifying Free Zone Person status can hold your rate at 0% on qualifying income, but the disqualifying triggers are narrower than most founders assume.
14 Jul 2026
Insights & events
Notes from the desk, and rooms worth showing up to.
Formation, tax and banking guides written by the people who file the paperwork plus the webinars and workshops where you can ask us directly.
Blog
Technical notes & guides
Formation·8 min read
Mainland or free zone in 2026: the ownership rules moved again
Foreign ownership caps on mainland activities keep shifting by sector. Here's how to read the current DED activity list before you commit to a jurisdiction.
2 Jul 2026
Banking·5 min read
What UAE bank compliance really asks a new company for
Source-of-funds narratives, UBO declarations, expected transaction volumes — the compliance file that gets accounts opened in weeks, not months.
19 Jun 2026
Visas·4 min read
Investor visa timelines by emirate: entry permit to Emirates ID
GDRFA processing speed varies more by emirate than by nationality. A realistic week-by-week timeline for the medical, biometrics and Emirates ID stages.
28 May 2026
Compliance·5 min read
VAT registration thresholds: when a young company must file
AED 375,000 in taxable supplies triggers mandatory registration, but the voluntary threshold catches most new companies earlier than they expect.
9 May 2026
PRO·3 min read
Establishment card renewal: the deadline that quietly fines you
A lapsed establishment card blocks visa renewals and labour transactions silently. The renewal calendar we run for every client, explained.
22 Apr 2026
Events
Upcoming webinars & workshops
Free to attend. Seats are limited on the online sessions, and the in-person clinic runs small on purpose.
24SEPT
WorkshopMainland vs free zone: live Q&A for first-time founders
Bring your activity and visa count. We'll cost out mainland and free zone side by side on screen and take questions for the full hour.
5:00 PM GSTOnline
Reserve a seat08OCT
In-personSharjah founders meetup banking & compliance clinic
Bring your compliance file for a free review before your next bank meeting. Coffee, and twenty minutes one-on-one with an advisor.
6:30 PM GSTSharjah
Reserve a seat22OCT
WebinarOpening a UAE corporate bank account in 2026: documents that actually get approved
Why source-of-funds narratives get rejected, what UBO declarations banks actually check, and how to prep a file before the first call.
4:00 PM GSTOnline
Reserve a seatPast events