- Home
- Free tools
- Company Structure Finder
Free tools
Company Structure Finder
Mainland, free zone, DIFC/ADGM — or a combination? Six questions point you to the right starting structure.
How this works
- The answer is driven by where your revenue comes from and who your counterparties are — not by the licence fee.
- Selling directly to customers or the government on the mainland points to a mainland licence (100% foreign ownership is now possible for most activities).
- International clients, holding activity and IP point to a free zone; regulated financial activity and investors who want common-law courts point to DIFC or ADGM.
- This is a starting point for a conversation, not a recommendation: licensing costs, visa needs, banking and tax status also matter.
Estimates and checklists for general guidance only — not legal or tax advice on your situation.
Questions
Can a free zone company sell on the mainland?
Usually only through a mainland distributor or agent, a branch, or a dual licence where the authorities allow it. That is why the customer question matters most.
Is a DIFC or ADGM company only for banks?
No — they also suit holding companies, family offices and businesses whose investors want English common law and courts.
More free tools
UAE Corporate Tax Calculator
Estimate corporate tax at 0% / 9%, check Small Business Relief and the free-zone de minimis test.
UAE VAT Calculator & Registration Check
Add or remove 5% VAT, and check whether you must — or may — register.
End-of-Service Gratuity Calculator
Gratuity under UAE labour law: 21 days per year for the first five years, 30 days after, capped at two years’ wage.
Tell us what you are working on.
A short description is enough to start. We reply to every enquiry personally, usually within one business day.