Creative City company formation process

Company registration can be done remotely regardless of if you are in the UAE or abroad, your company can be registered in 2-3 working days after the initial approval if you opt for a package without visas.

  1. It is crucial to approach this question carefully, as choosing the wrong activity, registration authority, or location can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or getting a residence visa.

  2. In Creative City you can register one of the following legal entities:

    • Free Zone Establishment (FZE) - One shareholder
    • Free Zone Company (FZC) - Multiple shareholders
    • Branch of a local company
    • Branch of a foreign company
  3. Creative City requires a minimal documentation package.

    • Passport copy of the owners (6-month validity required)
    • Visa or the previous entry stamp to the UAE
    • Suggested company name
    • Business activity

    In Creative City you also need to submit the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Declaration form at sys.ccfz.ae/ubo. This is a mandatory step in the company set-up procedure after the license issuance. Otherwise, you will be subject to penalties and fines. UBO is a natural person who directly or indirectly owns or controls the company and who owns more than 25% of the equity and has more than 25% of voting rights.

    After all the documents have been compiled and the necessary paperwork has been drafted, it is required to pay the necessary fees for the registration process to proceed with the application.

  4. They are:

    • Certificate of incorporation
    • License
    • Lease agreement
    • MoA and Articles of Association
  5. It contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residence visas.It will take 7-10 working days to receive the card.

  6. If you apply from inside the UAE, after the entry permit is issued you have to change your visa status from the previous visa to a residence visa. If you are outside the UAE, then arrive in the country, get your entry permit stamped and then proceed with the rest of the residence visa process, submitting the necessary documents.

  7. Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residence visa. Different registration packages may provide for a varying number of visas available for owners and employees of the company.

  8. Once your visa is issued, secure your Emirates ID card. The processing and issuance of a visa and Emirates ID usually take 5-7 working days after the visa approval.

  9. Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account in one of local or international banks in the UAE. After receiving the account details, you can start running your business in the UAE.

Expert

With us you can navigate this process quickly and effortlessly. You don`t even have to arrive in Dubai — the registration procedure can be completed remotely. However, you will need to visit the UAE for medical checkups, visa formalities, and account opening.

Creative City license cost

As we have mentioned above, Creative City Fujairah offers only professional licenses.

PACKAGECOST
Business starter + zero visas + flexi-desk (up to 2 shareholders)5,520 AED
Business Multi visa package (3 to 15 visas) + flexi-desk (up to 6 shareholders)17,520 AED

Each license includes 3 business activities. The license is valid for 1 year and is renewable annually.

The license package price covers: the license, an establishment card, PRO services, flexi-desk services, e-channel registration for 1 year, and government fees. Only 2 visas and Emirates ID fees are included; you will have to pay for any additional visa allocation (up to 15 visas). Medical expenses are paid separately.

Elena O.

We'll find the ideal free zone for your business

Fujairah Creative City Company Formation

CEO, Emirabiz

Andrey Ovchinnikov

Discuss your unique case with our expert right now

Is Creative City suitable for your business?

Fully remote and fast business setup

Up to 15 visas in a license

Wide range of professional activities

Yes

  • If you are engaged exclusively in professional activities unrelated to trade, ranging from management or marketing consultancy to intellectual property rights protection and personal training.
  • If you need a completely remote business registration, then with Creative City, you do not need to come in person unless you plan to act as a sponsor or obtain a driver's license.
  • If you are looking for an affordable and quick way to establish a company with a professional license in the UAE, the cost of business setup starts from 5,520 AED.
  • If you need a large number of visas, Creative City’s packages provide for up to 15 visa allocations in a multi-visa package with a flexi-desk.

No

  • If you are engaged in trading activities but prioritize lower setup costs, you might consider Umm Al Quwain Free Zone, which is closer to Dubai and offers reasonable fees, potentially striking a better balance between convenience and cost for certain business needs.
  • If you plan to sponsor dependents while living in Dubai, then Creative City is also not the most convenient option, as the Emirate of Fujairah is the farthest from Dubai, about a 2-hour drive.
  • If you need to obtain a driver's license, you will have to visit the Immigration Authority in Fujairah in person, which means you will also need to go to Creative City Fujairah.
  • If you need professional activities and services closer to Dubai, you might consider SHAMS Free Zone or AMC Free Zone as alternatives.
  • For people that have not visited the UAE prior or does not have a UAE residency visa. Fujairah freezone requires an applicant's UID number to be able to process the license registration. If you have not visited the UAE before, and you are considering setting up a company in CCFZ, you can contact your business setup advisor for further advise and solution.

Creative City licenses and business activities

Creative City Fujairah does not have any trading business activities at all.

It provides an impressive professional activities list with a broad spectrum of service and consultancy segments.

The business activities include the following:

  • Broadcasting
  • Media & Marketing
  • Publishing
  • Event Management
  • Media Support Services
  • Consultancy
  • New Media Services
  • Business Information
  • Production
  • Music & Entertainment
  • Information technology
  • Design
  • Education

Some activities like broadcasting require pre-approval from the free zone management.

Elena O.

We'll find activities for your business

Creative City facilities

This free zone offers a modern, fully equipped business center with round-the-clock access (available on hours-per-month basis).

The following facilities can be leased from Creative Zone Fujairah:

The services that come with these facilities include:

  • Meeting room access
  • Fast speed internet access
  • Printing and copying services
  • Receptionist
  • Maintenance and cleaning

All facilities are located in Fujairah free zone.

Creative City residence visas

If you establish business in Fujairah Free Zone, you are entitled for residence visas for you, your personnel, and family members.

Depending on the licensing package you choose, you can have up to 15 visas that are already included in the offer. However, if you need to apply for additional visa, check out the table below to find the cost.

