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Dubai Internet City FAQ

自由区注册公司分两类:外资企业,外企分支机构;
货物出免税区仍需交关税(4%);
保税区注册后即为合法企业,无需外部重新注册;
没有雇主签证,所有人都是雇员签证,业主即为外资企业雇员;
保税区注册企业等同于外资企业;
外资企业干部、经理、业主签证没有年龄限制;
公司注册费用(30,000RMB),8天完成注册手续;
企业类型:外企分支机构最低注册资金27万USD,FZ-LLC外资企业最低注册资金13.5万USD;
居留证件办理需要3-4周,费用(1,000RMB),有效期三年,到期续约;
居留证件名义是该公司(自由区可以外商独资,区外所有公司名义上必须本地人控股)雇员;
免税区注册公司(FZ-LLC)等同于外企分支机构,从杜拜看来,在税收、财务准则、法律上并无差异。但是外资企业分支机构原注册国如有较高合并税率(营业税+所得税),按惯例,则需依法在本国缴税;
保护版权、专利;
自用物资进口免关税,出境需加关税(4%);
商业争议由位于伦敦的国际总裁委裁判;
有效居留证要求申请人18-60岁,UAE禁止移民(陆地上也禁止外国人持有土地);
自由区个人签证费用(1,000RMB)比区外(200RMB)高,是因为一门式服务成本高,对企业有好处(什么好处);
自由区企业营业执照注册费用(30,000RMB)比区外(8,000RMB)高,区外营业执照以行业分类不同,有的还高过自由区,另外,最重要的,自由区注册企业无需UAE本国人控股或持股。
20080103长江精工董事会临时会议决定在迪拜设立分公司,长江精工钢结构(集团)股份有限公司迪拜分公司。
 
After a company opens at DIC can it open branches in Dubai or other countries ?
Yes, an FZ-LLC incorporated in DIC can open a branch in Dubai, elsewhere in the UAE or in other countries providing it complies with the requirements in those jurisdictions.
Can an FZ-LLC operating within DIC open a branch outside the Free Zone?
An FZ-LLC operating in DIC can open a branch outside DIC, provided it fulfils the requirements of the intended external jurisdiction concerning the registration of branches.
Can we get a copy of the Decree?
Law No. 1 of 2000 of the Emirate of Dubai is available for downloading on the DIC website.
 
Can we trade from the FZ?
A business partner cannot sell goods on a commercial or retail basis in the free zone except, obviously, for actual retail tenants. A business partner may import plant and equipment for its own use in the free zone, but in the event those goods are sent from the free zone into Dubai generally, then import duty is payable on the value of those goods. To import goods into the UAE, the importer must be a duly licensed business in one of the Emirates. If a business partner wishes to import and "sell" products or equipment to a third party based in Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE, then such a third party would have to be the consignee on the shipping documents (Airway Bill / Bill of Lading).
Can we trade in the FZ?
Business partners based in the TECOM Zone can certainly run their marketing and sales operations for the region from here and invoice from here. There are no direct restrictions on broadcasters regarding restrictive products, however, issues in relation to broadcast content will generally be determined under DMC's "Freedom of Expression" tribunal.
 
Do companies need to register with the Economic Department or the Municipality although they are registered in the Free Zone?
Companies registered in the Free Zone do not have to register with the Dubai Economic Department ("DED") or the Dubai Municipality ("DM").
 
Does a shareholder get an Employment Visa or an Owner Visa?
Owner Visas do not exist. All individuals resident in the UAE are sponsored as employees, regardless of shareholding.
 
Does Abu Dhabi recognise a free zone trade license?
Abu Dhabi recognizes a TECOM trade license in the same way that it recognizes a trade license from a foreign jurisdiction. To operate physically in Abu Dhabi you would otherwise require compliance with Abu Dhabi Municipality regulations.
 
Does this age limit apply to managers, directors and shareholders?
Shareholders and Directors have no age limit for residence visas.
 
 
How long does it take to get a license and to incorporate a company?
It normally takes eight days from initial contact, for licensing and incorporation to be completed. However, this depends on submission of documents and payment of all relevant fees.
 
How long does it take to get residency through the Free Zone?
The whole process of obtaining a residence permit usually takes 3 to 3 ½ weeks.
How long is residency permit valid?
A residency permit has to be renewed every three years.
Is a Shareholder entitled to a Residence Visa?
A shareholder is entitled to a residence visa under that business partner's trade license only if he is an employee of the company.
Is there a charge levied by DIC for the documentation mentioned above?
These documents and letters would be charged for. There is no restriction as such on a FZ-LLLC opening a branch elsewhere.
 
