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Sonnets LLPTax · Accounting · Advisory

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

DIFC Licensing & Company Set-up

Establish in the region’s leading financial centre with confidence.

Request a fixed-fee proposal Try the free difc licensing

Particulars of engagement

Jurisdiction
UAE
Cadence
Set-up 4–8 weeks · annual filings
Basis
DIFC Companies Law No. 5 of 2018
Fee
Fixed, agreed upfront
Review
Managing partner

The Dubai International Financial Centre offers a common-law jurisdiction, 100% foreign ownership and a strong reputation — but its registration, data protection and (for regulated firms) DFSA requirements are demanding.

We guide you from structure selection and name reservation through incorporation, licensing, office and visa set-up, and keep the entity compliant afterwards with annual returns, confirmation statements and data protection notifications.

Scope of work

  1. 01Entity and licence-type selection (non-financial, Innovation, DFSA-regulated)
  2. 02Name reservation and incorporation filings
  3. 03Articles of association and corporate documents
  4. 04Data protection registration and annual notifications
  5. 05Office lease and establishment card coordination
  6. 06Employment visa sponsorship set-up
  7. 07Annual return and confirmation statement filings
  8. 08Economic substance and UBO register maintenance

DFSA-regulated activities need regulatory capital and a much longer approval timeline — plan early.

How the engagement runs

  1. 01Free consultation. A 30-minute call with a managing partner to understand your business and obligations.
  2. 02Fixed-fee proposal. A clear scope and fixed fee — no hourly billing surprises.
  3. 03Onboarding. We collect documents, set up access and map every upcoming deadline.
  4. 04Delivery & review. Work is delivered on schedule, with partner review before anything is filed.

Questions clients ask

Can a holding company be set up in the DIFC?

Yes. Prescribed companies and non-financial entities are commonly used for holding structures, family offices and regional headquarters.

How long does DIFC set-up take?

Non-financial entities can typically be incorporated in 4–8 weeks once documents are ready. DFSA-authorised firms usually take several months.

Hand over DIFC Licensing.

Talk to one of our partners today and find out how much time and money you could save on tax, bookkeeping and compliance.

Request a proposal

or call 0330-685-1625 · business@sonnetsllp.com