Step-by-Step: Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup for Malaysian Founders

Key takeaways

• Malaysians can own 100% of an Abu Dhabi Mainland company with no local partner.
• Documents from Malaysia may need attestation for professional activities and visas.
• The licence can be issued remotely; you travel for the medical test and Emirates ID.
• GoldenKey handles the file from name reservation to bank introduction.

Background

Step-by-Step: Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup for Malaysian Founders mainland licences are issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), which currently processes most standard files in around 5 working days. Businesses that benefit most from Step-by-Step: Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup for Malaysian Founders mainland licensing include oil and gas services, contracting, engineering, healthcare and education, because they serve customers on site across the emirate. In short, popular districts for a Step-by-Step: Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup for Malaysian Founders mainland office include Al Reem Island, Khalifa City, Mussafah, Al Maryah Island and Corniche, each with different rent levels and customer footfall.

What to do, in order

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   GoldenKey maps your business to the right Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) activity codes and recommends the legal form that fits ownership and liability needs. If the authority raises a query on the Abu Dhabi Mainland setup process for Malaysians at this stage, we handle it the same day.

2. 
   Step 2

   Trade name and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name and obtains initial approval from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), including any external approvals your activity needs.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   After the MOA is signed and the office tenancy registered, GoldenKey lodges the full application with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to the Abu Dhabi Mainland setup process for Malaysians.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   With the licence in hand we register with the Chamber of Commerce and open the immigration and MOHRE files for your visas.

Documents you will need

Keep these ready before you start:

• The notarised memorandum of association, which GoldenKey drafts for you
• External approvals where the activity requires them, for example from the health authority, RERA or the municipality
• A tenancy contract for an office or shop registered with the emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai)
• Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
• Passport photographs on a white background

Costs

Prices for the Abu Dhabi Mainland setup process for Malaysians are drawn from GoldenKey's live price list and confirmed in writing before you pay. Government fees change from time to time; the figures on this page update automatically when they do.

Why the UAE

Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes the Abu Dhabi Mainland setup process for Malaysians a route to relocation as well as a business decision. The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for the Abu Dhabi Mainland setup process for Malaysians and makes international pricing simple.

How GoldenKey helps

Put simply, our quotations for the Abu Dhabi Mainland setup process for Malaysians list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before any payment anything. GoldenKey builds its own CRM and client portal, so you can see the status of your Step-by-Step: Abu Dhabi Mainland Company Setup for Malaysian Founders submission, download your documents and pay invoices from your phone.

Frequently asked questions