Which setup route suits a Swiss business?

It depends on your purpose. An operating business serving UAE customers often looks at the mainland, international trade and services at free zones, and holding structures at offshore. We assess each against your plans.

Can a Swiss national hold full ownership of a UAE company?

Full foreign ownership is available in free zones, offshore, and most mainland activities. Some regulated activities carry conditions, so we confirm the position for your activity and licensing authority.

Can an offshore company be used as a holding company?

Offshore companies are commonly used to hold shares or assets and manage international business. They cannot trade within the UAE or generally sponsor visas, so we check whether the route fits your objectives.

Can an existing Swiss company participate in the setup?

Tell us whether your Swiss company would own the UAE entity or whether you want to investigate a branch. We identify the options and corporate records to review for your jurisdiction and activity.

How are company formation costs presented?

We provide an itemised proposal based on your route, emirate, licence, structure, premises and requested services, with agreed government and professional fees shown separately.

How long should I allow for registration?

We discuss an indicative schedule after reviewing your route and documents. Requests for further information or extra approvals can affect progress, and authority processing times are outside our control.

Does a UAE company automatically provide residency?

No. Company formation and residency need separate consideration, and approval depends on the relevant authority. We can support documentation and application coordination within the agreed scope.

Does the service include Swiss legal or tax advice?

No. This service does not include advice on Swiss legal obligations, tax residency or cross-border taxation. Seek independent advice from qualified professionals in Switzerland and the UAE.

SwitzerlandUAE

UAE company formation for Swiss entrepreneurs

Establish your UAE business presence with a defined scope, organised documentation and a clear sequence of steps. PRO Hub Business Services supports entrepreneurs, investors and companies in Switzerland with mainland, free zone and offshore company formation.

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From your first discussion about Abu Dhabi or Dubai to licence issuance and beyond, we organise the work around your intended activities and operating plans.
Receive a service overview and an itemised proposal with transparent pricing, no hidden costs, and clearly stated responsibilities.

Switzerland

United Arab Emirates

Mainland · Free zone · Offshore

Transparent pricingItemised proposal, no hidden costs

MainlandDirect access to customers across the UAE.
Free zoneSector-focused zones for international firms.
OffshoreHolding and investment structures.
Transparent pricingItemised fees and clear responsibilities.

Your UAE presence

Plan your UAE presence from Switzerland

Your UAE entity should serve a defined commercial purpose. Before selecting a formation package, consider how you will serve customers, manage operations, employ staff, and connect the UAE business with your activities in Switzerland.

We begin with those operating requirements. Our discussion covers your business activity, shareholders, preferred emirate, office needs, and whether an operating company or a holding structure fits your goals.

You can then assess the proposed route knowing the work involved, the documents to prepare, and the matters that call for independent professional advice, including Swiss and UAE legal and tax questions.

Setup options

Compare the UAE setup routes

Investors and companies from Switzerland typically choose between three routes. An operating business, an international trading company and a holding structure each point to a different option, and the differences matter for licensing, premises and visas.

Trade across the UAE01

Mainland company

Licensed by the economic development authority of the emirate, such as ADDED in Abu Dhabi or DET in Dubai, a mainland company can serve customers anywhere in the UAE.

Direct access to the UAE market
Full foreign ownership in most activities
Can bid for government tenders, subject to their terms
A registered business address is generally required

Often suitsSwiss companies that want to sell locally, hire in the UAE or work with government clients.

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Built for international business02

Free zone company

Licensed by a free zone authority in a dedicated business district, with packages designed for international trade, services and startups.

Full foreign ownership
Flexible office packages, from flexi-desk upward
Permitted activities and benefits vary by zone
Trading with mainland customers usually needs an additional route

Often suitsConsultants, e-commerce businesses, startups and international traders.

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International finance and holding structures.

Holding and international03

Offshore company

Registered with an offshore registry, such as RAK ICC, for activity outside the UAE. Often used to hold shares or assets and to manage international business.

No UAE office; a registered agent is appointed
Cannot trade within the UAE
Residence visas are generally not available
Suited to holding and international structures

Often suitsHolding companies, asset holding and international trading structures.

