Indian founders and investors can own 100% of a DMCC company in JLT, Dubai. If you live in India, the main extra step is on the Indian side: your investment must follow the RBI overseas investment rules. If you already live in the UAE, the setup is the same as for any other founder.
Can Indian nationals own 100% of a DMCC company?
Yes. DMCC is a free zone, so a company can be 100% foreign-owned by individuals or companies of any nationality, with no UAE partner. Every shareholder, director and manager goes through DMCC’s KYC checks, and the outcome is DMCC’s decision, not ours. A clean, complete file is what keeps those checks quick. See DMCC company setup for foreigners for how foreign ownership works.
What it costs
Item
Official AED
Basic Biz package (licence, registration, flexi desk; eligible for 1 visa)
from 35,484
Jump Start package (1 visa included)
43,780
JLT Resident package (JLT residents only)
29,205
Licence at list price + one-time fees
20,285 + 12,055
Each residence visa (approx.)
3,500 – 6,000
Annual licence renewal
from 20,265 + desk
Figures from DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges. Your total depends on your activity, desk and number of visas; use the DMCC cost calculator or see DMCC setup cost.
Documents you will need
Passport copy of every shareholder, director and manager (valid for at least 6 months).
Proof of residential address dated within the last 6 months, such as a utility bill or tenancy contract.
UAE residence visa page, if you already live in the UAE, and an NOC from your current sponsor if your visa is not as an investor, partner or managing director.
For a corporate shareholder: its incorporation documents and a recent certificate of incumbency, notarised and legalised by the UAE Embassy in India, unless DMCC can verify them on an official online registry.
If you live in India: overseas investment rules
For a person resident in India, putting money into a DMCC company is an overseas investment under the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022. In practice:
You route the investment through an authorised dealer (AD) bank, which reports it to the RBI.
An individual’s remittances count towards the Liberalised Remittance Scheme limit of USD 250,000 per financial year.
Individuals may invest in an operating company with a genuine business. Some sectors, such as real estate business and banking, are not allowed, and financial-services structures have extra conditions.
Staying within USD 250,000 does not by itself make an investment compliant, so speak to your AD bank before you remit. Indians who are non-resident (NRIs living in the UAE or elsewhere) are generally outside these rules for money they hold abroad.
Tax: UAE and India
A DMCC company can benefit from the UAE’s corporate tax regime, including 0% on qualifying income for a Qualifying Free Zone Person; see DMCC corporate tax. India and the UAE have a double taxation avoidance agreement. Two Indian rules matter: residents of India are taxed on worldwide income, and a foreign company whose place of effective management is in India can be treated as tax-resident in India. If you will run the company from India, take Indian tax advice first.
Travel and your residence visa
Most Indian passport holders need a UAE visit visa to travel for setup, though some qualify for a visa on arrival, for example with certain US, UK or EU visas or residence. Much of the DMCC process runs online with e-signatures. You need to be in the UAE for the residence visa medical and Emirates ID biometrics; we arrange the entry permit once your licence is issued.
How we set it up
Plan: we confirm your activity, package and visa count, and check whether India’s rules affect how you fund the company.
Name and approval: we reserve a name that meets the DMCC name rules and file the application with DMCC.
Licence: shareholders e-sign, fees are paid and DMCC issues the licence and establishment card.
Visa and bank: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and residence visa, then a corporate bank account.
Free DMCC quote
What will your DMCC company cost?
Answer four questions. You will see the official DMCC package that fits, then get a written quote from us on WhatsApp.
Prices are DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges (checked October 2026). Your final quote confirms the live fee. Pro24 is based in Platinum Tower, JLT.
Setting up DMCC from India?
Send us your activity and how many visas you need. We will give you a written quote and a document checklist for your situation.
Yes. DMCC allows 100% foreign ownership for any nationality, subject to its KYC checks. No UAE partner is needed.
How much does DMCC company setup cost for an Indian national?
The same as for any founder: from AED 35,484 with DMCC’s Basic Biz package, AED 43,780 for Jump Start with one visa included, and typically AED 35,000 to 50,000 in year one depending on desk and visas.
Do I need RBI approval to set up a DMCC company?
Most resident individuals do not need prior RBI approval if the investment fits the Overseas Investment Rules, 2022 and stays within the LRS limit of USD 250,000 a year. It must go through your authorised dealer bank, which handles the reporting.
Can an NRI living in Dubai set up a DMCC company?
Yes. If you are non-resident under Indian law and invest from funds held abroad, the Indian overseas investment rules generally do not apply, and setup works like any UAE-resident founder’s.
Source & review. DMCC figures from DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges; document rules from DMCC’s guidance notes. Indian rules summarised from the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, 2022 and the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme; confirm your case with your AD bank and an Indian tax adviser. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice; reviewed by the Pro24 Advisory Team, October 2026.
