If you are looking for a truly dynamic business hub to set up your new company, Dubai is the right place for you – and for many reasons. Dubai caters to entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, and giant multinational corporations with the same levels of ease, efficiency, speed, and service. Furthermore, multiple choices are available for every aspect of Forex trading business setup in Dubai, UAE: budget, Forex trading license in Dubai, location, and premises.

Forex trading company formation in Dubai spells out several big benefits that include tax savings, good governance, superior infrastructure, premium lifestyle, and constantly developing opportunities. Another unique offering is the easy access to more than 2 billion consumers in multiple markets, all located within a 4-hour flight. Dubai’s enviable location also results in an international and vastly multicultural workforce.

What are the advantages of setting up a business in Dubai?

Dubai is popularly known as the ‘Silicon Valley of the Middle East’. It is the hub of entrepreneurs, startups, agency owners and conglomerates. Setting up a business in Dubai comes with various advantages:

Offshore and free zones companies are awarded with 0% corporate taxes.

Dubai Company set up cost is very meager as compared to other regions in the Middle East.

Any new Forex trading company registration in Dubai has the advantage of gaining access to a large market.

Women entrepreneurs can start their dream business without any hassle.

Free zone v/s Mainland Business Setup

For the purpose of company registration in Dubai, you have to decide whether you want to establish your company on the mainland or in a free zone. When considering a new business setup services in Dubai, location is a key decision. Low Cost Forex trading business setup in UAE is possible at one of Dubai’s many specialized free zones, or on the mainland (sometimes referred to as onshore).

In 1985, Dubai launched Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) as the first free zone in the UAE and the Middle East. The small operation opened with only 19 companies, but within a decade became the first free zone in the world to be awarded ISO certification. The JAFZA success story became the blueprint for several free zones, each offering strategic benefits and advantages. These free zones house thousands of foreign individual and institutions who have successfully set up Branch or 100% owned Forex trading company in Dubai.  

In 2021, changes were made to the UAE Commercial Companies Law, allowing a foreigner, group of foreigners, or a foreign company to have 100% fully owned businesses in the UAE, subject to certain rules. The Dubai Government quickly announced 100% foreign ownership status for more than 1,000 commercial and industrial activities in the emirate.

As a result of these changes, some long-established businesses on the mainland are amending their ownership pattern while numerous others are pursuing new forex trading business formation in Dubai.

Proprietorship v/s Partnership

The legal entity of your Forex trading business setup in Dubai is another important decision, and this will depend on the number of shareholders, and whether these shareholder/s are considered natural persons or legal persons in the UAE.

In broad terms, if you are an entrepreneur based in the UAE or a business owner from another part of the world with plans for providing service-related activities in the UAE market, you can set up a new company in Dubai, with a sole proprietor mainland Forex trading license in Dubai. You can also register your new business in Dubai as a freelancer, free zone limited liability company (FZ LLC), free zone entity (FZE) or free zone company (FZ CO) at one of Dubai’s 30 plus free zones. 

If your new business in Dubai is commercial in nature such as trading or contracting, , the ideal option on the mainland is a limited liability company (LLC), with a minimum of one and a maximum of 50 shareholders.

Companies with more than 50 shareholders are typically registered in Dubai as a private limited company (PLC). The public joint stock company (PJSC) is a more complex structure with management by a collegial body of directors acting as trustees for shareholders.

Dubai also Forex trading license in Dubai branches, regional headquarters and representative offices of foreign companies, and ‘single family offices’ where all shareholders are from the same family.

As an integral part of setting up new Forex trading business in Dubai, you must choose an activity or multiple activities to apply for a Forex trading license in Dubai. Very few business activities have restrictions, and a handful is prohibited.

If you are already specialized in a certain field, choosing a business activity will pose no problem. However, for broader business categories like ‘retail’ or ‘trade’ there are multiple options, distinct sectors, and several specialized activities.

Since free zones are broadly classified by industry, it is easy to find the right fit at well-established hubs like Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai Media City (DMC), Dubai Internet City (DIC), Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA), and several others. Some of the newer free zones offer greater flexibility such as professional, commercial and industrial activities combined into a single business Forex trading license in Dubai.

For a Forex trading license in Dubai, it is important to identify the exact nature of your proposed business, and activities thereof. Dubai offers more than 1,000 business activities for 100% owned business, including but not limited to contracting and construction, gold and jewelry, cargo and shipping, food and water, education and hospitality.