USING FREE ZONES OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The UAE has free zones in most of the individual Emirates, e.g. Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone.

Dubai also has a number of specialist free zones, including Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Dubai Healthcare City.

The free zones, which operate through an exemption to the CCL, offer a variety of valuable benefits to businesses and a degree of flexibility, including:

• 100% foreign ownership through branches, single or multiple shareholder companies (known respectively as FZEs, FZCOs or FZ-LLCs)
• no National Agent required for branch offices of foreign companies
• no customs duties on imports and re-exports (except re-exports into onshore UAE)
• special assistance in obtaining work permits for staff
• guaranteed exemptions from corporate taxes.

Details of the incentives and facilities available, together with registration, minimum capitalization and other requirements vary between free zones, and specific advice should be taken.