WhatsApp quoteIn practice, excise Tax Registration is registering for excise tax on tobacco, energy drinks, carbonated drinks and sweetened beverages, and it applies to importers, producers and stockpilers of excise goods, and operators of excise warehouses. Getting Excise Tax Registration right at the start avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and tedious to appeal. existing residents can generally set up faster because Emirates ID and local address proof are already in place, which gives Emirati entrepreneurs a ready market and supply chain the moment their Excise Tax Registration licence is released. For Emirati entrepreneurs, the UAE is no flight required from Abu Dhabi, local time, and Arabic and English are both official business languages.
Why Excise Tax Registration
Day to day, keeping records for five years, issuing compliant invoices and filing on time are the ongoing obligations that follow Excise Tax Registration. The steps for Excise Tax Registration are: register on EmaraTax as an excise taxable person, register each product on the FTA product list, apply for a designated zone if warehousing and then file monthly excise returns. GoldenKey has prepared Excise Tax Registration files for Emirati clients in trading, real estate, investment holding and technology, which means we know which United Arab Emirates supporting documents need attestation and which can be submitted as plain copies.
Documents required
For excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Customs code and import records where applicable
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
Pricing
In our experience, the figures below for excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies are updated by GoldenKey whenever the licensing authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Pricing for excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated.
| GoldenKey service fee | AED 3,500 |
|---|
FTA excise registration for producers, importers or warehouse keepers of excisable goods
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 excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely. Day to day, english is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies for international founders.
Why GoldenKey
To be clear, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies happen the same day they are ready. From day one, we speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us.
For most clients, tell us about your plans for excise tax registration for Emirati-owned companies and GoldenKey will come back to you shortly with a clear price, a document checklist and a realistic timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Does Excise Tax Registration apply to a new company with no revenue yet?
Crucially, only if you intend to import, produce or stockpile excise goods; registration should be completed before the first transaction.
What happens if I miss the Excise Tax Registration deadline?
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.
Is Excise Tax Registration mandatory for a free zone company?
In our experience, excise registration depends on the goods, not the jurisdiction. A free zone company importing or stockpiling excise goods must register, and designated-zone warehousing requires its own approval.
Can a Emirati citizen own 100% of a company in Excise Tax Registration?
Yes. UAE nationals and residents can own the full share capital of a Excise Tax Registration company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
How long does the process take for Emirati applicants?
Processing for UAE nationals and residents follows the same timeline as other nationalities. Documents from United Arab Emirates that need attestation are the main variable, and GoldenKey guides you through that step.
