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Free zones

Free zone costs and visasPackages, visas and renewal by zoneFree zone rules and taxAuthority, QFZP and audit rulesFree zones by emirateFree zone price indexCost calculatorFree zone setup guide

Mainland

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

Compare and plan

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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Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)OnboardClients' regulatory complianceShieldClients' FTA complianceLedgerSanctions, PEP and adverse-media screeningVerify
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Library

Laws and rulebooksFederal, emirate, free zone and regulatorRegulatorsRegulatory updatesNew rules, circulars and consultationsLexara WeeklyThe week in UAE regulation

Topics

UAE Corporate Tax lawUAE AML regulationsVARA regulationsDFSA rulebookADGM FSRA regulations

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Explainer videosThe rules as steps, two minutes eachTax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Academy
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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
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  • Business activity look-up
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  • Regulators
  • Regulatory updates
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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

VAT, explained

What UAE value added tax asks of a business — registration, invoicing, the rates, imports and the reverse charge, input tax recovery, the return and payment, records and the audit window — as a process with steps, before any video shows Arakan Ledger.

What VAT involves

Tax collected on every supply and paid over each period: who it reaches, where the rules sit, how long the authority can look back, and the six steps.

2 min

Registering for VAT

The 375,000 dirham test, the 30-day window, voluntary registration at 187,500 and its lock-in, tax groups, deregistration, and keeping your registration data current.

2 min

The tax invoice

Fourteen days to issue, what it must carry, full or simplified, the exchange rate, electronic invoicing, the credit note, and the penalty per missing invoice.

2 min

Standard, zero and exempt

Three treatments and what separates them: the zero-rated list, the 90-day export evidence rule, the exempt list, and why exempt costs you input tax.

2 min

Imports and the reverse charge

How tax on imported goods and services is accounted for through the return, the papers to keep, the unregistered importer, agents, designated zones, and the 50 percent penalty.

2 min

Recovering input tax

The conditions for recovery, what is blocked, the six-month payment rule, apportionment and the annual wash-up, capital assets, and bad debt relief.

2 min

The return and the payment

What the return declares, the 28th-day deadline, the late filing and late payment penalties, correcting an error, and what happens to excess tax.

2 min

VAT records and the audit window

The records VAT law names, the TRN on everything, the 15-year rule for property, the audit and assessment window, Arabic on request, and the penalty for missing records.

2 min