British founders can own 100% of a DMCC company in JLT, Dubai, with no UAE partner. The UK has no exchange controls, so funding the company is simple. The points to get right are on the tax side: where the company is managed, and where you are resident.
Can UK 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 the UK, unless DMCC can verify them on an official online registry.
If you live in the UK: moving money and paperwork
The UK has no exchange controls, so you can fund a DMCC company from a UK account without permission. Your UK bank may ask about the payment’s purpose. Where DMCC needs UK documents, such as a UK parent company’s papers, they must be notarised and legalised for use in the UAE, ending with the UAE Embassy in London, unless DMCC can verify them on Companies House.
Tax: UAE and the UK
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. The UK-UAE Double Taxation Convention has been in force since 25 December 2016. Two UK rules matter:
A company whose central management and control is in the UK can be UK tax-resident, wherever it is registered.
If you stay UK-resident under the statutory residence test, you are taxed on your worldwide income, including dividends from the DMCC company. A UK company owning a DMCC subsidiary should also check the controlled foreign company rules.
If you are moving to Dubai, plan your departure and board meetings with a UK tax adviser.
Travel and your residence visa
British citizens can enter the UAE without arranging a visa in advance, so you can visit for meetings or bank appointments easily. Much of the DMCC process runs online with e-signatures. Once the licence is issued, we arrange your residence visa; you need to be in the UAE for the medical and Emirates ID biometrics.
How we set it up
Plan: we confirm your activity, package and visa count, and check whether the UK’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 the UK?
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 a UK 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.
Will my DMCC company pay UK tax?
It can, if it is managed and controlled from the UK. Where the board meets and key decisions are taken matters. Take UK tax advice if you will run the company while UK-resident.
Is there a UK-UAE double tax treaty?
Yes. The UK-UAE Double Taxation Convention was signed in April 2016 and entered into force on 25 December 2016.
Source & review. DMCC figures from DMCC’s official packages and Schedule of Charges; document rules from DMCC’s guidance notes. UK points summarised from the UK-UAE Double Taxation Convention (gov.uk) and HMRC residence rules; confirm your case with a UK tax adviser. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice; reviewed by the Pro24 Advisory Team, October 2026.
