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Compare and plan

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

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Screening and records

Sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningVerifyStatutory records storageVault
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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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  • Business activity look-up
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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

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

Learn

Explainer series

Setting up in the UAE, explained

What forming a UAE company involves in law — choosing the ground, the name and constitution, the licence and lease, officers and the registered agent, the registers from day one, the tax registrations, and keeping the licence alive — as a process with steps, before any video shows Arakan Scout or Atlas.

For: Founders and investors setting up a UAE company, and the advisers and formation agents who help them: what mainland, free zone and offshore each mean in law, what the constitution, licence, officers and registers require on day one, and what keeps the company in good standing after.

7 videos, about two minutes each. Watch in order; each one starts the next.

1 of 7 · 2 min

PreviousNext

Next: Mainland, free zone or offshore

In this series

  1. 1.What setting up involves

    2 min

  2. 2.Mainland, free zone or offshore

    2 min

  3. 3.The name and the constitution

    2 min

  4. 4.The licence and the lease

    2 min

  5. 5.Officers and the registered agent

    2 min

  6. 6.The registers from day one

    2 min

  7. 7.Taxes, and keeping it current

    2 min