Minimize complexities, maximize growth
A centralized solution for business setup and company formation
Company formation and licensing
Register your company, choose its legal structure, and obtain necessary licenses.
Streamlined company set-up
Get guided support to help you establish your company, whether you are launching in the mainland or a freezone.
Residency and PRO services
Support for visa processing and PRO services.
Documentation and submissions
Get support with paperwork preparation and required submissions.
Office space solutions
Find flexible, ready-to-move office spaces for your business.
Simplified company formation and set-up
Start your company set-up in a few simple steps.
Log-in to Peko
Click on ‘Peko Start’ under ‘More Services’
Select your preferred jurisdiction (Mainland or Freezone) and business activity
Provide the required business details
Peko’s team will get in touch with you.
Create a company in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any emirate
Peko Start covers all seven emirates. Most founders create a company in Dubai, DET mainland or one of 30+ free zones, but the same guided flow handles Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and the northern emirates. Tell us your business activity, and we map it to the jurisdiction that actually fits your customers, not the one with the cheapest headline package.
Not sure which applies to you? Compare mainland vs free zone structures or read the full Dubai company formation guide first.
Start your entrepreneurial journey with Peko Start
We support you throughout the company's set-up journey, helping reduce time and effort through guided workflows.
Consultation support
Get step-by-step guidance through the UAE company set-up process.
Transparent pricing
Clear pricing with defined cost breakdowns.
Flexible setup options
Mainland, freezone, or offshore – adapt as your business grows.
Included Peko+ subscription
Access tools designed to help you manage and grow your business.
What do our customers say?
“Peko Start has helped transform how we approached company setup and early operations. With guided support and a unified platform, we were able to move forward more efficiently and focus on growth from day one. The included Peko+ subscription added value beyond formation, helping us manage operations with ease.”
Danial
Fasset
FAQs
Peko Start is the company formation service inside the Peko business platform. It helps founders set up a mainland, free zone or offshore company in the UAE, covering the trade licence application, documents, visas, PRO services and office options, and includes a free first year of Peko+ or Peko Go, depending on your package.
Peko Start is the company formation service inside the Peko business platform. It helps founders set up a mainland, free zone or offshore company in the UAE, covering the trade licence application, documents, visas, PRO services and office options, and includes a free first year of Peko+ or Peko Go, depending on your package.
MORE DETAIL
- Peko coordinates the process with the relevant authorities and service providers. Licences and visas are issued only by UAE authorities.
- Apply online on the Peko website: open the Start your business page (peko.one/ae/business), click "Setup a company", choose your jurisdiction and business activity, and submit your details. Peko's team then contacts you.
Click "Setup a company" on this page to apply, or book a free consultation.
A UAE company can cost from under AED 10,000 for a licence-only setup to AED 50,000 or more for a mainland company with an office and several visas. With Peko Start, a trade licence starts from AED 5,555, an establishment card from AED 1,800 and each residence visa from AED 2,500. Office costs depend on the space you choose.
MORE DETAIL
Get an exact quote for your activity in under 5 minutes. Peko Start pricing is shown upfront with a cost breakdown.
A mainland company is licensed by the emirate's economic department (DET in Dubai) and can trade anywhere in the UAE, including with government entities. A free zone company is licensed by its free zone authority and trades mainly within the zone or internationally; selling directly onshore usually needs a local distributor or an extra permit. Both allow 100% foreign ownership for most activities.
MORE DETAIL
Not sure which fits? Tell us your activity and Peko maps it to the right jurisdiction. Read the full mainland vs free zone guide → peko.one/ae/blogs/company-formation/mainland-vs-free-zone-uae
Yes. Since 1 June 2021, foreign investors can own 100% of a UAE mainland company for most commercial and industrial activities without a local Emirati partner, under Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020. A short list of "strategic impact" activities still carries ownership conditions. Free zone companies have always allowed 100% foreign ownership.
MORE DETAIL
- Check your activity against the emirate's list of activities open to full foreign ownership before you choose a structure.
Peko Start checks your activity's ownership rules before you apply.
Yes. Indian nationals can register a mainland, free zone or offshore company in Dubai, with 100% ownership for most activities, and can complete most steps remotely. If you live in India, the investment must also follow India's Overseas Investment rules under FEMA, which is usually handled through your authorised dealer bank.
