Timeline - From signup to operating file — what really happens.
Four phases. Case-specific timing beats brochure timing. We run as much as we can in parallel, but the gating items (authority review, medical, biometrics, bank compliance) sit on reviewer calendars, not on effort. The windows below are planning estimates, not approval guarantees.
The four phases
Four moving parts, one visible case file.
Each card shows the phase, the usual planning window, and the gate that can change timing. We start phases 1, 3 and 4 in parallel where the data allows — phase 2 is the human-in-UAE gate.
Phase 1
Free zone setup
3-9 days
estimate
From documents-complete to authority review and licence issuance. Lean routes can move faster; tier-1 or regulated routes need more review.
- ✓Trade licence issued
- ✓Establishment Card
- ✓MOA signed (digital, no notary)
Phase 2
Residence visa
7-14 days
estimate
The phase that requires you in-country, briefly. Entry permit issued remotely, then a single trip for medical and EID biometrics.
- ✓Entry permit
- ✓Medical fitness test
- ✓Emirates ID enrolment
- ✓Visa stamping
Phase 3
Banking readiness
bank-specific
estimate
We prepare and route the bank file from the assessment. Timing depends on KYC completeness, activity risk, shareholder profile, and the bank's review queue.
- ✓Pre-screened bank shortlist
- ✓KYC + SoF submission
- ✓Follow-up questions tracked
- ✓Decision subject to bank review
Phase 4
FTA tax registration
7-14 days
estimate
Mandatory in 2026 — Corporate Tax registration within 90 days of licence issue. We file it and schedule your first return so you don't miss a window.
- ✓Corporate Tax registration
- ✓TRN issued
- ✓VAT registration (if applicable)
- ✓First return scheduled
Travel
When do you actually need to visit the UAE?
Once. One trip in phase 2, for the residence-visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics. Both appointments are often planned in the same short trip, depending on slot availability and the emirate involved.
Everything else is online: incorporation paperwork (digital signing), MOA, bank KYC video calls, FTA registration. You can run an entire UAE business from wherever you live; the trip is for the biometric capture only, and we plan the in-country window around available clinic and typing-centre appointments.
End-to-end
Total time
Route-specific estimate
from signup through licence, visa, banking-readiness, and tax milestones.
Timelines vary by authority, activity, documents, shareholder profile, immigration steps, tax registration, and bank risk review. Your portal shows the estimate and the next blocking item for the selected route.
Pricing for the full bundle starts at AED 4,888 — see /pricing.
Start the clock
Day one is the assessment.
Sixty seconds, six questions. We line up your zone, your bank, and your FTA filing window before you commit a dirham — so day 1 to day 24 actually adds up.