WhatsApp quoteThe Federal Tax Authority's EmaraTax portal makes Corporate Tax Registration a digital process, but the questions it asks are precise and the supporting documents must match your licence exactly. Day to day, corporate Tax Registration is registering for UAE corporate tax at 9% on profits above AED 375,000, and it applies to every UAE company, including free zone and mainland entities, must register even if it qualifies for the 0% rate. In our experience, payments between France and the UAE are routine: the dirham is pegged to the dollar, euro (EUR) transfers settle promptly and UAE banks are familiar with French business profiles. In our experience, for French founders, the UAE is around 7 hours from Paris, the UAE is 2 to 3 hours ahead of France, and English is used for business, and French-speaking advisers are easy to find in Dubai.
Why Corporate Tax Registration
GoldenKey prepares the EmaraTax application for Corporate Tax Registration, uploads the documents and follows up with the FTA until the certificate is granted. Penalties for late Corporate Tax Registration or late filing start at fixed amounts and grow with delay, which is why GoldenKey diarises every deadline for its clients. GoldenKey has prepared Corporate Tax Registration files for French clients in luxury retail, hospitality, aviation and energy, which means we know which France documents need attestation and which can be submitted as plain copies.
Documents required
Here is what you will need for corporate tax registration for French-owned companies; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Customs code and import records where applicable
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
Pricing
As we tell every client, the figures below for corporate tax registration for French-owned companies are updated by GoldenKey whenever the registrar changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Put simply, all prices for corporate tax registration for French-owned companies are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay.
| GoldenKey service fee | AED 3,000 |
|---|
UAE Corporate Tax registration, filing strategy and ongoing compliance
Request this servicePrices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-06.
Why the UAE
There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from corporate tax registration for French-owned companies can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely. Day to day, since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so corporate tax registration for French-owned companies no longer requires a local partner.
Why GoldenKey
From day one, we will tell you plainly if Corporate Tax Registration is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for corporate tax registration for French-owned companies happen the same day they are ready. Importantly, if a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your Corporate Tax Registration file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the request sit.
Book a call with GoldenKey and we will confirm your eligibility, your costs and your next steps for corporate tax registration for French-owned companies in a single conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Corporate Tax Registration mandatory for a free zone company?
Yes. Every free zone company must register for corporate tax, even if it expects to qualify for the 0% rate as a qualifying free zone person. Registration deadlines depend on the licence issue date.
What happens if I miss the Corporate Tax Registration deadline?
In short, late registration attracts a fixed penalty, and late filings add further penalties. If you are already late, GoldenKey can register you and advise on penalty reconsideration where grounds exist.
Can GoldenKey act as my tax agent?
Yes. GoldenKey can prepare and submit filings on your behalf and handle FTA correspondence, so you have one point of contact for licence, visa and tax matters.
Can a French citizen own 100% of a company in Corporate Tax Registration?
Yes. French nationals can own the full share capital of a Corporate Tax Registration company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
How long does the process take for French applicants?
Crucially, processing for French nationals follows the same timeline as other nationalities. Documents from France that need attestation are the main variable, and GoldenKey guides you through that step.
