Dubai Branch Office Setup
Open a Dubai branch of your foreign or UAE company — 100% parent ownership, no separate legal entity, operate under your existing brand with full UAE market access through DET branch licensing.
Description
A Dubai Branch Office allows a foreign company (or a UAE company from another emirate or free zone) to operate in Dubai under its existing legal identity — no new shareholders, no separate legal entity, and 100% parent company ownership. The branch conducts the same activities as the parent (subject to DET approval), invoices clients under the parent brand, and gives international companies direct UAE market presence without restructuring ownership.
Branch setup requirements include attested parent company documents (certificate of incorporation, MOA, board resolution appointing the branch manager), a Dubai office with Ejari, and DET approval of the branch activities. Foreign company branches previously required a UAE National Service Agent for some activities; recent reforms have removed this for most commercial and professional activities. Branches of free zone companies expanding to mainland Dubai follow a similar pathway with their free zone NOC.
Octavon Global Advisory handles complete Dubai branch setup — parent document attestation guidance (UAE Embassy and MoFA), DET initial approval, trade name registration matching the parent, board resolution and POA drafting, Ejari registration, branch license issuance, Establishment Card, branch manager visa, and corporate bank account introduction. Standard branch setup completes in 15 to 25 working days including document attestation.
What's Included
- DET Branch License (Foreign or UAE Company Branch)
- 100% Parent Company Ownership
- Operate Under Existing Brand and Legal Identity
- Same Activities as Parent (Subject to DET Approval)
- Parent Document Attestation Guidance
- Board Resolution and POA Drafting
- Trade Name Registration Matching Parent
- DET Initial Approval
- Ejari Registration Coordination
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce Membership
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Branch Manager Visa (1 included)
- Medical Fitness Test and Emirates ID
- Corporate Bank Account Introduction
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Existing parent company (foreign, free zone, or other emirate)
- Parent company in good standing (valid license / registration)
- Attested parent documents (incorporation certificate, MOA, board resolution)
- Appointed branch manager with POA
- Dubai office with valid Ejari
- Branch activities matching parent activities
- Free zone parents: NOC from the free zone authority
Required Documents
- Parent Certificate of Incorporation (attested)
- Parent MOA / Articles (attested)
- Parent Trade License / Registration Extract (attested)
- Board Resolution to Open Dubai Branch (attested)
- POA for Branch Manager (attested)
- Branch Manager Passport and Photographs
- Parent Company Profile and Audited Financials (some activities)
- Office Lease / Ejari
- Free Zone NOC (for free zone parent companies)
Our Process
- Consultation on branch structure and activity match
- Parent document attestation (UAE Embassy + MoFA)
- Board resolution and branch manager POA preparation
- Trade name registration matching parent
- DET initial approval
- Office lease and Ejari registration
- Branch license application submission
- License issuance
- Dubai Chamber membership and Establishment Card
- Branch manager visa processing
- Medical fitness and Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account opening
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 20,000
- Service Fee: AED 5,000
- VAT (5%): AED 1,250
- Total: AED 26,250
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a branch and a subsidiary in Dubai?
A branch is the same legal entity as the parent — no separate shareholders, parent carries full liability, and the branch operates under the parent's name. A subsidiary (new LLC) is a separate legal entity with its own liability shield. Branches suit companies wanting direct market presence under their existing brand; subsidiaries suit those wanting liability separation.
Can a foreign company own 100% of its Dubai branch?
Yes. The branch is owned entirely by the parent company by definition. Recent reforms removed the UAE National Service Agent requirement for most commercial and professional branch activities, making the structure fully parent-controlled.
What documents need attestation for a branch setup?
The parent's certificate of incorporation, MOA/articles, board resolution to open the branch, and the branch manager POA must be attested by the UAE Embassy in the parent's country and then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Attestation is usually the longest step — we guide the exact sequence for your country.
How long does Dubai branch setup take?
Standard branch setup completes in 15 to 25 working days, with document attestation typically consuming 1-2 weeks of that. If your documents are already attested, the Dubai-side process takes 7 to 12 working days.
Can my free zone company open a mainland Dubai branch?
Yes. A free zone company can open a DET mainland branch to access mainland customers directly. The free zone authority issues an NOC, and the branch follows the standard DET process. This is a common structure for free zone companies that outgrow the mainland sales restriction.
What activities can a branch perform?
The branch can perform the parent's activities, subject to DET approving them for branch structure. Some activities (certain trading and contracting categories) have additional requirements for foreign branches. We verify activity eligibility before starting.
Does a branch file its own taxes in the UAE?
A branch is part of the parent legally, but for UAE Corporate Tax purposes a foreign company's UAE branch is a taxable presence — it registers for Corporate Tax and files on its UAE-attributable profits (0% up to AED 375,000, 9% above). We coordinate the tax registration as part of setup.