Business Setup in the UAE for Vietnamese nationals

Key points

Vietnamese nationals are a young community in trading, IT outsourcing and hospitality, so the the UAE for Vietnamese nationals authority, the banks and the immigration officers see Vietnamese applications every day and process them without hesitation. the UAE is Vietnam's largest trading partner in the Middle East, with a CEPA concluded in 2024, which gives Vietnamese entrepreneurs a ready market and supply chain the moment their the UAE for Vietnamese nationals licence is released. The most common businesses Vietnamese nationals open through GoldenKey are in electronics, textiles, agricultural exports and IT outsourcing, although the UAE for Vietnamese nationals supports almost any activity.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   In short, in the first call we check that the UAE for Vietnamese nationals lists your activity, settle the licence type and match the visa package and office to what you actually need.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   Just as important, we submit your preferred trade names to the UAE for Vietnamese nationals and secure initial approval, normally within a day or two of submission. Your portal shows the status of this step for starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national in real time.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   To be clear, with the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested documents and settles the licence fee with the authority on your behalf.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   For most clients, once the the UAE for Vietnamese nationals licence and company papers are released, we move immediately to the immigration file, residence visas and the bank meeting. For starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national, GoldenKey completes this stage with you on WhatsApp or by email.

Documents required

For starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.

• A police clearance certificate from Vietnam 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
• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
• A passport issued by Vietnam with at least six months' validity
• Attested parent-company papers and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
• A passport-size photograph on a white background

Pricing

Use the table below to compare packages for starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. The figures below for starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.

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

Where Vietnamese nationals usually register

From day one, the most common choices for Vietnamese 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 Vietnamese nationals include electronics, textiles, agricultural exports and IT outsourcing.

Documents from Vietnam

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

Visas for you and your family

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

Banking for Vietnamese founders

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

Tax

Yes. The UAE and Vietnam 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 Vietnamese nationals

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 Vietnamese nationals 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

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 starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national a route to relocation as well as a business decision.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey's consultants have handled starting a business in the UAE as a Vietnamese national for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Day to day, after your the UAE for Vietnamese nationals licence is issued, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice. Because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which documents each of them will ask for on a the UAE for Vietnamese nationals file.

Frequently asked questions