MORE DETAIL
- Documents: passport copy, photograph, proof of address, and business activity. Corporate shareholders also need attested company documents and a board resolution.
- Licensing can usually be done online; a residence visa needs a UAE visit for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.
- Speak to your CA about ODI filings and tax residency before you transfer funds. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Peko operates in both India and the UAE. Start your UAE company here, or see company registration in India → peko.one/in/business
You will typically need passport copies for every shareholder and manager (valid for at least six months), a UAE visa or entry stamp, or an Emirates ID if you are a resident, a passport photo, your business activity, and three trade name options. Mainland companies also need a Memorandum of Association and a registered office lease (Ejari in Dubai).
MORE DETAIL
- Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, MoA/AoA and a board resolution, attested and legalised for the UAE.
- Some residents may need a no-objection certificate (NOC) from their current sponsor, depending on the jurisdiction.
Download the full checklist → peko.one/ae/blogs/company-formation/documents-required-company-formation-dubai. Peko's team reviews your documents before submission.
With complete documents, trade name approval takes 1–2 business days and licence issuance 3–5 more, so most licences are ready in about a week. The establishment card adds 1–2 business days and each residence visa 7–10 business days. A corporate bank account usually takes 1–3 months and is the longest step in UAE company setup.
MORE DETAIL
Peko starts reviewing your application within 48 business hours of complete documents and manages your corporate bank account onboarding.
Not always. Every UAE company needs a registered address, but the type depends on the jurisdiction. Mainland companies usually need a registered office lease (Ejari in Dubai), although some activities qualify for business-centre options. Most free zones accept a flexi-desk or shared office, which keeps costs down. Office size can also affect how many visas you can get.
Peko Start finds ready-to-move and flexi-desk office options that match your licence and visa needs.
AED 50,000 is enough to launch many service businesses in Dubai, such as consultancy, digital marketing, IT services, e-commerce or general trading, through a free zone licence with one visa and a flexi-desk. It is usually tight for businesses that need a shop, warehouse, kitchen or special approvals, such as food, healthcare or education.
MORE DETAIL
- With Peko Start, a trade licence, establishment card and one residence visa start from AED 9,855, before office costs, which leaves room in a AED 50,000 budget for an office, marketing and working capital.
See the 10 most profitable businesses in Dubai for 2026 → peko.one/ae/blogs/peko-start/profitable-businesses-dubai-uae-2026, then get an exact setup quote from Peko Start in under 5 minutes.
Most setup consultants stop at the trade licence. Peko Start includes a free first year of Peko+ or Peko Go, depending on your package, worth up to AED 8,388. Peko+ covers bill payments, invoicing, expense management, WPS payroll setup, corporate travel and insurance. Peko also manages your corporate bank account onboarding; the account itself is opened with a UAE bank.
MORE DETAIL
- Peko+: AED 699 per month (AED 8,388 a year), free for year one on eligible packages.
- Peko Go: AED 299 per month (AED 3,588 a year), free for year one on eligible packages.
- After the free year, you can continue on the same plan at the monthly price.
- Corporate tax registration can be added for AED 399.
Save up to AED 8,388 in year one. Get your Peko Start quote in under 5 minutes to see which plan your package includes.
Most UAE companies, including free zone companies, must register for corporate tax. The rate is 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Businesses with revenue of AED 3 million or less can elect Small Business Relief, now extended to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. VAT registration is mandatory above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies.
MORE DETAIL
- Small Business Relief must be elected in the corporate tax return. Qualifying Free Zone Persons and members of large multinational groups cannot use it.
- Extension: Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 (announced August 2026).
Peko Start registers your company for corporate tax for AED 399 and supports VAT registration.
Typically, you’ll need:
- Passport copies of all shareholders
- Business activity details
- Trade name options
- Emirates ID/residency visa (if applicable)
Peko Start’s team helps you prepare, review, and submit the required documents.
Setup costs depend on factors such as company type, jurisdiction, business activity, visa requirements, and third-party fees. Peko Start provides pricing estimates based on your requirements; however, government and third-party charges are subject to change.
Some company types require a registered office address, while freezones often provide flexible office space or virtual office options. Peko Start helps you find affordable office solutions suited to your setup.
Compliance Note: Peko is not a government authority or licensing body. Peko facilitates the setup process; all licenses, visas, and approvals are issued solely by the relevant UAE authorities, and timelines depend on those authorities and third parties. Information on this page is general guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice.