Dubai Maritime City is built on a man-made peninsula extending into the Arabian gulf. As the most comprehensive maritime complex in the world, it delivers world-class support for the maritime community. The business-friendly environment includes regulations, services and infrastructure attractive to all types of maritime businesses. With related businesses located close together in a common environment, the opportunities for networking, integration, and collaboration are magnified.

The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) was founded in 2007 to administer the Dubai Maritime City free zone. The primary focus of the DMCA is and has always been establishing an environment of regulations and initiatives to attract maritime businesses and investors from all over world. With this focused business investment, Dubai is acquiring a reputation as a safe and first-class maritime hub. DMCA regulations are directed to the safety of the maritime industry – both personal safety and economic safety of the businesses operating in DMC. Continuous improvements to infrastructure and regulations will raise the bar on maritime industry operation while strengthening Dubai’s position as a maritime sector leader. DMCA complies with international and local laws concerning marine transportation and strives to maintain the highest level of standards of safety and environmental practices.

Dubai Maritime City Free Zone consists of six districts, each focusing on a specific component of maritime operations. The Industrial Precinct is a ship repairs center with more than one hundred workshops and warehouses. The Academic Quarter is dedicated to education in marine engineering, transportation and naval sciences. In the Marina District, workers in the free zone and visiting mariners can enjoy restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment without having to travel outside the free zone. For workers and mangers, the Harbor Residence has accommodations. It also offers land plots for real estate development and investment. DMC’s business center is the Harbor Offices. It provides a one-stop-shop for business registration, licensing, permits and other interactions with the Dubai Maritime City Authority. An international network for maritime companies was set up in the Maritime Center. Together, these six districts comprise a business-friendly and marine-transportation-focused situation where businesses and profitability thrive.

The Benefits of doing business in Dubai Maritime City

The benefits of business formation in DMC are the same as benefits in almost all the Dubai Free Zones. The list of benefits includes these:
• No personal income or capital gain taxes
• Full foreign ownership is allowed in free zones
• No corporate taxes
• No duties on import or export of products and materials
• Full repatriation of capital and profits
• Modern, efficient communications infrastructure
• Modern roads and related infrastructure
• High quality, well maintained energy infrastructure
• Liberal labor laws and no recruitment problems
• Attractive working environment
• No currency conversion or movement restrictions
•Free Zones offer excellent facilities which are ideal for running business operations
• The UAE is a politically stable and economically strong country with a very low crime rate.

Overview of business formation in Dubai Maritime City
New business formation in DMC can take one of three forms: a Free Zone Establishment; a Free Zone Company; or a Branch Office. There are several licenses available for companies in Dubai Maritime City Free Zone: a Maritime Services License; a Management License; an Education and Research License; or a Yacht Manufacture and Repair License. All business registration and licensing is handled by the Dubai Maritime City Authority.

A Free Zone Establishment (FZE) has only one owner/shareholder; a Free Zone Company (FZCO) has at least two shareholders and as many as five. There are some differences in the required documents for these two business structures. A Branch Office does business only in the name of a parent company and only as specified in the license. A Branch Office can be a branch of a foreign company (outside UAE) or a branch of a local company (a company already doing business in the UAE). The documents required for branch office formation are different for these two business structures.

Required documents for Free Zone Establishment
• A trade name must be registered and proof of registration submitted. Our firm (Push Digits) can get this done for you.
• Before starting business formation activities you must obtain initial approval. Our firm can arrange this initial approval for you.
• You must provide a copy of your passport
• The designated manager must provide a passport copy and a C.V. (resume)
• The owner/shareholder and manager must submit Personal Information Sheets. We* can provide a template.
• You must have a lease document specifying a suitable minimum office space for your business. We* can locate office space and obtain required documents
• If you utilize the services of a local agent to help you, that agent must have a notarized power of attorney
• If is Documentation of physical address for your company

The authority may request or require additional documents. A minimum capital investment of AED1,000,000 (US$273,972) is required. Some additional license and registration fees are required.

