How to Register a Branch of a Foreign Company in the UAE

Registering a UAE branch of an existing foreign company is a common route for international businesses that want a direct UAE presence carrying out the same activities as the parent, without incorporating an entirely separate legal entity, since a branch remains legally part of the foreign parent rather than a distinct company.

Because a branch isn't a separate legal entity, the parent company bears full legal liability for the branch's activities and obligations in the UAE, which is an important distinction from setting up a UAE LLC subsidiary where liability is generally contained within the subsidiary itself. Branch activities are also restricted to the same scope as the parent company's activities in its home jurisdiction, meaning a branch can't simply expand into unrelated business lines the parent doesn't already carry out.

Documentation requirements typically include the parent company's certificate of incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, a board resolution approving the branch's establishment in the UAE, and a power of attorney appointing a local branch manager, all of which generally need to be attested in the country of origin and then legalized by the UAE embassy there before submission. Mainland branches are licensed through the Department of Economy and Tourism, while free zone branches follow the free zone's own registration process, and both generally still require the branch to maintain UAE accounting records and file its own corporate tax return locally despite not being a separate legal entity.

Some mainland branch activities historically required a local service agent, though this requirement has narrowed considerably following ownership reforms, and it's worth confirming current requirements for the specific activity before assuming one is needed. Given the attestation chain required for foreign parent company documents and the liability implications of the branch structure, working with a corporate lawyer or PRO service experienced in foreign branch registration is generally advisable before initiating the process.