Registering a branch of a foreign company in Dubai lets an established overseas business operate directly under its existing name through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), rather than incorporating a new UAE entity — the most common route for large international companies entering the Dubai market specifically.
How a branch differs from a new UAE company
A branch is a legal extension of the parent company rather than a separate entity — the parent remains fully liable for the branch's UAE obligations, a fundamentally different liability position than a newly incorporated LLC provides.
Documentation requirements
Branch registration requires attested copies of the parent company's incorporation documents and board resolutions authorising the branch, plus appointment of a local service agent for certain activity categories — this attestation chain from the parent's home jurisdiction is commonly the longest step in the process, so start it early.
Costs and timeline
Costs include the DET registration fee plus document attestation and any local service agent arrangement — model your base licensing cost with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator and Formation Timeline Estimator, budgeting extra time for the attestation chain specifically.