Required Documents for a Free Zone Company
• A trade name must be registered and proof of registration submitted. Our firm (Push Digits) can get this done for you.
• Before starting business formation activities you must obtain initial approval. Our firm can arrange this initial approval for you.
• A Personal Information Sheet for each shareholder. We* can provide a template.
• All shareholders must provide passport copies
• The manager must submit passport copy and C.V. (resume).
• You must have a lease document specifying a suitable minimum office space for your business. We* can locate office space and obtain required documents
• Memorandum of Association and/or Articles of Association for the parent company attested by the UAE Embassy in the origin country
• The Board of Directors of the parent company must provide a resolution indicating the intent to establish a new business in the UAE. This must be notarized by the UAE Embassy in the origin country. We* can provide a template.
• A certificate of registration for the parent company from the Registrar of Businesses (or equivalent) in the origin country. This must be notarized by the UAE Embassy in the origin country.
• If you utilize the services of a local agent to help you, that agent must have a notarized power of attorney
• Documentation of physical address for the parent company

The authority may request or require additional documents. A minimum capital investment of AED500,000 (US$136,986) is required. Some additional license and registration fees are required.

Required Documents foe a Branch Office of a Foreign Company:

• The shareholder/applicant must provide a passport copy
• The designated manager must provide a passport copy and a C.V.(resume) and have a university degree
• A Personal Information Sheet for each shareholder and manager. We* can provide a template.
• A trade name must be registered and proof of registration submitted. Our firm (Push Digits) can get this done for you.
• Before starting business formation activities you must obtain initial approval. Our firm can arrange this initial approval for you.
• The parent company must provide a Memorandum of Association and/or Articles of Association notarized by the UAE Embassy in the origin country.
• You must have a lease document specifying a suitable minimum office space for your new branch. We* can locate suitable office space and obtain required lease documents
• If you utilize the services of a local agent to help you, that agent must have a notarized power of attorney
• 4 A certificate of registration for the parent company from the Registrar of Businesses (or equivalent) in the origin country. This must be notarized by the UAE Embassy in the origin country.
• Physical address of the parent company

Additional documents may be requested by the authority at the time of registration. There is no minimum capital requirement for Branch Offices.

Required Documents for a Branch Office of an existing UAE Company:
• Each shareholder must provide a passport copy
• The designated manager must provide a passport copy and a C.V.(resume) and have a university degree
• A Personal Information Sheet for each shareholder and manager. We* can provide a template.
• A trade name for the new branch must be registered and proof of registration submitted. Our firm (Push Digits) can get this done for you.
• Before starting branch office formation activities you must obtain initial approval. Our firm can arrange this initial approval for you.
• The parent company must provide a Memorandum of Association and/or Articles of Association notarized by the UAE Notary Public.
• You must have a lease document specifying a suitable minimum office space for your new branch. We* can locate suitable office space and obtain required lease documents
• If you utilize the services of a local agent to help you, that agent must have a notarized power of attorney
• A certificate of registration or trade license for the parent company. This must be notarized by the UAE Notary Public.
• A valid Chamber of Commerce certificate for the parent company.
• A company profile for the parent company. We* can help with this
• Physical address of the parent company

Additional documents may be requested by the authority at the time of registration. There is no minimum capital requirement for Branch Offices.

* Push Digits is an independent partnership formed in the UAE to provide industry leading accounting and book keeping services. We also offer first class business formation assistance.

We can help you set up your business
Push Digits has a staff of experienced, professionally qualified chartered accountants with up to date accounting knowledge of international standards. We are well versed in the use of advanced technologies and accounting software. We maintain the highest quality standards and deliver full satisfaction of our clients by providing our unique services at amazingly affordable and cost competitive prices. In all our day to day activities we work to ensure our clients are contented with the services we provide and they derive value from them.

In addition to our complete UAE business formation assistance we provide these services after the new business is operating:
• Complete accounting services with highest quality standards at affordable prices per month (full or part time)
• Financial services on an hourly basis
• Financial projections based on our in-depth financial accounting and analytical skills
• Feasibility studies for new businesses or new expansion
• Internal audits
• External audit preparation
• and many more