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Mainland licences by activityApprovals, fees and setup stepsBusiness activity look-upISIC activities and where they're allowedActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklist

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Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceAfter you incorporateSample setup report
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For UAE companies

Your compliance managerComplyWhat applies to youScopeGovernance and board complianceGovern

Screening and records

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningVerifyStatutory records storageVault
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Library

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Business setup

Free zones

Free zone costs and visasFree zone rules and taxFree zones by emirateFree zone price indexCost calculatorFree zone setup guide

Mainland

Mainland licences by activityBusiness activity look-upActivity permissions by zoneIncorporation document checklist

Compare and plan

Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceAfter you incorporateSample setup report
Prefer a person? Talk to an adviserGet your AI setup advisory →
Compliance

For UAE companies

Your compliance managerWhat applies to youGovernance and board compliance

Screening and records

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningStatutory records storage
How the platform worksFind the right app →
For firms

Serve your clients

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)Clients' regulatory complianceClients' FTA complianceSanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening
Become an Arakan adviserAll apps →
UAE law

Library

Laws and rulebooksRegulatorsRegulatory updatesLexara Weekly

Topics

UAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

Learn

Explainer videosTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
Search the law in LexaraAll resources →
LearnPricing
Sign in

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Every regulation that applies
to your business. Found. Checked. Actioned.

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Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 11 apps on one company record.

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Resources

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Free tools & guides

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  • Free zone costs and visas
  • Mainland licence activities
  • Business activity look-up
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  • Regulators
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Legal

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11 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Atlas

UAE setup reference

Verify

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

Business setup by activity

All 2,100+ activities
Trading & ServicesManufacturingReal Estate & Business ServicesPersonal & Social ServicesTransport, Storage & LogisticsConstruction & ContractingFinancial ServicesVirtual AssetsHealth & Social WorkEducationAgriculture & FishingProfessional & Technical ServicesAccommodation & Food ServicesMining & QuarryingUtilities & Energy
Free zone setup costsFree zone price indexSetup cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneWhich zones permit your activity

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDMCDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDMCDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZ2454ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAORAKEZ
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

Arakan-managed document storage: AWS me-central-1 (UAE).

All demos

Explainers

Corporate tax, explained

What UAE corporate tax asks of a company — registration, the books, from accounting income to taxable income, small business and free zone relief, the return and payment within nine months, and seven years of records — as a process with steps, before any video shows Arakan Ledger or Check.

What corporate tax involves

Who is taxed, on what, at which rate, the nine-month deadline, the seven-year record rule, and the six steps the series follows.

2 min

Registering, and the tax period

Every taxable person registers for a tax registration number; the deadlines by type of person, the tax period, deregistration, and the penalties for being late.

2 min

Keeping the books

The accounting standards the tax starts from, who may use simpler ones, who needs an audit, the opening balance sheet, and the authority's right to ask for the statements.

2 min

From profit to taxable income

The adjustments between accounting profit and taxable income: exempt income, the deduction test, what is never deductible, the interest cap, connected persons, arm's length, and losses.

2 min

Small business and free zone relief

The two reliefs most companies ask about, what each requires, what each costs, how status is lost, and the anti-abuse rule behind both.

2 min

Filing, paying and the records

The return within nine months and what it carries, payment and the order of credits, transfer pricing files, the penalties, and seven years of records.

2 min