Subject to the approved licence and activity.
Every great business starts somewhere.
First, understand the business. Then choose the structure.
Where you work, who you serve, and what comes next all shape how you should set up in the UAE.
What your business actually does determines where to begin.
Be part of the market.
A structure for businesses serving UAE customers directly, subject to licensed activities and approvals.
Build from a licensed free-zone base with arrangements suited to your activity.
For qualifying ownership or holding needs, rather than direct local trading.
WHAT ACTUALLY CHANGESSame ambition.
Same ambition.
Different possibilities.
See how the practical details change between jurisdictions.
Mainland access can require additional permissions.
Generally for eligible international or holding purposes.
General guidance only. Your activity, licence and relevant authorities determine what applies.
The starting conversation
Tell us what you're building.
Not another form to fill. Three questions to help us understand what matters to your business.
MNK · Setup DeskBusiness setup, simplified
Guided brief
TODAY · YOUR STARTING POINT
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Your starting point
Select an answer above. Add a note here if there's something specific on your mind.
Made for clarity, not an automatic approval decision.
From the first conversation to the first move.
We start with your activity and goals.
We coordinate documents, submissions and approvals.
We guide the next steps, where applicable.
Know what you're paying for.
Different structures have different requirements. A clear breakdown is worth more than a headline price.
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Different structures have different requirements. A clear breakdown is worth more than a headline price.
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Specific fees depend on the authority, activity and application. No invented package prices.
Business setup should feel clear, not sold.
Having worked in the UAE business-setup industry, our founders saw how price-led selling could leave clients without real guidance. MNK was created to put the business and the person behind it first.
Recommendations shaped by the business, not by a sales target.
A few questions worth asking.
That depends on your activity, customers, location and operating requirements. MNK can help compare the options.
Full foreign ownership is available for many activities and structures, though exceptions and authority-specific conditions apply.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, activity and licence. Some arrangements offer flexible facilities while others require premises.
Find your next step.
The practical details.
Generally for eligible international or holding purposes.
General guidance only. Your activity, licence and relevant authorities determine what applies.
Visa eligibility and banking decisions depend on the structure and relevant authorities or financial institution; neither is automatically guaranteed.
Mainland, free zone or offshore? Make the decision around your activity, market and plans.
Worth knowing before you decide
Can I set up a UAE business without visiting?
Some processes can be completed remotely, but identity checks, immigration, banking and specific authority requirements can still require personal attendance. Confirm the process for your nationality, activity and chosen authority.
Which details should I send MNK first?
Share your proposed business activity, intended customers, number of shareholders, visa needs, desired location and approximate start date. MNK can then discuss relevant routes rather than send a generic package.
What should I consider before proceeding?
A trading company, design consultancy and regulated financial service cannot all use the same licence. Describe exactly what you will sell, to whom, and where the service or goods will be delivered. Confirm permitted activities with the relevant authority before selecting a package.
Choose your jurisdiction. Mainland, free-zone and offshore structures serve different purposes. Mainland may suit direct local operations; free zones offer authority-specific licences and facilities; offshore structures are usually intended for eligible international or holding needs rather than conducting local trade.
Plan beyond incorporation. Ask about approval stages, trade-name registration, premises, immigration eligibility, bookkeeping, renewals and banking documentation. The cheapest first-year licence may not be the best operating structure over two or three years.
