Setting up in the UAE from India means dealing with RBI remittance rules, a two-country attestation chain and Indian tax residence. We guide you through each step.
Many Indian founders and professionals choose the UAE for its trade links with India and its simple company tax system. The two countries signed a trade agreement, the CEPA, in force since 2022.
This page covers what is specific to Indian passport holders: how to send money out of India, how documents get attested, and how Indian tax rules can still apply. For the general process, see our guide to doing business in Dubai.
Indian residents invest abroad under the Overseas Investment Rules, 2022, issued by the Government of India and the RBI. Individuals can send up to USD 250,000 per financial year (April to March) under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Investment by an individual usually sits inside that limit, and it goes through your bank, which is called the Authorised Dealer.
Tax collected at source applies to remittances above INR 10 lakh in a year. Rates change, so check the current rate with your bank. Message us before you transfer and we will help you plan the order of steps.
The UAE is not listed in the Apostille Convention, so an Indian apostille alone is not the route. Indian documents are attested in a chain. For degrees, the state education department usually comes first. Then the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attests, and then the UAE Embassy in New Delhi.
A digital option also exists. You log in to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs site with UAE Pass, choose attestation, and an approved provider collects the originals. We can tell you which documents your setup needs, and you can read about our investor visa support.
Indian passport holders need a visa or entry permit before they travel. There is one narrow exception. Holders of a US green card, or certain UK or EU residence visas, may get a 14-day visa on arrival, extendable once. In practice you apply online first and approval takes about two days.
Which documents qualify, and the fees, can change. Rules reported in 2026 may affect UK residence holders, so confirm before you book. Everyone else needs a pre-arranged visit visa, usually through an airline, agent or sponsor.
Message us before you book and we will confirm the current route. Once your company is licensed, you can usually apply for an investor visa or an employment visa, then a family visa.
Indian nationals can usually hold 100% of a UAE company, both on the mainland for most activities and in free zones. We have found no India-specific ownership cap. Some regulated activities need an approval from the relevant authority, and that can apply to any nationality.
We have not found a nationality-based security review for Indian applicants. Because rules change, we confirm with the licensing authority for your activity before you pay for anything.
We also set up offshore companies where that suits your plans, and we will explain the differences.
UAE banks ask Indian applicants for the same core documents as other nationalities: passport, visa or Emirates ID, trade licence and proof of where the money comes from. Banks typically also ask to see your remittance record.
Keep these papers together from the start, because they make the account review faster. Each bank decides for itself and approval is never guaranteed. See our bank account opening service and our guide to a UAE business bank account.
The UAE has no personal income tax on salaries. Corporate tax is 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that, and the standard VAT rate is 5%. See our pages on corporate tax and VAT. India and the UAE have a double tax treaty, in force since 1993 and updated by later protocols.
India taxes by residence. You are generally resident if you spend 182 days or more in India in a year. Other day-count tests apply too. An Indian citizen with Indian income above INR 15 lakh, who is not taxed anywhere else, can be treated as resident. Residents are generally taxed on worldwide income and generally report foreign assets in Schedule FA.
A UAE company can also be treated as Indian-resident if it is effectively managed from India. A tax residency certificate may help. Always confirm your position with a tax adviser in India.
Trade is the main link between the two countries. The India-UAE trade agreement (CEPA) has been in force since 2022, and a bilateral investment treaty has been in force since August 2024.
Common choices for a first company include general trading, import and export, IT and software services, consultancy and e-commerce. Some activities need an extra approval from a government body, so we check the exact licence wording before you pay anything.
Tell us what you plan to sell and to whom, and we will suggest the licence type and the right setup. Many clients also need accounting and bookkeeping once they trade.
Last checked: November 2026 by the Optimum Corporate Solutions team. Rules change often, so we confirm the current position before you apply.
Message us in English or Hindi and we will map the steps for your situation.