M&A, corporate strategy and major deals in the region
Closing a UAE company requires four sequential processes: employee termination and visa cancellation, FTA tax deregistration, trade licence cancellation with the DED or free zone authority, and corporate bank account closure. The full process tak
Hiring your first employee in the UAE requires seven sequential steps: MOHRE registration, offer letter, labour contract, visa application, medical test, Emirates ID, and WPS payroll setup. The process takes 3 to 6 weeks from offer acceptance
The UAE’s 45+ free zones serve different business models, and choosing the wrong one costs AED 20,000 to AED 50,000 in re-incorporation fees and 2 to 3 months of lost operational time. The right free zone depends on four factors: what your busine
Incorporating a UAE company is the first step. Staying compliant after incorporation requires action across six regulatory tracks — corporate tax registration, VAT registration, WPS salary setup, Emiratisation, health insurance, and annual licenc
UAE labour law is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the Labour Law), effective 2 February 2022, replacing the 1980 Labour Law. The new framework introduced fixed-term contracts, flexible work models, anti-discrimination protections,
Opening a corporate bank account is the single slowest step in UAE company formation — taking 2 to 12 weeks depending on jurisdiction, entity type, and banking relationship. UAE banks have progressively tightened KYC requirements since 2024, and
The UAE retirement visa is a 5-year renewable residence permit for individuals aged 55 and older who want to retire in the UAE. Applicants must meet one of three financial thresholds: AED 1 million in savings, AED 1 million in property, or AED
The UAE issues a 1-year remote work visa that allows digital nomads, freelancers, and remote employees of foreign companies to live in the UAE while working for an employer or clients based outside the country. The visa does not require a UAE
The UAE Green Visa is a 5-year self-sponsored residence permit that allows skilled employees, freelancers, and investors to stay in the UAE independently of their employer. Unlike the standard 2-year employment visa — which is cancelled when the
The UAE freelance visa allows independent professionals to live, work, and invoice clients from the UAE without a traditional employer. Freelance permits are issued by specific free zones — including TECOM Group (Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet