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Compare	Mainland	Free zone	Offshore
Licensed by	The emirate's economic development authority	The relevant free zone authority	An offshore registry
Trading in the UAE	Directly with customers across the UAE	Within the zone and internationally; mainland trade usually needs an extra route	Not permitted
Foreign ownership	Full ownership in most activities	Full ownership	Full ownership
Office	Registered business address generally required	Flexi-desk to full office, depending on the package	No UAE office; registered agent
Residence visas	Linked to premises and approvals	Linked to the package and premises	Generally not available
Often chosen for	Local trading, services, contracting and government work	International trade, consulting, e-commerce and startups	Holding companies and international trade

This comparison is an initial guide. Requirements differ between emirates, free zones and registries, and we confirm the position for your activity and structure before submission.

What we do

UAE corporate services built around your operating plans

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Company formation and structure coordination

Your structure and jurisdiction should reflect your activities and ownership arrangements. We help you assess the options, prepare the incorporation documents, and coordinate submissions and follow-up through to licence issuance.

If an existing Swiss company will participate, we review the proposed relationship between the businesses and identify the corporate documentation to confirm. Questions on liability or cross-border taxation belong with qualified advisers.

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Abu Dhabi company formation

If Abu Dhabi is your intended base, we organise the requirements for a mainland or free zone route, review your shareholders and premises needs, and coordinate the licensing documents.

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Dubai company formation

Your location should support your customers, staffing and daily operations. We assess Dubai mainland and free zone options against those needs and coordinate the agreed work.

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Trade licensing and activity review

Licensing decisions begin with an accurate description of your activities. We help organise the information needed to review licence options and identify any additional approvals to resolve.

Our support includes preparing the application materials, coordinating submissions, and following up on requests for more information.

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Office and registered address

Consider premises alongside your licence and staffing plans. We coordinate office, flexi-desk and registered address options and check each against your route.

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Post-licence administration

Your company needs an administrative plan after incorporation as well as during setup. Within the agreed scope, we support the practical steps that follow licence issuance.

Banking and registrations. Guidance on opening a corporate bank account, plus establishment card and labour registrations.
Visa documentation. Document preparation and application coordination for owners and employees, subject to authority decisions.
Ongoing PRO support. Licence renewals, government transactions and document updates, with an agreed schedule.

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Documents

A structured approach to documentation

Preparing documents from Switzerland needs a checklist specific to your route, shareholders and receiving authority. We coordinate confirmation of the requirements, including any translation, legalisation or attestation, before you arrange processing.

This is an initial preparation guide, not a universal submission checklist. We help identify the required documents for your circumstances.

Depending on your route, the discussion may cover:

01Identity documents for shareholders and managers.
02Proposed company names and a description of intended activities.
03Ownership and management information.
04Corporate records where a Swiss company will participate.
05Documents authorising a representative to act for a company.
06Premises or registered address records, where applicable.
07Translation, certification or attestation requested by the authority.

How it works

Your UAE business setup journey from Switzerland

01
Define the intended operation
We discuss your activity, shareholders, preferred emirate and connection with your Swiss operations.
02
Review the route and scope
We compare mainland, free zone and offshore options and separate government and professional fees in your proposal.
03
Organise documentation
We provide a tailored checklist and coordinate the application materials and any attestation to confirm.
04
Coordinate submissions
We manage the agreed applications and follow-up. Approval decisions and processing times remain with the authorities.
05
Set the post-licence schedule
After licensing, we help organise banking guidance, visa administration and PRO tasks.

PRO Hub Business Services office reception.

Dedicated consultant

Dedicated support

Clear responsibilities throughout your engagement

PRO Hub Business Services provides a dedicated consultant for your file, bringing setup coordination, document preparation and post-licence administration into one working relationship.

You receive an explanation of the agreed scope, the information we need from you, and the work we will coordinate. If additional services are required, we discuss them before proceeding.

We distinguish our support role from the decisions made by authorities. PRO Hub is an independent private consultancy and is not affiliated with any UAE government authority.

FAQ Directory

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about setting up your business in the UAE.

Yes. Planning and document preparation can begin from Switzerland. Whether later stages can be coordinated remotely depends on the route, and we confirm attendance requirements before you arrange travel.

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Get started

Request a tailored overview for your UAE plans

Tell us your intended activity, preferred emirate, proposed ownership and anticipated start date. Include whether an existing Swiss company will participate.

We will help you identify the right route and outline the relevant services. Your proposal will explain the agreed scope and itemise government and professional fees, with transparent pricing and no hidden costs.