UAE company setup from China
Founders from China usually set up in the UAE to hold stock, invoice and re-export Chinese-made goods into Gulf, African and South Asian markets from a company close to those buyers.
Setup planning
- Wholesale and re-export of Chinese-manufactured goods (electronics, phones, textiles, building finishes) through a UAE trading licence
- A regional sales, distribution or after-sales office for a China-based manufacturer
- Short business trips without a prior visa under the China–UAE mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports
- A UAE bank account and residence visa held by the person running the regional operation
Documents to prepare
Confirm the checklist for your authority, legal form and document origin. These preparation notes are not a universal filing checklist.
- Chinese ordinary passport with validity for the planned stay and any residence application
- China-issued documents (certificates, powers of attorney, a parent company's business licence, articles and board resolution) legalised through notarisation, then China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised local foreign affairs office, then the UAE Embassy or a UAE Consulate in China, with UAE MOFA attestation where the receiving authority asks for it
- No apostille shortcut: the UAE is not listed as a party to the Apostille Convention, and China keeps consular legalisation for documents going to non-contracting states, so a Chinese apostille alone should not be relied on
- Certified English or Arabic translations of Chinese-language documents, in the form the free zone or bank specifies
Travel and sequencing
China's consular list shows a China–UAE mutual visa exemption for ordinary passports in force since 16 January 2018, covering short stays (the list states under 30 days per entry). That covers a setup visit, not residence or work: the investor residence visa, medical test and biometrics follow once the licence is issued. A good-conduct certificate requirement is reported (not published by ICP) for Chinese nationals from 15 November 2026; confirm with the zone before applying.
Check the required appointments and entry or status-change route before booking travel.
Where to start
Explore a Dubai free-zone licence; activity eligibility and the residence sequence need confirmation.
From AED 12,900, no visa
Explore an Ajman licence with activity, premises and renewal costs checked for your business.
From AED 5,555, no visa
Explore the mainland activity, legal form and approvals for your intended operations.
Licence estimate AED 14,000, licence only
Related activities
General Trading
IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET)
Electrical & Electronic Appliances Spare Part Trading
IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET)
Mobile Phones & Accessories Trading
IFZA (Dubai) · Dubai mainland (DET)
Wholesale of Textiles and Clothes Trading
Ajman Free Zone
Tiles & Flooring Materials Trading
IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET)
Ecommerce
IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET)
What this page does not cover
- Whether you stop being tax resident in China. That depends on your own circumstances and the rules there, and it needs an adviser in that country, not a UAE directory.
- How a UAE company is treated by your home tax authority, including reporting obligations that may continue after you move.
- Immigration eligibility. We describe the residency steps that follow a licence, not who qualifies for one.
Country-specific checks
Documents issued in China follow a legalisation chain: notarisation and translation locally, certification by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorised local foreign affairs office, then certification by a UAE mission in China. Confirm the chain for the particular document before paying for translation or attestation. This is about document origin, not a requirement automatically imposed on every Chinese national's documents.
Sources
FAQ
Can I use a Chinese apostille for my UAE company documents?
Do not assume so. China joined the Apostille Convention in November 2023, but the UAE is not listed as a party, and China states that consular legalisation still applies to documents going to non-contracting states. Plan for the legalisation chain (notary, Chinese foreign affairs authority, UAE mission in China) and ask the free zone which attestation it accepts before paying for translations.
Do I need a visa to visit the UAE to set up the company?
Chinese ordinary-passport holders are covered by a mutual visa exemption for short stays. Residence is a separate process: after the licence is issued, the zone applies for an investor entry permit or status change, followed by a medical test and biometrics in the UAE. Check the visa section of How it works for the reported good-conduct certificate rule and its date for China.
Setting up from China?
Compare the published setup routes and check which documents apply to your case.