| TYPE OF COMPANY | DIFC | |
| Registered office in the UAE | Flexible office solutions | |
| Registered Agent | Not required | |
| Registration term of the company | 3-8 weeks | |
| Shelf companies | No | |
| TAXES | ||
| Taxation | 0% corporate and personal tax rate guaranteed for 50 years | |
| Double Taxation Treaty Access | No | |
| Access to the agreement of automatic exchange of information | No | |
| SHARES and SHARE CAPITAL | ||
| Currency | AED | |
| The minimum paid-up share capital | The size of the share capital depends on the license requirements. There are no minimum capital requirements for companies undertaking non - financial services business. | |
| The maximum authorized capital | No restrictions | |
| Standard authorized capital | No requirements | |
| Bearer shares | No | |
| SHAREHOLDERS | ||
| Shareholders | Natural or legal persons (no residency requirement) | |
| The minimum number of shareholders | One | |
| Provision of Fiduciary Services | Not allowed | |
| Publicly available data on shareholders | Yes | |
| Requirement for the meetings of the shareholders | Yes | |
| Place of holding of Meetings of Shareholders | Worldwide | |
| DIRECTORS | ||
| Directors | Natural persons of any nationality | |
| Minimum number of directors | Two | |
| Provision of Fiduciary Services | Not allowed | |
| Publication of information about the directors in the State Register | No | |
| Place of holding of Board of Directors Meetings | Not required | |
| SECRETARY | ||
| Secretary | Yes. However, a director is not allowed to be a secretary as well | |
| Publication of information about secretary in the State Register | Yes | |
| Provision of Fiduciary Services | Not allowed | |
| KEEPING OF RECORDS | ||
| Record keeping | Yes | |
| Audit | Yes | |
| Filing reports | Yes | |
| Currency control | No | |
| ACTIVITIES | ||
| Business in UAE | Yes | |
| Buying a property in UAE | Possible (but depends on developer) | |
The DIFC District is the world’s fastest-growing financial centre.
It is situated on a 110 acre site south of the Dubai Emirates Towers complex. “The Gate”, the DIFC’s architectural landmark, graces the northern entry into the District. Designed by a US architect – Gensler – this iconic building houses executive offices of the DIFC Authority and the DFSA and provides prime office space for leading international financial institutions.
The DIFC focuses on the following main financial services sectors:
1. Banking & Brokerage Services
2. Wealth Management
3. Reinsurance & Captive Insurance
4. Islamic Finance
5. Ancillary Services
6. Capital Markets
The principle forms of business enterprise available to all participants within DIFC are:
Company Limited by Shares (LTD)
Limited Liability Company (LCC)
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
Limited Partnership (LP)
General Partnership (GP)
Branch of a Foreign Entity (Recognized Entity)
Investment Company
Protected Cell Company (mainly focusing on insurance business)