Business Setup in the UAE for Greeks

Key points

Importantly, greeks are a community concentrated in shipping, hospitality, construction and food, so the the UAE for Greeks authority, the banks and the immigration officers see Greek applications every day and process them without hesitation. In practice, greek shipowners and hospitality groups are deeply connected to the UAE market, which gives Greek entrepreneurs a ready market and supply chain the moment their the UAE for Greeks licence is granted. Just as important, the most common businesses Greeks open through GoldenKey are in shipping, hospitality, food exports and construction, although the UAE for Greeks supports almost any activity.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   Importantly, in the first call we check that the UAE for Greeks lists your activity, settle the licence type and match the visa package and office to what you actually need. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   Your trade name is reserved with the the UAE for Greeks authority and initial approval is obtained; this stage rarely takes more than two working days (Monday to Friday).

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   You sign the application and memorandum, we file the attested paperwork with the UAE for Greeks and the licensing authority's licence fee is paid. Your portal shows the status of this step for starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national in real time.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   the UAE for Greeks issues the licence, incorporation certificate and lease; from there we open the establishment card, process visas and arrange your bank introduction.

Documents required

Put simply, gather these supporting documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national.

• A passport issued by Greece with at least six months' validity
• A police clearance certificate from Greece if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires it
• A passport-size photograph on a white background
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa

Pricing

Pricing for starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. Use the table below to compare packages for starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation.

Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.

Where Greeks usually register

The most common choices for Greek founders are Ajman Free Zone for budget-conscious trading and services, IFZA or Meydan for a Dubai address, and Dubai or Sharjah mainland for retail, restaurants and contracting. Popular sectors among Greeks include shipping, hospitality, food exports and construction.

Documents from Greece

You will need a valid passport, photographs and, for professional activities, educational certificates attested in Greece, at the UAE embassy there and at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. GoldenKey explains the attestation route for Greece documents before you start.

Visas for you and your family

Put simply, your company sponsors your investor residence visa, after which you can sponsor your spouse and children. Golden Visa routes are available to Greek investors, entrepreneurs and professionals who meet the criteria.

Banking for Greek founders

UAE banks are familiar with Greek business profiles. A clear activity, a resident signatory and clean statements from your Greece bank make the request smoother. GoldenKey prepares the file and introduces a suitable bank.

Tax

Absolutely. The UAE and Greece have a double taxation agreement, and a UAE tax residency certificate lets you claim treaty relief on qualifying income. GoldenKey can obtain the certificate once your company is established. UAE corporate tax applies at 9% above AED 375,000 with a 0% rate for qualifying free zone income, and there is no personal income tax.

Compare jurisdictions for Greeks

Ajman Free ZoneOne of the UAE's most affordable free zones — 0-visa packa…Ajman New Venture CentreAjman's newest entrepreneurial free zone — built for start…Ajman Media CityUAE's media and content-creator hub — licences from AED 5,…Meydan Free ZoneDubai's entrepreneurial free zone at the iconic Meydan rac…IFZA Free ZoneDubai's fastest-growing free zone — multi-activity licence…DMCC Free ZoneWorld's #1 free zone — the premium choice for commodity tr…Shams Free ZoneSharjah's media free zone — creative and digital licences …SAIF ZoneSharjah's industrial free zone — warehousing, logistics an…RAKEZRAK's all-in-one economic zone — business, industrial and …JAFZAJebel Ali — the world's largest free zone and gateway to g…Dubai mainlandThe UAE's commercial capital — trade anywhere in the UAE w…Abu Dhabi mainlandThe capital — government contracts, energy supply chains a…Sharjah mainlandIndustrial heartland of the UAE — manufacturing, trading a…Ajman mainlandGoldenKey's home emirate — one of the most affordable main…Ras Al Khaimah mainlandThe emirate of industry and tourism — low costs, strong ma…Umm Al Quwain mainlandThe quiet emirate — one of the lowest-cost mainland licenc…Fujairah mainlandThe UAE's east-coast gateway — shipping, bunkering and Ind…

Businesses Greeks open in the UAE

General Tradingimport, export, re-export and wholesale of a broad range o…E-commerceselling physical or digital products online through your o…IT & Softwaresoftware development, SaaS, app development, IT consulting…Business Consultingmanagement, strategy, HR, marketing or operations consulti…Marketing & Advertising Agencydigital marketing, social media management, advertising, b…Real Estate Brokeragebrokering the sale and leasing of property on behalf of ow…Restaurant & Caféoperating a dine-in restaurant, café, cloud kitchen or foo…Retail Shopselling goods to consumers from a physical shop, kiosk or …Logistics & Freight Forwardingfreight forwarding, cargo handling, courier services and s…Import & Exportimporting goods into the UAE and exporting or re-exporting…Manufacturing & Industrialproducing, assembling, processing or packaging goods in a …Construction & Contractingbuilding, civil works, MEP and specialist contracting for …Healthcare Clinicmedical, dental, physiotherapy or aesthetic clinics and ho…Education & Trainingtraining centres, tutoring, corporate training, e-learning…Media & Content Productionvideo production, photography, publishing, podcasting and …Recruitment & HR Servicesrecruitment, manpower supply, outsourcing and HR consultan…Travel & Tourism Agencyinbound and outbound travel, tour operating, ticketing and…Event Managementplanning and delivering corporate events, exhibitions, wed…Interior Design & Fit-outinterior design consultancy, space planning and, with the …Cleaning & Facilities Managementcommercial and residential cleaning, maintenance and integ…Beauty Salon & Spaladies' or gents' salons, barbershops, spas and nail studi…Fitness & Sportsgyms, personal training, yoga studios, sports academies an…Photography & Videographycommercial, wedding, product and real estate photography a…Legal Consultancyadvising on contracts, corporate structuring and complianc…Accounting & Bookkeepingbookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax filing, payroll and fin…Automotive & Spare Parts Tradingtrading new and used vehicles, spare parts, tyres and acce…Gold & Jewellery Tradingwholesale and retail trading of gold, diamonds, precious s…Crypto & Blockchainblockchain development, Web3 consultancy and, with VARA or…Fintech & Paymentspayment technology, lending platforms, wealth-tech and fin…Tourism & Hospitalityholiday homes, hotel management, desert safaris, yacht cha…Textile & Garments Tradingimporting and wholesaling fabrics, garments, uniforms and …Perfume & Cosmetics Tradingtrading, private-label and retail of perfumes, skincare an…Foodstuff Tradingimporting, distributing and re-exporting packaged food, be…Engineering Consultancycivil, structural, MEP and project-management engineering …Architecture & Designarchitectural design, urban planning and landscape archite…Printing & Packagingcommercial printing, signage, labels and packaging product…Car Rental & Leasingrenting and leasing vehicles to tourists, residents and co…Pharmaceutical & Medical Suppliesimporting and distributing medicines, medical devices and …Oil & Gas Servicesequipment supply, inspection, maintenance and consultancy …Maritime & Ship Servicesship chandling, bunkering support, crew services, marine s…Holding Companyowning shares in subsidiaries, property and investments un…

Why the UAE

English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national for international founders. The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, and for that reason so many founders choose it as a base for starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national.

Why GoldenKey

Most of our the UAE for Greeks customers come to us through referrals from other founders, which is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing. For most clients, every the UAE for Greeks package we quote already includes the licence, registration, the establishment card where applicable and our full assistance, with no hidden add-ons at the end. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with starting a business in the UAE as a Greek national, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us.

Frequently asked questions