Setting-up a Branch of Foreign Company in Dubai

SETTING UP A BRANCH OF FOREIGN COMPANY IN DUBAI

Foreign companies can retain 100 percent foreign ownership in the United Arab Emirates by opening a branch office. The branch office is basically an extension of the foreign parent company. It merely represents the parent company and carries on business under its name. Usually, a branch office may promote and market the products of the parent company, enter into transactions and conclude agreements in the name of the parent company, and offer services to its customers.

THE APPLICATIONS TO SET UP A BRANCH OF FOREIGN COMPANY

The application to setup a branch office of a foreign company must contain the trade name, legal form, address of headquarters of the foreign company and the country where it carries its activities, name of national agent (if the agent is a legal entity, then its legal form), capital, names of partners, their nationality, and addresses. The next step is to obtain the name reservation from the Department of Economic Development (DED) and apply for an initial approval from the Ministry of Economy for opening the branch office in Dubai.

THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR INITIAL APPROVAL

Registration and a license application form.
Proof of the reserved business name.
Copy of the director’s passport and a letter of no-objection issued by the parent company.
Copy of the UAE representative’s passport and naturalization book.
Foreign company’s management board resolution for opening the branch in Dubai.
Power of attorney for the Dubai director.
Parent company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Copy of the parent company’s Certificate of Incorporation.
Approval issued by the Government for carrying out the specified trading activities.

The Memorandum, Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation must be translated into Arabic and duly notarized.

REGISTRATION OF THE FOREIGN COMPANY BRANCH

Once the initial approval is obtained, the following documents must be submitted in the Department of Economic Development and submit the following documents:

The approval received from the Ministry of Economy.
Copy of the property lease agreement in Dubai.
Statement issued by the parent company on the business activities to be carried out.
The Parent company’s audited financial statements for the last two years.

Once the Dubai branch obtains its initial approval from the Department of Economic Development it can register with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and start operating. Now foreign investors can set up the company with a hundred-percent ownership.

BENEFIT OF SETTING UP OF A BRANCH OF FOREIGN COMPANY IN DUBAI

You can maintain the brand as anywhere in the world
Liability is on parent company
Ownership of shares
Do not require a local sponsor
Can operate from free zone, offshore, and mainland
Increase credibility of any brand

Our business experts at DANBURITE CORPORTAE can assist you in your end to end business setup needs, for more details please write us on info@danburite.ae or call us on 971 56808009

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What language should be in the company documentation and forms for the Department of Economic Development (DED) and Ministry of Economy?

The authorities only accept documents and forms in English and Arabic.

2. Do I need to rent an office to get the license for the Branch office?

Once you receive lease office space approval from the Ministry of Economy, send a copy to the Department of Economic Development (DED).

3. Where do I obtain the Name Reservation for the Branch Office?

You have to reserve the name of the branch office in the Department of Economic Development (DED).

4. Where do I send my documents for Initial Approval in Dubai?

You have to send the documents to the Ministry of Economy (MOE) for opening the branch office in Dubai.

5. What documents need to be notarized?

The Memorandum, Articles of Association, and Certificate of Incorporation. It should be notarized in Arabic.

6. What documents need to be submitted to the Department of Economic Development to register the foreign company branch?

(a) The approval document from the Ministry of Economy.
(b) Copy of the property lease agreement in Dubai.
(c) The statement issued by the parent company on the business activities to be carried out.
(d) The Parent company audited financial statements for the last two years.