Forming a company in the Middle East
At any point in the life of a business, the need for a Middle East registered business may arise, especially if your business is in the petroleum, oil, marble, natural asphalt, silica, gypsum, cement, salt or steel industries is, or in particular the financial services sector. Nonetheless, businesses in all industries may want to use our business formation services, including those involved in the bauxite, iron ore, zinc, lead and coal, gold, silver, tin, aluminum and manganese, diamond , Potash or phosphate industries are active.
Before registering a business, you should understand the pros and cons of each of the numerous options in the Middle East and nearby islands such as Cyprus (read more about this option in the section starting a business in Europe), Bahrain, and Socotra (Yemen) so that you can get one Make informed decisions about where to start your business.
Company type
All Middle Eastern countries are independent, which makes it difficult to recommend one specific legal entity for registering a company. However, if you are looking for an easy-to-follow tutorial on the major legal structures for companies in the Middle East, please continue reading, as there are a number of factors that may present significant challenges and risks. Confidus Solutions’ top-choice suggestions are Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Israel.
Bahrain
Bahrain today is one of the most up-and-coming and prosperous countries in the Middle East, offering international entrepreneurs and investors a receptive environment for setting up a business. A foreign company in Bahrain can incorporate as a limited liability company (LLC), a partnership company or a branch of a foreign company. Although Bahrain may not offer a low-tax regime, due to its rapidly growing economy it is considered to be a prestigious jurisdiction in which to run a company, and so may be a viable option if you are looking to invest your assets.
Qatar
Qatar has many foreign companies operating within its borders, mostly in the oil, mining and engineering industries. However, Qatar is supportive of any foreign company willing to invest and operate on its territory. Qatar offers almost all of the same legal structures as any Western country: partnerships, joint-stock companies, companies limited by shares, limited liability companies and holding companies.
United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)
As you will know, the U.A.E. consists of several emirates, each of which has its own local legislation and government. We would strongly recommend considering Dubai as a location for the incorporation of your foreign company. Dubai attracts more and more foreign investors every day due to its rapid economic growth and its perfect facilities and infrastructure. Dubai is a modern city, famous as a regional business centre and a tax-free zone. The best option for your international company would be to incorporate a free zone company or a foreign company. However, there are some legal requirements involved, including licenses, and so we strongly recommend that you contact our lawyers for more detailed information regarding the company incorporation process in Dubai.
