BRANCH OFFICE SETUP
Your global brand, established in the UAE.
We establish UAE branch offices for foreign parent companies — handling the full DET licensing process, local agent arrangements and regulatory approvals.
Enter the UAE, your way.
Branch Registration
Full branch office registration with DET, including initial approvals, activity classification, fee payment and collection of the branch trade licence — under the parent company's name and brand.
Local Agent Arrangement
Mainland branch offices of foreign companies require a UAE national local agent. We source and arrange reputable local agent agreements that are straightforward and cost-effective for your business.
Regulatory Approvals
Certain activities require pre-approval from sector regulators — Central Bank, Insurance Authority, KHDA, MOHRE or other bodies. We identify all required approvals and manage the application process.
Annual Renewal & Compliance
Branch licences require annual renewal. We track renewal dates, prepare the required documentation and manage the full renewal process — keeping your UAE branch in good standing at all times.
Your UAE branch, open for business.
Consultation
We review your parent company's activities, country of incorporation, proposed UAE activities and target market — advising on the branch structure and any regulatory approvals required for your sector.
Document Preparation
We prepare all required documentation — parent company certificate of incorporation, board resolutions, power of attorney, audited accounts and local agent agreement — and coordinate attestation and apostille where required.
Submission & Approvals
We submit the complete branch registration application to DET and coordinate with any sector regulators — managing queries, providing additional information and tracking progress through to final approval.
Licence Issuance
Your UAE branch trade licence is issued. We assist with office set-up, bank account opening, employee visa processing and any ongoing PRO and compliance requirements for your branch operations.
Questions about UAE branch offices.
No. A UAE branch office is an extension of the foreign parent company — not a separate legal entity. The parent company bears full legal and financial liability for the branch's obligations. This distinguishes a branch from a subsidiary (such as a UAE LLC), where the subsidiary is a distinct legal entity with its own limited liability.
Mainland branch offices of foreign companies require a UAE national local agent (also called a local service agent). The local agent does not hold an ownership stake — they simply facilitate government-related transactions for the branch. Free zone branches do not require a local agent. We identify and arrange reputable local agent agreements on your behalf.
Yes, subject to UAE regulatory requirements. A branch office can only conduct the same business activities as the parent company — it cannot carry out activities that the parent does not conduct. Certain activities (financial services, healthcare, legal practice) require additional UAE regulatory approvals regardless of the parent's authorisations in its home country.
Branch registration typically takes seven to fourteen business days once all parent company documents are fully attested and in order. The most common cause of delay is the attestation of parent company documents — which must be apostilled or authenticated by the UAE embassy in the country of incorporation. We guide you through this process to prevent unnecessary delays.
Ready to establish your UAE branch?
Our branch registration specialists handle every step — from document attestation to licence issuance and beyond.