WhatsApp quoteGoldenKey handles VAT Registration for the companies we form and for businesses that come to us later, so the process is routine for our tax team. Getting VAT Registration right at the start avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and tedious to appeal. Crucially, import & Export in VAT Registration means importing goods into the UAE and exporting or re-exporting them to regional and global markets, and it is licensed as a commercial activity. Just as important, free zone traders can import duty-free into the zone and re-export without paying UAE customs duty, which is why Jebel Ali and Sharjah zones dominate this activity. Selling into the UAE mainland triggers 5% duty.
Why VAT Registration
In short, keeping records for five years, issuing compliant invoices and filing on time are the ongoing obligations that follow VAT Registration. In short, penalties for late VAT Registration or late filing start at fixed amounts and grow with delay, which is why GoldenKey diarises every deadline for its clients. Importantly, for import & export, VAT Registration offers the office options such a business actually needs and a visa quota that can grow with the team.
How VAT Registration works with GoldenKey
Step 1Assessment
We confirm whether VAT Registration is mandatory, voluntary or not yet required for your business, and set the right timing. Nothing is submitted for vat registration for an import-export business until you have reviewed and approved it.
Step 2EmaraTax setup
GoldenKey opens or accesses your EmaraTax account and links the licence, signatory and bank details needed for VAT Registration.
Step 3Application
GoldenKey fills the FTA application for VAT Registration and uploads the licence, IDs and turnover evidence. If the authority raises a query on vat registration for an import-export business at this stage, we handle it the same day.
Step 4Certificate and compliance calendar
Once the FTA approves, we diarise your return and payment deadlines so nothing is missed.
Documents required
Gather these paperwork and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of vat registration for an import-export business.
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
- Customs code and import records where applicable
Pricing
Use the table below to compare packages for vat registration for an import-export business; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. The figures below for vat registration for an import-export business are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
| GoldenKey service fee | AED 2,500 |
|---|
Federal Tax Authority registration for businesses with taxable supplies above AED 375,000 / year
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
English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies vat registration for an import-export business for international entrepreneurs. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes vat registration for an import-export business a route to relocation as well as a business decision.
Why GoldenKey
Most of our VAT Registration clients come to us through referrals from other founders, which is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing. We speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for vat registration for an import-export business. Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for vat registration for an import-export business happen the same day they are ready.
Book a call with GoldenKey and we will confirm your eligibility, your costs and your next steps for vat registration for an import-export business in a single conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I miss the VAT Registration deadline?
To be clear, 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.
How long does VAT Registration take with the FTA?
Day to day, the FTA as a rule responds within 20 business days, and simple applications are often approved faster. GoldenKey submits a complete file to avoid information requests.
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.
Which licence type covers import & export?
From day one, import & Export is classified as a commercial activity, and GoldenKey selects the exact activity code so your licence matches what you actually do.
Is import & export allowed in VAT Registration?
VAT Registration applies to an import-export business businesses on the same basis as any other UAE company: businesses with taxable supplies and imports above AED 375,000 in the last 12 months (mandatory) or AED 187,500 (voluntary).
