Doing business in Dubai: Branch or Representative Office of Foreign Companies

11 Dec Doing business in Dubai: Branch or Representative Office of Foreign Companies

Article 313 of the company law allows a foreign company to exercise its main business in the UAE by opening a branch or a representative office.

The difference between the two is that a foreign company that opens a branch in the UAE may freely exercise the activities for which the license is granted, whereas a representative office may only promote products and services provided by the mother company.

As opposed to a foreign branch, the representative office may not carry out business activities. The main condition for a representative office or a foreign branch to be opened in the UAE is to appoint a Service Agent, physical or legal, based in the UAE.

The foreign company must submit the following documents in order to obtain the necessary approvals for the branch to be registered in Dubai:

• Articles of Association
• Certificate of Incorporation
• Updated Certificate of Incorporation which proves the existence of the mother company S Minutes of the meeting that approves the opening of the branch and appoints the manager
• Notarised power of attorney appointing the manager
• Additional documentation will be required by the relevant authorities according to the business sector.