 CREATIVE CITY FEEMEDICAL CHECKUPEMIRATES IDTOTAL
Investor / Employee3,650 AED755 AED390 AED4,795 AED

This resident visa is valid for 2 years.

If you would like to sponsor dependents under their visa, the process is quite easy and the following documents are required:

  • Tenancy contract: You should rent an apartment in the UAE.
  • Marriage certificate: You should attest it in the UAE Embassy in the country of origin and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.
  • Birth certificate (for your child): It also has to be attested by the UAE Embassy in your country and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.

Some nationalities are considered as high-risk in Fujairah Free Zone. Such countries are:

  • Syria
  • Bangladesh
  • Turkey
  • Egypt
  • Algeria
  • Sudan
  • Iraq, and others.

Note that this list changes frequently and varies in different emirates, so you should check with your business setup consultant what is applicable to your nationality at the time of registration. Alternatively, you consider a business setup in Dubai, where the immigration laws are flexible and you are almost guaranteed to have your license and residency visa approved.

It is mostly recommended for citizens from high-risk countries to set up their business in Dubai because immigration restrictions in this emirate are minimal. DMCC company formation is one of the most popular options of business setup in Dubai now.

Complete UAE Residency Guide

Requirements, terms, and prices

download guide

Creative City company license renewal

The process of renewing your company is straightforward and can be conveniently managed remotely by your appointed agent.

This renewal is required annually, and its cost, which is notably lower than the initial setup expenditure, varies depending on the company's chosen package.

For companies operating bank accounts within the UAE, it's obligatory to present the newly issued license to the bank following renewal. This step ensures the continuation of the company's banking services without any interruptions.

Creative City company amendments

Company amendments in Creative City Fujairah can include:

  • Change of company name
  • Change of the manager (person-in-charge)
  • Change of business activities
  • Shares transfer, etc.

The fees are about 2,000 AED for shares transfer and even less for other amendments.

Creative City company liquidation

The liquidation of a company in Creative City Fujairah can only proceed upon receiving a personal application from either a shareholder or an authorized representative holding a power of attorney from the company owners.

A fee of AED 4,000 is applicable for the cancellation of the company license, and an additional AED 600 is charged for the cancellation of a resident visa.

If the company has maintained a corporate bank account, it is essential that this account is closed before initiating the liquidation process. A confirmation letter from the bank, validating the closure of the account, will be needed.

Upon successful dissolution of the company, the free zone authority will issue an official deregistration letter. This serves as a formal confirmation of the company's liquidation, marking the conclusion of its existence within the free zone.

With us, you can navigate the liquidation process for your UAE company quickly and effortlessly, ensuring a smooth closure while saving valuable time and resources.

About Creative City Fujairah

The Emirate of Fujairah has an authority called Creative City Fujairah Free Zone. It was launched in 2007 as an alternative to Dubai Media City.

Creative Zone Fujairah is a zone which focuses on professional service activities. It does not have any trading activities.

This free zone offers a remote business setup and visa processing.

It has a fast registration process that can be completed within a week with 100% ownership without any capital requirements or annual audits.

You can get from zero up to 15 residence visas - it is one of the best visa offers among UAE business setup options.

FAQ

No, a personal visit to the UAE is required as per the regulations of the UAE Central Bank. Local banks require this visit to verify the client's identity.

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In most cases, you can obtain a debit card for your newly opened company, especially if there is only one shareholder. However, a credit card is usually issued against a fixed deposit. As for loans, banks may consider your eligibility based on your company's operations and profits. It is recommended to apply for a loan after at least one year of company operations.

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Officially, the office of a free zone company should be located within the free zone where it is registered. However, if you need an office in Dubai, you have the option to rent space in a Business Center and use it on a flexible basis. It is important to note that the minimum required space (flexi desk) in the free zone cannot be canceled.

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A flexi desk is a mandatory requirement for any company eligible for resident visas. It serves as the minimum physical office space that a company with individuals under its visa must have. Additionally, a flexi desk can facilitate bank account opening as banks require evidence of a company having some form of office or physical presence.

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VAT obligations depend not only on the place of registration but also on where the business activities take place. VAT becomes applicable when the taxable turnover reaches AED 375,000. If a free zone company's trading activities take place abroad, the turnover is not considered taxable as long as the transactions occur outside the UAE. However, if goods are imported to the UAE, VAT at a rate of 5% must be added to invoices and paid.

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The UAE is free from personal income tax. However, there is a 5% import tax on goods brought into the country and a 5% VAT on trading or service transactions that occur within the UAE.On June 1, 2023, the UAE introduced 9% corporate tax, however, companies registered in UAE free zones may be granted corporate tax exemption if they meet the criteria for qualifying activities.

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The suitability of a free zone company versus an offshore or mainland entity depends on your business model and requirements. However, a free zone setup offers advantages such as 100% foreign ownership, eligibility for resident visas, the ability to conduct business both within and outside the UAE, and greater favorability with banks compared to offshore companies. Additionally, free zones often offer a flexi desk option instead of executive offices, making it a cost-effective way to start a business without unnecessary obligations.

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While we strive to make the account opening process as smooth as possible, we cannot guarantee the approval as it ultimately depends on the bank. Each case goes through several bank departments for approval, and the bank may contact you directly for clarifications. Providing a clear picture of your business to the bank increases the chances of successful account opening. We do our best to prepare you and your company for a smooth and fast account opening process.

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Your company should be renewed annually, and the cost is typically lower than the initial setup cost. The renewal fees depend on your company package, and you can obtain the price by downloading the Estimate from our website. Company renewal does not require the personal presence of the owner and can be done by your agent. After renewal, the new license must be presented to the bank to extend the bank account, which is included in our renewal service.

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You have multiple options for fee payment. You can make payments via bank transfer, cash, or online using a card.

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