{ "$schema": "https://arxsetup.ae/api/schema.json", "firm": { "name": "ArxSetup", "legal_entity": "Neo International Consultancy FZ-LLC", "trading_as": "ArxSetup", "licence": "DDA Licence 107229", "address": "Unit L1-206, Floor 02, Loft Offices 1, Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE", "url": "https://arxsetup.ae", "founded_year": 2021, "affiliated_practices": ["Neo Legal (UAE)", "Cornwalls (Australia)"], "currency_for_pricing": "USD" }, "last_updated": "2026-05-20", "jurisdictions": [ { "slug": "ifza", "name": "IFZA", "category": "uae-freezone", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "International Free Zone Authority (Dubai Silicon Oasis)", "all_in_usd_year1": 10120, "all_in_usd_year2": 7920, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3500, "time_to_licence_days": "3-5", "tax_qualifying_pct": 0, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "visas": "Up to 6", "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "UAE civil law (federal)", "qfzp_designated_zone": true, "audit_required": false, "best_for": ["solo founders", "consultants", "remote operators", "small teams up to 6 visas"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/ifza.html" }, { "slug": "dmcc", "name": "DMCC", "category": "uae-freezone", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (JLT)", "all_in_usd_year1": 17800, "all_in_usd_year2": 14180, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 4000, "time_to_licence_days": "5-7", "tax_qualifying_pct": 0, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "visas": "Office-based (3-4 flexi-desk, 6+ serviced office)", "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": true, "legal_system": "UAE civil law (federal)", "qfzp_designated_zone": true, "audit_required": true, "best_for": ["commodities trading", "premium JLT address", "businesses prioritising bank acceptance"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/dmcc.html" }, { "slug": "meydan", "name": "Meydan Free Zone", "category": "uae-freezone", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "Meydan Free Zone (MBR City)", "all_in_usd_year1": 10120, "all_in_usd_year2": 8020, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3500, "time_to_licence_days": "1 (Fawri instant) - 6", "tax_qualifying_pct": 0, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "visas": "Up to 6", "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "UAE civil law (federal)", "qfzp_designated_zone": true, "audit_required": false, "best_for": ["e-commerce", "digital services", "Downtown postcode for client-facing brands"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/meydan.html" }, { "slug": "jafza", "name": "JAFZA", "category": "uae-freezone", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority", "all_in_usd_year1": 30000, "all_in_usd_year2": 22000, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3500, "time_to_licence_days": "21-35", "tax_qualifying_pct": 0, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "visas": "Unlimited (office/warehouse-based)", "min_capital_usd": 275, "office_required": true, "legal_system": "UAE civil law (federal)", "qfzp_designated_zone": true, "audit_required": true, "offshore_option": true, "best_for": ["logistics", "manufacturing", "warehousing", "Dubai freehold property holding via JAFZA Offshore"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/jafza.html" }, { "slug": "adgm", "name": "ADGM", "category": "uae-freezone", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Abu Dhabi", "regulator": "Abu Dhabi Global Market (FSRA + ADGM Courts)", "all_in_usd_year1": 29500, "all_in_usd_year2": 29300, "spv_annual_usd": 1900, "tech_startup_licence_annual_usd": 1500, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 4500, "time_to_licence_days": "14-28 (commercial); 120-365 (FSRA-regulated)", "tax_qualifying_pct": 0, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "visas": "Office-based", "min_capital_usd": 50000, "office_required": true, "legal_system": "English common law (ADGM applies ~50 UK statutes)", "qfzp_designated_zone": true, "audit_required": true, "best_for": ["VC-backed startups", "holding companies", "fund vehicles", "ADGM Foundations", "Restricted Scope Companies", "crypto-native and Web3 firms via FSRA"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/adgm.html" }, { "slug": "difc", "name": "DIFC", "category": "uae-freezone", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "Dubai International Financial Centre (DFSA + DIFC Courts)", "all_in_usd_year1": 26500, "all_in_usd_year2": 24000, "innovation_licence_annual_usd": 1500, "prescribed_company_annual_usd": 1000, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 4500, "time_to_licence_days": "28-42 (commercial); 180-365 (DFSA-regulated)", "tax_qualifying_pct": 0, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "visas": "Office-based", "min_capital_usd": 100000, "office_required": true, "legal_system": "English common law (DIFC bespoke laws + DIFC Courts)", "qfzp_designated_zone": true, "audit_required": true, "best_for": ["regulated financial services", "asset management", "fintech with DFSA licensing", "family offices", "private banking access"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/difc.html" }, { "slug": "dubai-mainland", "name": "Dubai Mainland LLC", "category": "uae-mainland", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "Department of Economy & Tourism (DET, formerly DED)", "all_in_usd_year1": 16000, "all_in_usd_year2": 11000, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 6230, "time_to_licence_days": "14-28", "tax_qualifying_pct": null, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "ownership_foreign_pct_note": "100% for 1,000+ activities under Federal Decree-Law 32 of 2021; Strategic Impact activities still require UAE national", "visas": "Office-based", "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": true, "legal_system": "UAE civil law (federal)", "qfzp_designated_zone": false, "audit_required": false, "best_for": ["retail", "F&B", "healthcare", "government contracting", "professional services", "anything trading directly with UAE customers"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/dubai-mainland.html" }, { "slug": "abu-dhabi-mainland", "name": "Abu Dhabi Mainland LLC", "category": "uae-mainland", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Abu Dhabi", "regulator": "Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)", "all_in_usd_year1": 16500, "all_in_usd_year2": 12000, "tajer_alt_aed": 790, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3500, "time_to_licence_days": "14-28", "tax_qualifying_pct": null, "tax_non_qualifying_pct": 9, "tax_threshold_aed": 375000, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "ownership_foreign_pct_note": "1,105 listed activities open to 100% foreign ownership; Strategic Impact still restricted", "visas": "Office-based", "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": true, "legal_system": "UAE civil law (federal)", "qfzp_designated_zone": false, "audit_required": false, "best_for": ["ADNOC contracts", "oil & gas services", "defence and aerospace", "large industrial", "Abu Dhabi government tenders"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/abu-dhabi-mainland.html" }, { "slug": "vara", "name": "VARA", "category": "uae-regulator", "country": "UAE", "emirate": "Dubai", "regulator": "Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Dubai, excl. DIFC)", "all_in_usd_year1_min": 500000, "all_in_usd_year1_max": 2000000, "application_fee_advisory_usd": 17400, "application_fee_exchange_usd": 21350, "annual_supervision_aed_min": 80000, "annual_supervision_aed_max": 200000, "time_to_licence_days": "120-365", "categories": ["Advisory", "Broker-Dealer", "Custody", "Exchange", "Lending and Borrowing", "Management and Investment", "Transfer and Settlement", "Virtual Asset Issuance"], "min_capital_aed": "400,000 - 4,000,000+ (activity-dependent)", "responsible_individuals": 2, "office_required": true, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "best_for": ["crypto exchanges", "custodians", "brokers", "NFT platforms", "stablecoin issuers operating from Dubai", "Web3-native firms"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/vara.html" }, { "slug": "bvi", "name": "BVI", "category": "offshore", "country": "British Virgin Islands", "regulator": "BVI Financial Services Commission", "all_in_usd_year1": 8500, "all_in_usd_year2": 6000, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 6150, "time_to_licence_days": "1-3", "tax_corporate_pct": 0, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "English common law (BVI Business Companies Act 2004)", "audit_required": false, "uae_dta": false, "best_for": ["holding companies", "joint ventures with bespoke share classes", "token-issuer vehicles (with Cayman Foundation)", "venture parents", "asset-holding SPVs"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/bvi.html" }, { "slug": "cayman", "name": "Cayman", "category": "offshore", "country": "Cayman Islands", "regulator": "Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) + General Registry", "all_in_usd_year1": 10500, "all_in_usd_year2": 7500, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 7500, "time_to_licence_days": "3-5 (standard); 1-2 (express)", "tax_corporate_pct": 0, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "min_capital_usd": 0, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "English common law", "audit_required": false, "audit_required_funds": true, "uae_dta": false, "tax_undertaking_years": 