How long does a company formation in Dubai or elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) take?

The duration of a company formation – regardless of whether you establish a company in the territory of an Emirate or in a free zone – largely depends on the chosen objective of the new company and the identity of the founding shareholders. In case natural persons act as shareholders, fewer documents have to be provided for the company formation than in cases where legal entities are involved. Usually, the compilation of all formation documents in the correct form and language, the review of the application papers by the competent licensing authority and the search for a suitable office space take up most of the time. As a rough guide, you can expect the conclusion of a company formation within two to four months.