The steps and where the times come from
| Step | Working days | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Choose activity, prepare documents | 3 | Your own preparation; our estimate. |
| Free zone approval and licence | 14 | 14 working days after approval. Official source |
| Trade name and initial approval | 1 | About 15 minutes online on Basher. Official source |
| Office lease and trade licence | 5 | Depends on the office; our estimate. Related source |
| Establishment card | 2 | 2 working days. Official source |
| Corporate tax registration | 20 | 20 business days; runs in parallel. Official source |
| Entry permit or change of status | 3 | Valid 60 days; issue time not published, our estimate. Related source |
| Medical test and result | 2 | Exam about 40 minutes, result in 1 to 2 days. Official source |
| Emirates ID and residence | 5 | Must be done within 60 days of entry; our estimate. Related source |
| Corporate bank account | 3 | 3 business days for a low-risk SME with complete documents. Official source |
| VAT registration | 20 | 20 business days, if turnover passes AED 375,000. Official source |
Checked November 2026. "Our estimate" marks steps without a published processing time; your partner's quote gives the real schedule.