Head of Business Setup & Corporate Services

HEAD OF BUSINESS SETUP & CORPORATE SERVICES Business Setup & Corporate Services Specialist/PRO (UAE Jurisdictions) Experience

5+ years hands-on UAE business setup / PRO / corporate services experience

We are hiring a highly experienced UAE business setup professional who can manage company formation, amendments, renewals, and compliance across Dubai Mainland and multiple Free Zones , and offshore in corporations (where applicable). This person must be able to handle each authority’s exact documentation ,
shareholding/directorship rules ,
activity approvals ,
lease/Ejari requirements ,
immigration establishment card , and timelines , while communicating confidently with government/free zone officers and senior client stakeholders .

You will be responsible for a “no-surprises” setup experience:
right structure, right activity, right approvals, right paperwork, right sequencing .

• Advise on the best jurisdiction based on activity ,
  ownership ,
  office/visa needs , and go-to-market plan .
• Manage the full lifecycle:
  name reservation, initial approvals, licensing, and post-license steps (immigration file, establishment card, etc.).
• Ensure the proposed setup complies with the rules of the relevant authority;
  Free Zones have their own regulations and processes.
• Understand mainland establishment route through the emirate’s DED/DET-type licensing pathway (e.g., Dubai DET platform).

Draft / review MOA and AOA (and relevant resolutions) aligned to:

• share capital, shareholding split, voting rights
• directors/managers powers, signing authority
• business objects/activities
• restrictions/approval conditions

Coordinate notary / authority attestations , typing centers for arabic translation, amendments, and re-issuance of updated company documents.

• Handle offshore set-ups through recognized UAE offshore jurisdictions (e.g.,
  JAFZA Offshore ,
  RAK ICC ) using correct channel requirements.
• Must understand that some offshore jurisdictions require working via approved/registered agents (e.g., RAK ICC uses registered agents).
• Know basic offshore incorporation rules such as shareholder requirements and permitted activities as per registrar guidance (e.g., JAFZA Offshore guidance).

Master the activity-by-activity selection process (what is available / not available) across:

• Mainland (including regulated activities)
• Multiple Free Zones (activity lists differ by zone)
• Offshore (typically restricted to permitted registrar activities)

Proactively identify when an activity needs external approvals (e.g., regulated professional/financial/health/education/telecom, etc.) and manage the approval pathway.

• Advise on ownership structures, including foreign ownership eligibility for mainland where applicable (UAE allows 100% foreign ownership for many business types, subject to restrictions/requirements).
• Clearly explain where additional constraints apply (e.g., strategic/regulated sectors or special approvals).
• Ensure directors/managers meet eligibility requirements per authority and that signatories are correctly reflected in documents.

Own and maintain an internal “documentation playbook” per authority, including but not limited to:

• KYC packs: passports, visas, EID (if applicable), entry stamps, proof of address, CVs, shareholding charts
• UBO declarations and corporate registries (where applicable)
• Board resolutions / POAs / specimen signatures
• Attestation requirements (home country + UAE, if required for corporate shareholders)
• Banking support documentation packages (as needed by banks)

• Handle amendments:
  activity changes, name change, manager/director change, share transfers, address change, capital changes , etc.
• Manage renewals: trade license renewals, establishment card renewals, tenancy renewals, and authority renewals—ensuring no expiry disrupts operations.