Company Formation in Abu Dhabi: Mainland and Free Zone
Trustix, a corporate services provider based in Abu Dhabi, takes your company from first idea to trade license on the mainland or in a free zone: trade name, business activity, license application and MOA, then help with the bank account and the first visas. It starts with a free consultation.
Trustix at a glance
- Based in Abu DhabiTheir office: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Free consultationA 30-minute call for every new enquiry
- Reply within 2 hoursTo enquiries sent through their site
- Mainland and free zoneBoth routes, handled end to end
Company formation services in Abu Dhabi
Mainland company formation
For a company licensed on the mainland through the DED, with local or foreign ownership structures. Trustix reserves the name, selects the business activity and takes the application through the government approvals.
- Trade name reserved
- Activity selected with you
- Government approvals handled
Free zone company setup
A company formed with the free zone authority that fits your activity, the visas you need and your budget. Trustix weighs those three factors first, recommends a free zone, then handles the setup with that authority.
- A free zone matched to your activity
- Visa needs and budget weighed first
- Setup handled with the authority
Trade license application
Commercial, professional or industrial: the license type is chosen for what your business will actually do, and the application goes to the correct authority with the right activity codes.
- The right license type
- Activity codes that fit your business
- Filed with the correct authority
MOA and shareholder agreements
A Memorandum of Association drafted for your company structure, with shareholder agreements included, then notarised; documents that must be used abroad can be attested and legalised as well.
- Drafted for your ownership structure
- Shareholder agreements included
- Notarisation arranged
Corporate bank account support
Documentation and introductions for opening the company's UAE bank account. The bank's own KYC checks decide the final approval, so Trustix prepares the file before it goes in.
- Documents prepared for the bank
- Introductions to banks
- Done after the license is issued
PRO and government work after launch
Once the company runs: trade license renewals, activity additions and partner changes, labor cards, work permits and WPS filings, handled by a dedicated PRO who deals with the government bodies for you.
- Renewals started before they lapse
- A dedicated PRO
- Labor cards, permits and WPS
7
service lines, from business setup to attestation and translation
5
steps from the first consultation to the bank account and first visas
30 min
free discovery call included with every new enquiry
2 h
the reply time their contact page gives for enquiries
Mainland or free zone: what the choice changes
The two routes in plain terms, from the UAE government portal and Trustix's business setup page.
- Mainland: the company is licensed through the DED, with local or foreign ownership structures, and Trustix handles the approvals on that route.
- Free zone: a free zone company trades freely within its zone and internationally, but direct sales on the UAE mainland are generally not permitted. To sell locally it works through a licensed mainland distributor, or opens a mainland branch or company.
- Ownership: foreign investors can fully own a free zone company, and since early 2021 most mainland companies as well; activities of strategic impact carry their own licensing conditions.
- Which free zone: it depends on your activity, the visas you need and your budget. Trustix assesses the three and recommends one.
Trustix: one team for setup and government paperwork
Trustix is a corporate services provider in Abu Dhabi. Besides company formation on the mainland and in free zones, its team handles government transactions, PRO and labor work, visas and immigration, MOA and power of attorney documents, legal and court matters, and certified translation and attestation. The idea, in their own words, is complete corporate and government solutions in one place, so a business owner briefs one team instead of following each application from office to office.
From the first call to a working company
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1
Free consultation
A first call about your business activity, who will own the company and whether the mainland or a free zone suits it. New enquiries get a complimentary 30-minute call.
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2
Trade name and activity
Trustix reserves your trade name and picks the business activity codes your license will carry.
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3
Documents
The MOA, the shareholder agreements and every government form are drafted, prepared and reviewed before anything is filed.
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4
License application
Trustix submits the application to the DED or to the free zone authority you chose, and follows it until the authority decides.
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5
Bank account and visas
With the license issued, they help you open the company's bank account and file the first visa applications for your team.
See every Trustix service on trustixpro.ae
Their site sets out all seven service lines, from business setup and government transactions to PRO work, attestation and translation, each with its own process and its common questions answered.
A free 30-minute consultation
Before you choose a route
Every new enquiry to Trustix includes a complimentary 30-minute discovery call. Bring your business activity, the people who will own the company and where your customers are: the call is where the mainland or free zone question is settled for your case, and where you hear what the formation will involve.
Ready to form your company in Abu Dhabi?
Where a new company gets held up
Four parts of a formation where an early mistake costs weeks later. Each is a step Trustix takes on.
- Trade name and activity: the activity codes chosen at the start are what the license lets you do, so they have to match what you will really sell.
- License type: commercial, professional and industrial licenses are separate, and each application has to reach the correct authority.
- MOA: the Memorandum of Association must reflect who owns what. A draft that does not fit the shareholders is a problem at the notary and at the bank.
- Bank account: the bank makes the final call through its own KYC checks, so an incomplete file stalls the account after the license is already issued.
After the license: the PRO work keeps coming
A company needs government paperwork every month and every year. Trustix's PRO and labor service takes it on once the company is running.
- Labor card renewals: expiry dates are tracked and renewals are scheduled 60 days ahead.
- WPS: registration with the Wage Protection System and the monthly salary file uploads.
- Work permits: applications for new employees through MOHRE.
- PRO representation: a dedicated PRO goes to government offices, follows up on applications and resolves issues for you.
- Reporting: a monthly view of renewal dates, document statuses and the next actions for your whole workforce.
Questions about company formation in Abu Dhabi
Can Trustix set up my company in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Trustix is based in Abu Dhabi and handles mainland and free zone company formation end to end: trade name reservation, business activity, the license application and the MOA, then help with the bank account and the first visas.
What is the difference between a mainland and a free zone company?
A free zone company can trade freely within its free zone and internationally, but direct sales on the UAE mainland are generally not permitted; to sell locally it uses a licensed mainland distributor or sets up a mainland branch or company. A mainland company is licensed through the DED instead of a free zone authority.
Can a foreign owner hold 100% of a mainland company?
For most activities, yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020, in force since early 2021, lets foreign investors fully own mainland companies. Activities of strategic impact have their own licensing requirements, which can limit foreign ownership, and Trustix advises you based on your activity.
Which free zone should I choose?
It depends on your business activity, the visas you need and your budget. Trustix assesses these factors and recommends the free zone that suits your case.
Can Trustix open the company's bank account?
They help with it: Trustix prepares the documentation and introduces you to banks. The final approval is the bank's, made through its own KYC process.
Do I have to visit government offices myself?
In most cases, no. Trustix handles most transactions remotely or through the official portals and tells you when your presence is needed. Notarising a document usually needs you there, unless you have given a valid power of attorney.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
Both depend on the route, the authority and your activity, and their site publishes no price list. Trustix advises on the turnaround for your specific authority and transaction; the free consultation is the place to ask about fees.
What happens after the license is issued?
The bank account and the first visas come next. After that, Trustix's PRO service can take on license renewals, with reminders before they lapse, plus labor cards, work permits and WPS filings.
Is Trustix a government authority?
No. Trustix is a private corporate services provider. It prepares your documents and submits applications to the authorities on your behalf; each approval is the authority's own decision.
How do I reach Trustix?
Send the form on this page, or call or WhatsApp +971 50 178 2027. Their contact page says the team responds within 2 hours.
Book a free consultation
Tell Trustix what your company will do and where you would like to set it up. Their team replies within 2 hours.
Thank you. Your details are on their way to Trustix, and their team replies within 2 hours. For a quicker word, WhatsApp them.
Ready to form your company in Abu Dhabi?
Book Trustix's free 30-minute consultation, or WhatsApp their team. Mainland or free zone, the first step is the same call.