01
Single Point of Management
Coordinated service from company formation through banking, tax, legal and residency.
From setup to scale in the UAE
The hard part isn't setting up.
It's connecting the pieces.
Setting up a company in the UAE is more than obtaining a licence. The right company structure, tax, bank account, financing, accounting, visas and ongoing compliance need to be planned together. GCS coordinates the whole process from a single point — from setting up the structure to running it day to day.
Services Company formation · Banking · Finance · Tax · Accounting · Corporate Services · Private Client
Global Corporate Services
From setup to scale in the UAE.
01Company formation and licensing
02Banking and finance
03Tax, accounting and compliance
Why GCS?
02
International Perspective
We treat your UAE structure not as a local registration, but as part of your international business.
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Legal & Corporate Approach
We look at the legal, tax and operational needs your structure will have after incorporation, together with you.
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Long-Term Support
We don't stop at formation. Accounting, compliance, banking, licence renewal and corporate needs — we stay alongside your business.
Our services
From company formation to banking, from tax to private client structures — your needs in the UAE under one point of coordination.
01
Company Formation
Free zone or mainland; activity, licence type, shareholding and holding structure planned together.
Explore02
Banking & Account Opening Process
Choosing the right bank for your activity, preparing the file and following the application through to the end.
Explore03
Credit & Finance
Assessing financing options, coordinating with financial institutions and managing the application process — corporate finance, working capital and property finance.
Explore04
Tax & Accounting
Structuring corporate tax, VAT, accounting, payroll and filing obligations from formation onwards.
Explore05
Corporate Services
PRO services, visas and Emirates ID, licence renewal, UBO and corporate records.
Explore06
Private Client & Wealth Structuring
Wealth structuring, holding structures, private banking coordination, succession and inheritance planning, and coordination of international asset structures.
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Legal & Corporate
Legal support on corporate law, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions and cross-border transactions.
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Residence & Golden Visa
Long-term residence for investors, executives and specialists; family and employee visas.
ExploreFree Zone or Mainland?
The right structure depends on your business activity, where your customers are, visa needs, tax position and banking requirements.
Option A
Free Zone
For businesses working internationally, providing services or trading, and looking for a fast setup and a flexible structure.
- 100% foreign ownership, no local partner required
- 0% corporate tax on qualifying income where conditions are met
- Customs exemptions on imports and re-exports, subject to the rules and the type of transaction
- Capital and profits can be repatriated in full
- Licence and office options that vary by activity
- Visa allocation depends on the structure chosen
Option B
Mainland
For businesses selling directly to customers inside the UAE, opening shops or branches, or bidding for government contracts.
- No limit on activity — thousands of defined activities
- Trade anywhere in the UAE and abroad
- Access to government tenders
- No upper limit on visas (allocation follows office space)
- 100% foreign ownership possible for most activities
- Build a physical network by opening branches
The right structure. The right licence.
The right banking set-up.
You know where you stand at every step. We manage the application and coordination processes on your behalf and set out clearly, at every stage, the documents and decisions needed.
01
Initial consultation
We discuss your business, your goals and your visa needs. What comes out of it is a tailored structure and implementation roadmap.
02
Activity and structure
We settle the activity that goes on the licence and the company type. The wrong activity code means a licence amendment later.
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Zone and licence selection
Free zone or mainland; which zone, which licence type. We put the options side by side.
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Trade name and pre-approvals
We check the name against the rules, reserve it, and obtain authority pre-approval where the activity requires it.
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Documents and registration
Incorporation documents, memorandum, signing authorities. We prepare the file and we chase it.
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Licence and establishment card
The trade licence is issued, and the establishment card needed for visa processing is obtained.
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Visa and Emirates ID
Entry permit, medical, biometrics, residence stamp and Emirates ID. The same process for your family.
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Bank account and beyond
Corporate account application, accounting setup, VAT registration and the compliance calendar.
Opening a bank account depends on the bank's compliance review and its timing varies from bank to bank. Our priority is getting the structure right, not speed.
Every structure is different.
We set out formation and annual running costs from the start, based on company type, business activity, shareholding, visa needs and banking requirements.
Tax & Accounting
Structuring UAE companies' accounting, VAT and corporate tax obligations correctly from formation onwards, and managing the ongoing reporting.
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Corporate Tax
Registration, assessment of the tax position and the annual return.
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VAT
Monitoring registration thresholds, TRN and periodic returns.
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Accounting & Bookkeeping
Records and financial statements in line with international standards.
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Payroll
Monthly payroll processing and employee records.
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Tax Registration & Filing
Federal Tax Authority registrations and the filing calendar.
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Free Zone Tax Assessment
Assessing the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions.
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International Tax Coordination
Aligning the tax position with advisers in other countries.
ExploreBefore you start doing business in the UAE.
Up-to-date guides on company formation, licensing, banking, tax and corporate processes.
Guide
Trade licence
Licence types, documents required, application steps, timing and renewal.
ExploreGuide
E-commerce licence
Which licence for selling online; free zone or mainland, the eTrader difference, and VAT.
ExploreGuide
Starting a business in Dubai
The whole process from choosing a sector to opening a bank account, step by step.
ExploreLet's plan your UAE structure together.
We assess your business model, your activity and your goals, and prepare the company structure and implementation roadmap that fit you.