What are the benefits, financial legal, and tax implications for opening a branch vs. an FZ-LLC?
There are no financial, legal or tax implications for using a branch office of a foreign company over an FZ-LLC or vice-versa, while operating in the TECOM Free Zone. All businesses operating in the Free Zone benefit from the 50 year tax holiday granted under Article No 15 of Law No. 1 of 2000 irrespective of whether they are incorporated as an FZ-LLC or registered as a branch of a foreign company.

Please note that a branch of a foreign company incorporated in a high tax jurisdiction may still have to consolidate its profits with its parent company and pay tax on its profits in the country of incorporation of the parent.
What are the Copy Right Policies/Patent Laws?

Copyright Policies/Patent Laws are as per UAE Federal Law.
 
What are the import and export policies?
TECOM business partners bringing plant and equipment in from overseas to the Free Zone for use by them in the TECOM Zone may import these goods into the UAE free from customs duty. This allowance is on the basis that the plant and equipment does not leave the TECOM Zone. If goods brought in by business partners to the TECOM Zone from overseas are subsequently "re-exported" to Dubai, then customs duty is payable on those goods at the time of re-export to Dubai.
What assurance is there that the Free Zone will give tax breaks for the next 50 years ?
The 50 year "tax holiday" is guaranteed for businesses operating in the TECOM Zone provided by the Government of Dubai under Article 15 of Law No. 1 of 2000 of the Emirate of Dubai.
 
What do you mean by International Arbitration? Who are these arbitrators?
International Arbitration refers to the dispute resolution system and service provided by the Free Zone for business partners in TECOM, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (London), a reputed international arbitration organisation.
 
What is the age limit for processing residence visas?
The age limit for residence visas is a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 60 years.
What is the definition of the'terms' mentioned on the license?
Generally speaking, the "terms" of issuance of a trade license are payment of the relevant fees, payment of amounts owed under the lease and not undertaking activities outside those specified on the trade license.
What is the procedure for an FZ-LLC operating within DIC to open a branch outside the Free Zone, and how can DIC assist with relevant documentation?
For an FZ-LLC to open a branch in another jurisdiction, the FZ-LLC needs to find out about and fulfil the requirements of that other jurisdiction concerning the registration of branches.

The Registration & Licensing Directorate at DIC can issue notarised copies of a FZ-LLC's constituent documentation and certificates indicating that the FZ-LLC is in good standing and fully paid up.

When are the new cyber laws coming out?
The use of the term "cyber laws" is misleading. With reference to E-Commerce, the only "cyber law" currently in operation is the Facilitation of Electronic Transactions Law being Law No. 2 of 2002 of the Emirate of Dubai. This has been issued by the Rulers Court and applies as a law in the Emirate of Dubai. It does not currently apply as a federal law in the rest of the UAE. As the Free Zone is part of the Emirate of Dubai, the Facilitation of Electronic Transactions Law applies in the Free Zone as well.
Where can we get a copy of the Freedom of Expression Charter?
The Broadcasting and Publication Standards Tribunal and the Codes of Guidance cover issues related to freedom of expression. Please click on the above links to view the documents.
Where can we register Copy Rights/Patents?
Copyrights and patents can be registered under the UAE Federal Law. Interested business partners should contact lawyers working in Dubai for further information.
Where can we register trademarks/ brand names etc?
Trademarks and service markets may be registered under the UAE Federal Law. Interested business partners should contact lawyers working in Dubai for further information.
Who issues the shares of the company?
The company itself issues the shares to its shareholders on incorporation. Shareholders on incorporation are usually referred to as "Subscribers" and under the Memorandum of Association of a FZ-LLC (effectively the constitution of the FZ-LLC) those named subscribers agree to take a certain amount of shares. Those shares are then known as "Issued" shares and the shareholder must pay the company for those shares.
 
Why are visas in the FZ AED 500 and in Dubai AED 100?
The higher cost of visas within the FZ is owed to the operational costs of the stream-lined application process the BPs benefit from.
Why is a trade licence in the FZ AED 15,000 and in Dubai AED 4,000?
A trade license in the TECOM Zone is AED 15,000 for a variety of reasons. It is not directly relevant to compare this to the cost of a trade license issued in Dubai by the DED. For example, foreign nationals cannot generally "own" businesses in Dubai and must have a UAE national partner, sponsor or majority shareholder. Further, the cost of a trade license in Dubai varies considerably and AED 4,000 is about the cheapest and is only available for certain categories. Other categories of trade licenses cost much more than AED 15,000.