Dubai Branch Office Setup

A Dubai branch office lets your existing foreign or UAE company work on the Dubai mainland under its own name, fully owned by the parent. We handle Ministry of Economy and Tourism approval, document attestation, the DET licence, office, visas and banking.

Description

A Dubai branch office lets a company that already exists, abroad or elsewhere in the UAE, work on the Dubai mainland without forming a new company. The branch is not a separate legal entity. It belongs entirely to the parent, uses the parent's name, and the parent is responsible for its debts and contracts. It can hire staff, sign contracts and invoice clients for the activities on its licence, which must fall within the parent's own activities.

**Two approvals for a foreign parent.** A branch of a foreign company needs approval from both the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET) and Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). First MoET gives initial approval. Then DET issues the branch licence. Within one month of the licence, the branch must be registered with MoET, and that registration is renewed every year. The branch may not start trading before it is licensed.

**No service agent, no bank guarantee.** Since Ministerial Resolution 138 of 2024, a foreign company's branch doesn't need a UAE national service agent and doesn't have to lodge a bank guarantee. It must appoint a UAE-licensed auditor, whose letter is part of the Ministry registration, and file audited accounts every year.

**Parent documents take the most time.** The certificate of incorporation, articles, board resolution, manager's power of attorney and audited accounts of the parent must be notarised in the home country, attested by the UAE embassy there and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and translated into Arabic. How long this takes depends on the parent's country, so it's worth starting early.

**Already in a Dubai free zone?** Under Dubai Executive Council Resolution 11 of 2025, a Dubai free zone company can get DET approval to work on the mainland through a mainland branch licence, a branch run from its free zone premises, or a temporary permit for certain activities. The free zone authority must also approve, and DIFC companies are excluded.

**Branch, subsidiary or representative office?** A branch suits a company that wants to trade in Dubai under its own name and is comfortable carrying full liability. A representative office costs less to run but can only promote the parent and can't earn revenue. A new company limits the parent's liability and suits you better if you want local partners or may sell the UAE business later; see Dubai mainland company formation. Some activities need extra approvals or aren't open to foreign branches, so we check yours first.

**Office, staff and banking.** The branch needs a real office in Dubai with a lease registered on Ejari; we can help with office space in Dubai that meets DET's requirements for your activity. The branch manager and staff live and work in the UAE on a Dubai employment visa sponsored by the branch. Once licensed, our Dubai corporate bank account opening service helps you prepare the parent and branch documents banks ask for.

**Tax.** A foreign company's UAE branch is a permanent establishment for UAE Corporate Tax, so it must be registered and file returns on the profits linked to it. A branch of a UAE company falls under the parent's own registration. If the branch's sales pass the VAT threshold, it may also need UAE VAT registration.

**What affects the cost.** The parent's country and attestation route, the number of documents to translate, the activity and any extra approvals, office size, the number of visas, and the yearly audit. Contact us on WhatsApp or live chat for a quote based on your company.

What's Included

Review of the parent, its activities and the best structure (branch, subsidiary or representative office)
Check that the branch activity is open to a foreign branch and whether it needs extra approvals
Trade name reservation with DET using the parent's name
MoET initial approval (foreign parents)
Guidance on notarisation, embassy and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and certified Arabic translation
Drafting of the board resolution and branch manager's power of attorney
Help finding an office and registering the lease on Ejari
DET branch licence application
MoET registration within one month of licensing, and introduction to a UAE-licensed auditor
For Dubai free zone companies: application for a mainland branch or permit under Resolution 11 of 2025
Immigration establishment card, MOHRE registration and branch manager's employment visa
Bank account application support and corporate tax registration guidance

Requirements / Prerequisites

An existing parent company in good standing (foreign, another emirate, or a Dubai free zone)
A parent board resolution approving the Dubai branch, its activities and its manager
Branch activities that fall within the parent's activities and are open to a branch in Dubai
A branch manager who can live in the UAE or already holds a UAE residence visa
A physical office in Dubai with an Ejari-registered lease
For foreign parents: MoET initial approval and a UAE-licensed auditor
For Dubai free zone parents: approval from the free zone authority and DET

Required Documents

Foreign parent (notarised, attested by the UAE embassy and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, translated into Arabic): certificate of incorporation or registration extract
Foreign parent: memorandum and articles of association
Foreign parent: board resolution approving the branch, its activities and the manager
Foreign parent: power of attorney appointing the branch manager
Foreign parent: latest audited financial statements
Foreign parent: certificate of good standing (often requested)
UAE or free zone parent: copy of the parent's trade licence, commercial register or incorporation certificate, and a board or partners' resolution
Branch manager's passport copy, photo, and visa/Emirates ID copy if already in the UAE
Office lease registered on Ejari
Auditor's appointment letter (foreign branches)

Our Process

Review the parent, activities and the best structure.
Parent signs the board resolution and manager's power of attorney.
Notarisation, embassy and UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, and Arabic translation.
Trade name reservation with DET and MoET initial approval (foreign parents).
Any extra approvals the activity needs.
Office lease and Ejari registration.
DET issues the branch licence.
MoET registration within one month, with the auditor's letter (foreign parents).
Establishment card, MOHRE registration and manager's employment visa through GDRFA Dubai.
Bank account application and corporate tax registration.

Pricing

Contact via WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a local service agent for a Dubai branch of a foreign company?

No. Ministerial Resolution 138 of 2024 removed the UAE national service agent requirement and the bank guarantee for foreign company branches.

What is the difference between a branch, a subsidiary and a representative office?

A branch is part of the parent and can earn revenue from its licensed activities; the parent is fully liable. A subsidiary is a separate UAE company with its own liability. A representative office can only promote the parent and can't earn revenue in the UAE.

Which approvals does a foreign company's Dubai branch need?

Initial approval from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, a branch licence from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, then registration with the Ministry within one month of the licence. Some activities also need a sector regulator's approval.

Can my Dubai free zone company work on the mainland?

Yes, under Dubai Executive Council Resolution 11 of 2025, through a DET mainland branch licence, a branch run from your free zone premises, or a temporary permit for certain activities. DET and your free zone authority both approve. DIFC companies are excluded.

How long does it take?

The Dubai steps move quickly once documents are ready. The overall time depends mostly on attesting the parent's documents in its home country. We give you a timeline once we know the parent's country and activity.

What are the yearly obligations?

Renew the DET licence and the Ejari lease, renew the Ministry registration, have the accounts audited by a UAE-licensed auditor, and file corporate tax returns.

Does the branch pay UAE corporate tax?

A foreign company's branch is a permanent establishment and is taxed on the profits linked to it, so it must register and file returns. A branch of a UAE company is covered by the parent's own registration.

What visa does the branch manager get?

An employment residence visa sponsored by the branch, with a MOHRE work permit and GDRFA Dubai residence. Investor visas are for owners of UAE companies, not branch managers.