Legal Consultancy in the UAE for South Africans

Why Dubai

Dubai's economic department issues more than 50,000 new licences a year. Businesses that benefit most from Dubai mainland licensing include retail, restaurants, contracting, real estate brokerage and consulting with government clients, because they serve customers on site across the emirate.

How Dubai works with GoldenKey

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   We select the correct activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and the legal form, usually a LLC or a sole establishment. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder.

2. 
   Step 2

   Trade name and initial approval

   GoldenKey reserves your trade name and obtains initial approval from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), including any external approvals your activity needs.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   You sign the memorandum of association before the notary or online, we register your tenancy contract and submit the full file. Your portal shows the status of this step for opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder in real time.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   In short, your Dubai mainland licence is issued, Chamber membership is activated and we open the establishment and labour files so visas can begin.

Documents required

Here is what you will need for opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.

• A police clearance certificate from South Africa if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires it
• A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
• A bank statement from your South Africa bank for the last three months, which banks use to understand your profile
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa

Pricing

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

Why the UAE

Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder no longer requires a local partner. The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many founders choose it as a base for opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder.

Why GoldenKey

We speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder. GoldenKey's consultants have handled opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder for traders, consultants, tech company owners and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Our quotations for opening a legal consultancy in the UAE as a South African founder list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before any payment anything.

Frequently asked questions