UAE IFZA Company Formation & Investor Residence

Business Establishment and Executive Residence

Connect IFZA licensing and investor residence with the business, its people and local life.

Core destinations

01 · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Company formation & investor residence

As an IFZA authorised agent, we coordinate free-zone company formation, licensing and investor residence applications around your business plans.

Usually 2 years: Ordinary company investor residence · renewable
Shareholding: Subject to business licensing and ownership requirements

This page covers ordinary company investor or partner residence. Duration references current IFZA and Meydan guidance; the issued category determines the term.

Company formation and licensing: Choose a suitable free-zone or mainland structure for your activities, customers and office needs, with the required business licence.
Shareholder or partner eligibility: Establish the qualifying basis through company and ownership documents. Check the valid licence, immigration file and applicable visa allocation.
Personal documents and procedures: Prepare your passport, photograph and relevant existing status documents. Complete required medical, Emirates ID and other checks.
Company compliance and residence renewal: Maintain the licence and qualifying basis, including applicable accounting, tax and renewal obligations. Track company and residence expiry dates separately.

02 · UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Operations, family & renewal

Manage company and residence renewals separately, and assess family applications against the relevant requirements.

Formation and renewal costs

Formation and annual costs depend on activity, jurisdiction, office requirements and visa numbers. Registration, licensing, immigration files, individual residence and professional services are itemised separately. Incorporation does not guarantee residence approval.

Family, absence and return

Family eligibility and documentation depend on the category. Check absence and return rules with the issuing authority; Golden residence rules should not be assumed to apply.

Green residence and the Golden Visa

Green residence is a separate route of up to five years for qualifying investors, requiring authority approval and authorisation for the activity. Golden residence also has separate thresholds; ordinary company ownership does not automatically qualify.

Banking and tax residence

Bank accounts require independent approval, which cannot be guaranteed. A residence permit alone does not establish tax residence or end obligations in other jurisdictions.

IFZA · residence categories Meydan · free-zone investor residence GDRFA · Green residence for investors FTA · tax residence guidance

Key Services

Company & licensing

IFZA formation and business-activity planning
Licence scope and office premises
Establishment file and visa requirements

Investors & family

Investor, shareholder and executive residence
Spouse and child eligibility
Separate assessment of other residence categories

Operations & maintenance

Company and personal renewal calendars
Banking, accounting and tax coordination
Housing, education and local establishment

From priorities to implementation

Begin with the existing business, its key people and the family’s priorities. Set out eligibility, implementation steps, budget and the agreed scope in writing.

We coordinate local lawyers, accountants, tax advisers and other specialists. Regulated legal, tax and application services are handled by appropriately qualified professionals.

Discuss your business and family

Policy references reviewed 15 October 2026. Eligibility and decisions rest with the relevant authorities; approval and processing times are not guaranteed. Conatus Mobility is an independent consultancy.

All business mobility destinations United States