Starting a company in the UAE from Pakistan involves a few steps that other nationalities do not face. We walk you through each one, in English or Urdu.
Trade between Pakistan and the UAE is large, and many Pakistani founders, traders and professionals choose Dubai as a base for their business. Some want a trading or services company. Others want a residence visa for themselves and their family.
This page covers what is specific to Pakistani applicants: getting into the UAE, attesting Pakistani documents, moving money out of Pakistan, and tax on both sides. For costs, try the cost calculator.
Entry rules for Pakistani passport holders change often, and we do not want to give you an out-of-date answer. The safe plan is to have your visa arranged before you travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter.
The UAE offers a visit visa to explore investment opportunities. It is single entry, for 60, 90 or 120 days. You need a passport, a photo, an attested qualification certificate and a financial guarantee.
Processing times for visit visas have varied in recent months. Message us before you book flights and we will confirm the current route. Once your company is licensed, you can apply for an investor visa.
We found no ownership limit or special approval that applies only to Pakistani nationals. In most cases the general UAE rules apply, and most activities allow 100% foreign ownership.
What you need depends on the activity. Some regulated activities need sign-off from a sector regulator. The right licence type also depends on where you will trade and who your customers are.
Tell us your activity and we will confirm the approvals before you pay for anything.
This is the step to plan first. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) sets the rules for equity investment abroad by Pakistani residents. The rules sit in its Foreign Exchange Manual and have been revised more than once in recent years.
The routes differ by who you are. A company, an export-oriented business and an individual each fall under different categories. Banks generally expect the funds to be declared, tax to have been paid and the investor to be on the active taxpayer list.
The limits for an individual who wants to fund an operating UAE company change, and we cannot confirm a figure for you. Speak to your Pakistani bank and a tax adviser before you transfer anything. Keep your paperwork, because UAE banks and licensing authorities usually ask for evidence of where your funds came from.
The UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough. Pakistani documents go through the full attestation chain.
The embassy step is online through the UAE MOFA website, using UAE PASS. A courier collects your originals, and embassy processing usually takes 2 to 3 working days. Birth, marriage and death certificates must be originals, and laminated documents cannot be attested.
Fees are listed differently across official pages, so check the current amount before you pay. We can guide you through the steps for your family visa or employment visa documents too.
UAE banks apply the same checks to every applicant. They typically ask for your passport, Emirates ID or visa, trade licence, proof of address and evidence of your source of funds.
For Pakistani applicants, the source-of-funds file matters most. Bank statements, tax returns and sale deeds are common examples. A clear, well-organised file helps the bank review your application without delay.
We prepare the file with you and introduce you to suitable banks. See our bank account opening service and the guide on opening a UAE business bank account.
In the UAE, corporate tax is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000, VAT is 5%, and there is no personal income tax. See our pages on corporate tax and VAT.
Pakistan taxes its residents on worldwide income and expects foreign income and assets to be reported. In general, you are a Pakistani tax resident if you spend 183 days or more in Pakistan in a tax year. There are also deemed-residence rules for citizens, and controlled foreign company rules can apply to companies owned by Pakistani residents. Pakistan and the UAE have a double tax treaty, signed in 1993 and in force since November 1994.
These rules have been amended over the years. Please confirm your position with a tax adviser in Pakistan.
Pakistani founders set up many kinds of businesses in the UAE. Common choices for a first company include general trading, import and export, IT 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. A mainland licence suits you if your customers are in the UAE. A free zone licence often suits work for clients abroad.
Once you trade, we can also handle accounting and bookkeeping. For a first overview, read Business in Dubai made easy.
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 Urdu and we will confirm the current steps for your case.