A branch of a foreign company in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE lets an overseas business trade here under its own name without forming a new company. Registration depends on the parent company's documents: they must be authenticated in the home country, attested by the UAE embassy there and translated into Arabic before DET or a free zone will license the branch. Wordcraft runs that document chain and the licensing together.
Branch, Subsidiary or Representative Office?
| Option | Legal status | What it can do |
|---|---|---|
| Branch of a foreign company | Extension of the parent, with no separate legal personality; the parent answers for its obligations | Carries out the parent's own activities under the parent's name |
| Subsidiary (LLC or free zone company) | A separate UAE company owned by the parent | Its own licensed activities, liability and name |
| Representative office | Extension of the parent with a restricted license | Promotion and market research only, with no trading or invoicing |
Clients who want to contract with the parent's established name usually choose a branch. Groups that want to ring-fence UAE liability choose a subsidiary. We set out both before anything is filed.
Parent-Company Documents: Attestation Route
Every corporate document issued outside the UAE goes through the same chain in the parent's home country before it is used here. The UAE embassy or consulate at the end of the chain now completes the UAE MOFA attestation digitally in the same step, so in most cases nothing more is needed in the UAE except the Arabic translation.
| Parent document | Notarize or certify at home | Home foreign ministry | UAE embassy (MOFA included) | Arabic legal translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration | Registry-certified copy or notary | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memorandum and Articles of Association | Registry-certified copy or notary | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate of good standing | Issued by the registry; notary if required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Board resolution approving the branch and manager | Signed before a notary | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power of attorney to the branch manager | Signed before a notary | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financial statements | Auditor-certified copy, notarized | If requested | If requested | If requested |
The UAE is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille on its own does not make a document usable here; the UAE embassy step is still needed.
How the Chain Looks in Common Home Countries
- United Kingdom: solicitor or notary where needed, then FCDO legalization, then the UAE Embassy in London. See UK document attestation.
- United States: county or Secretary of State, then the US Department of State, then the UAE Embassy in Washington. See US document attestation.
- India: notary, then the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), then the UAE Embassy in New Delhi or a UAE consulate. See Indian document attestation.
- China: notary office, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a local foreign affairs office, then the UAE Embassy in Beijing or a consulate.
- Germany: notary or issuing authority, then the Federal Office of Administration or the state authority, then the UAE Embassy in Berlin.
For other countries, the commercial document attestation team confirms the route in your quote.
Arabic Translation: Where Branch Files Get Returned
After attestation, the resolution, POA and constitutional documents are translated into Arabic by our MOJ-certified legal translators. The parent's name, registration number, share details and the manager's powers must match the attested originals exactly; a mismatch is one of the most common reasons a branch application comes back. If the POA is signed in the UAE instead of abroad, we book a notarized power of attorney here.
What the Licensing Authority Asks For
- The attested and translated parent documents above
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- An office tenancy contract (Ejari on the Dubai mainland) or a free zone lease
- The branch manager's passport, and UAE visa and Emirates ID if resident
- Any sector approval, for example in healthcare, education or finance
DET in Dubai, the licensing departments of the other emirates and each free zone set their own lists. A mainland branch can be registered in one of two ways: with a local service agent, or fully owned by the parent without one where the activity allows 100% foreign ownership. We confirm which route fits your emirate and activity and arrange the agent if you need one.
From Parent Documents to an Operating Branch
- Send the parent company's details on WhatsApp or visit any of our four offices; the written quote, with the attestation route for your country, comes back within 10–30 minutes.
- We confirm whether a mainland or free zone branch fits the activities.
- We guide the home-country steps, complete the UAE embassy stage and translate the documents.
- We reserve the name, register the lease and file the branch license.
- After licensing: establishment card, visas for the manager and staff, and the bank account file, all visible in online tracking.
Official references: the Department of Economy and Tourism for Dubai mainland branches and the Dubai Development Authority for branches in its free zones. Once the branch is open, our PRO services and company bank account support take over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign company open a branch in Dubai without a local partner?
Yes. A branch is fully owned by the parent, and there are two routes: register it with a local service agent, who holds no share in the business, or, where the activity allows 100% foreign ownership, register it without an agent. We confirm which applies to your case and can arrange the agent.
Do the parent company documents need attestation?
Yes. Documents issued abroad are authenticated in the home country and attested by the UAE embassy there, which now includes MOFA digitally, before UAE authorities accept them.
Is an apostille enough for UAE registration?
No. The UAE is not part of the Apostille Convention, so the documents still need UAE embassy attestation.
Which parent documents need Arabic translation?
Usually all of them: the incorporation certificate, MOA/AOA, good standing certificate, board resolution and POA. Translation is done after attestation so the stamps are translated too.
Does a branch pay UAE corporate tax?
A branch doing business in the UAE is generally within the scope of the 9% corporate tax introduced in June 2023. For registration and returns, speak to a registered tax agent; Wordcraft does not file tax.
Can the branch manager be outside the UAE during registration?
Much of the file can be prepared remotely with the attested POA, but the manager needs to be in the UAE for visa medical and biometrics.
How long does branch registration take?
Mostly as long as the home-country attestation takes. We confirm the expected timeline in your quote.
Branch or subsidiary: which is better?
A branch keeps the parent's name and track record but exposes the parent to UAE liabilities. A subsidiary limits liability but is a new company without that history. The right choice depends on your contracts and risk appetite.
Last updated: September 2026
