Names
Setting up a company in DIFC (Dubai)
The Dubai International Financial Centre runs its own common law courts and company registry. It suits financial services, family offices and holding structures that want an English-law framework.
- Legal suffix
- Limited, Ltd
- Domains
- .com and .ae
- Corporate tax
- 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest
- Name check
- DIFC public register
What it costs
| Formation | A non-regulated DIFC company typically costs around AED 100,000 in the first year once registration, the commercial licence and the required office space are added up. |
|---|---|
| Every year | The commercial licence renews yearly, and office space is the largest recurring cost. |
| Registered agent or local requirement | No registered agent, but you need a registered office inside DIFC. Co-working and business centre options exist. |
| Online portal | Yes. Filings and certificates go through the DIFC client portal. |
Certificates (good standing, incumbency and similar)
| Certificate of incumbency or good standing | Ordered online through the DIFC portal; the fee depends on the document |
|---|
Estimates checked October 2026. Government fees change and service providers charge on top, so confirm with the registry before you budget. Sources: DIFC public register.
Naming rules in DIFC (Dubai)
Common law jurisdiction built for finance, family offices and holding companies. The generator flags these words with an orange or red tick:
- Needs approval Bank, Banking, Insurance, Insurer, Assurance, Reinsurance, Securities, Exchange, Fund, Funds. Regulated financial term. Needs approval from the financial regulator in most countries.
- Not allowed Allah, God, Holy, Mecca, Makkah, Vatican. Religious names and divine attributes are not allowed.
- Not allowed Sheikh, Royal, King, Prince, Ministry, Government, Federal, FBI. Names that suggest a royal, government or political body are refused.
- Needs approval Dubai, Emirates, Emirate, UAE, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, DXB, AUH, SHJ, DWC, GCC, Expo. UAE place names, emirates and airport codes are restricted.
- Not allowed International, Global (at the start of the name). A trade name cannot start with International, Global or Middle East.
- Needs approval Holding, Holdings, Group. Holding and Group are only allowed for holding or group companies.
- Needs approval Partners. Partners is only allowed for partnerships, joint ventures or subsidiaries.
- Needs approval Finance, Financial, Investment, Investments, Invest, Capital, Media, Advertising, Payment, Payments, Tax, VAT, Assets, Charity, Islamic. Only allowed if your licence covers that activity.
- Not allowed LLC, Ltd, Limited, FZE, FZCO, Inc, Corp, PLC, GmbH. Leave the legal form out of the name. The registry adds it.
These checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Jurisdictions at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Legal suffix | Domain | Headline corporate tax | Typical setup cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Mainland | LLC, Sole Establishment | .ae | 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 | About AED 11,500–14,000 |
| UAE Free Zone (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ…) | FZ-LLC, FZCO, FZE, DMCC | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | From about AED 6,000 |
| DIFC (Dubai) | Limited, Ltd | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About AED 100,000 year one |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi) | Ltd, Limited | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About US$6,300 |
| Saudi Arabia | LLC | .sa | 20% on foreign-owned profit, 2.5% zakat on Saudi and GCC shares | About SAR 15,000 in fees |
| Qatar (QFC) | LLC | .qa | 10% on locally sourced profit | US$500 application |
| Bahrain | W.L.L., S.P.C. | .bh | No general corporate tax (oil and gas and large multinationals aside) | About BHD 250–450 in fees |
| United Kingdom | Ltd, Limited | .co.uk | 19% to 25% corporation tax | £100 |
| Ireland | Limited, DAC | .ie | 12.5% on trading income | €50 |
| Estonia (e-Residency) | OÜ | .ee | 0% on retained profit, 22% on distributed profit | €265 + e-Residency |
| Netherlands | B.V. | .nl | 19% up to €200,000, then 25.8% | €500–1,500 notary |
| Germany | GmbH, UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | .de | About 30% combined corporate and trade tax | About €600 + capital |
| Cyprus | Ltd, Limited | .com.cy | 15% corporate tax (from 2026) | Low registrar fees |
| USA: Delaware | Inc., LLC, Corp. | .us | 21% federal, no Delaware income tax if you don't operate there | $109–110 |
| USA: Wyoming | LLC | .us | 21% federal, no state income tax | $100 |
| Singapore | Pte. Ltd. | .com.sg | 17% headline, with partial exemptions for new companies | S$315 |
| Hong Kong | Limited | .com.hk | 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, then 16.5% | About HK$3,900 |
| British Virgin Islands | Ltd, Limited, Inc. | .vg | 0% | $550 + agent |
| Cayman Islands | Ltd | .ky | 0% | About $5,000 with a provider |
How to choose a company name that gets approved
- Check the register first: names identical or very close to an existing company are refused.
- Avoid regulated words such as Bank, Insurance, Capital or Trust unless you hold the licence.
- In the Gulf, avoid religious, royal or government terms and place names such as Dubai or Emirates.
- In the UK, sensitive words such as British, Royal, Charity or Institute need prior approval.
- Secure the .com and the country domain on the same day you reserve the name.
The rule checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Information only. CorpNameCheck does not give tax, legal or company-registration advice. Costs, rules and tax rates are simplified estimates that change over time. Many activities need a licence or regulatory approval, and only the relevant registry or regulator can confirm what applies to you. Check name availability and trademarks with the official bodies before you register or buy a domain. Full disclaimer