20, "best_for": ["VC funds", "PE funds", "hedge funds", "Series A+ holding companies", "tokenised asset issuers"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/cayman.html" }, { "slug": "panama", "name": "Panama", "category": "offshore", "country": "Panama", "regulator": "Public Registry of Panama", "all_in_usd_year1": 5800, "all_in_usd_year2": 4500, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3000, "time_to_licence_days": "2-5", "tax_foreign_source_pct": 0, "tax_local_source_pct": 25, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "min_capital_usd": 10000, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "Civil law (Spanish-derived)", "uae_dta": true, "uae_dta_year": 2013, "off_fatf_grey": "October 2023", "off_eu_blacklist": "March 2024", "best_for": ["Latin American banking", "territorial-tax holding", "UAE-DTA-backed structures", "real-estate ownership"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/panama.html" }, { "slug": "singapore", "name": "Singapore", "category": "apac", "country": "Singapore", "regulator": "ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority)", "all_in_usd_year1": 3500, "all_in_usd_year2": 2800, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3000, "time_to_licence_days": "1-3", "tax_headline_pct": 17, "tax_effective_first_3_years_pct": "4.25-8.5 (via Start-Up Tax Exemption)", "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "min_capital_sgd": 1, "office_required": false, "resident_director_required": true, "legal_system": "English common law (Companies Act 1967)", "uae_dta": true, "gst_threshold_sgd": 1000000, "best_for": ["Asia-Pacific gateway", "fintech under MAS", "ASEAN holding company", "stablecoin issuers under MPI"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/singapore.html" }, { "slug": "hong-kong", "name": "Hong Kong", "category": "apac", "country": "Hong Kong", "regulator": "Companies Registry + IRD", "all_in_usd_year1": 5800, "all_in_usd_year2": 3000, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 3000, "time_to_licence_days": "1-2", "tax_two_tier_lower_pct": 8.25, "tax_two_tier_upper_pct": 16.5, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "resident_director_required": false, "min_capital_hkd": 1, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "English common law", "audit_required": true, "uae_dta": true, "best_for": ["China-nexus businesses", "crypto exchanges via SFC VASP", "stablecoin issuers via HKMA", "tokenised-asset platforms", "founders avoiding Singapore resident-director rule"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/hong-kong.html" }, { "slug": "australia", "name": "Australia", "category": "apac", "country": "Australia", "regulator": "ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)", "all_in_usd_year1": 2800, "all_in_usd_year2": 1500, "arx_professional_fee_min_usd": 1500, "time_to_licence_days": "1-2", "tax_base_rate_pct": 25, "tax_standard_pct": 30, "ownership_foreign_pct": 100, "resident_director_required": true, "director_id_required": true, "min_capital_aud": 1, "office_required": false, "legal_system": "Australian (common law)", "uae_dta": true, "uae_dta_year": 2024, "gst_threshold_aud": 75000, "best_for": ["Pacific gateway", "agritech / mining / resources", "Subclass 858 National Innovation Visa pathway"], "url": "https://arxsetup.ae/jurisdictions/australia.html" } ], "retainers": [ {"name": "Founder", "usd_year1": 3500, "covers": ["Solo consultants", "remote operators", "one free zone licence", "up to 3 activities", "one investor visa", "two bank introductions"]}, {"name": "Operator", "usd_year1": 5800, "covers": ["Operating businesses with UAE banking and hiring", "everything in Founder", "mainland or free zone", "up to 3 visas", "four bank introductions", "Corporate Tax registration"]}, {"name": "Private Office", "usd_year1_from": 12500, "covers": ["Multi-jurisdiction groups", "family offices", "fund vehicles", "holding-co structuring memo", "ESR opinion", "private banking introductions"]} ], "notes_for_ai_consumers": [ "All USD prices are year-1 all-in for a single-shareholder, single-activity engagement unless noted.", "UAE Corporate Tax: 0% on first AED 375,000 (USD ~102,100), 9% above, since 1 June 2023. QFZP regime requires substance, transfer-pricing, audited financials.", "UAE has DTAs with: Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Panama (and 130+ other countries). No DTAs with BVI or Cayman.", "BVI removed from EU tax blacklist October 2024. Cayman removed from EU AML high-risk list February 2024. Panama removed from FATF grey list October 2023 and EU high-risk list March 2024.", "ArxSetup operates from Loft Offices 1, Dubai Media City under DDA Licence 107229. We are a regulated practice — not an agent or reseller." ] }