How to Start a Holding Company in the UAE

Author: Andreea Andron
Published: May 8, 2024

Overview

As an investor in the business world, handling a company can have its set of challenges, but managing a portfolio of businesses without a defined structure can leave you biting off more than you can chew. Starting a holding company can create a legally formed structure for business and financial portfolios.

Starting a holding company is a strategically sensible move for investors or entrepreneurs because it can reduce risk, increase diversity, and promote synergy to control various investments or businesses under a single umbrella. Starting a holding company in the UAE can unlock a multitude of benefits that can significantly enhance business success and financial prosperity. It offers numerous advantages that can greatly influence long-term success and wealth, including tax optimization, strategic expansion prospects, asset protection, and a host of other benefits.

Key Benefits of Starting a Holding Company in the UAE

Shareholder and Visa Information

Important Note: With one business license, you can have up to seven shareholders. Acquire an unlimited number of visas for investors, partners, or employees when you set up your business with SPC Free Zone.

Business Activity Codes for Holding Companies

6420.00 Activities of Holding Companies

This category focuses on the activities of an entity that exists to hold a portion of or a controlling stake in another business or company. In most cases, these types of business structures do not manufacture goods or provide services themselves but rather have a stake in another company or subsidiaries that do.

Main Functions:

Exclusions:

Regulatory Requirements:

Requirement Status
Third-party Approval Not required
Filing of Economic Substance Returns Required
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Not applicable

6420.01 Activities of Holding Companies

In this category, the primary function of the holding company is to hold assets and control the equity levels of a group of subsidiary corporations. Under this business activity, a holding company does not provide or offer any extra set of services to the subsidiaries they own, unlike other types of corporate entities.

Key Characteristics:

Exclusions:

Regulatory Requirements:

Requirement Status
Third-party Approval Not required
Filing of Economic Substance Returns Required
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Not applicable

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