Your First Year in Business -Legal & Compliance Checklist for UAE Companies
Launching a company in the Emirates is exciting, but the first 12 months are also a regulatory obstacle course. Fail to tick the right boxes and penalties can pile up, undermining cash flow and credibility just when you need them most. Below is a month‑by‑month roadmap you can follow and share with your finance or operations team to keep every licence, tax and labour requirement in good standing.
0 – 30 Days: “Open for business” filings
- Corporate‑Tax Registration – Every new entity must obtain a Tax Registration Number (TRN) with the Federal Tax Authority within three months of incorporation.
- VAT Registration – If your taxable supplies will exceed AED 375,000 in the coming 12 months, register on the EmaraTax portal straight away.
- MOHRE, Immigration & WPS – Register the business with the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE), obtain your Establishment Card and enrol staff in the Wage Protection System (WPS) before the first salaries fall due.
- Foundational Policies – Put basic KYC and data‑privacy frameworks in place.
Tip from Dar Aluloom: As a leading Business Setup Consultant UAE, we can complete these registrations concurrently, saving weeks off your launch timeline.
31 – 90 Days: First returns & internal controls
- Initial VAT Return – High‑turnover firms file monthly; others file quarterly. Either way, the return and payment are due 28 days after the tax period ends.
- Payroll Readiness – New employees must be added to WPS within 60 days; salaries must reach at least 90 per cent of staff within 10 working days of payday.
- AML Risk Assessment – Draft an enterprise‑wide ML/FT risk review and schedule staff training; both must be refreshed every 12 months.
Months 4 – 6: The substance tests
- Economic Substance (ESR) Notification – If you carry out a distribution‑and‑service centre, holding company, your ESR notification is due within six months of the financial year‑end.
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Register – File (or confirm) the annual UBO statement with your licensing authority to avoid fines and licence suspension.
- Payroll Discipline – Keep paying via WPS each month and archive the Salary Information File for at least two years.
Months 7 – 9: Mid‑year maintenance
- Establishment Card Renewal – The immigration card is valid for one year; renew before expiry to prevent visa processing from freezing.
- Corporate‑Tax Planning – If your first financial year ends now, start preparing the tax return and audited financials; submission is due nine months after the year‑end.
- Insurance & Leases – Review mandatory medical cover for employees and ensure your Ejari (or free‑zone lease) will still be valid when trade‑licence renewal comes up.
Months 10 – 12: Year‑end wrap‑up
- Trade‑Licence Renewal – Mainland and free‑zone licences must be renewed annually. Late renewals halt government services and visa processing.
- Annual Financial Audit – Required by most free zones and a best practice for mainland firms, especially now that corporate tax applies.
- AML Return & Audit – DNFBPs must file their annual AML return and arrange an independent audit of their framework.
- Data‑Protection Health‑Check – Under the 2022 Personal Data Protection Law you may need a Data Protection Officer, breach‑response plan and Records of Processing. Review before the second year starts.
Tasks that repeat all year
- VAT Returns & Payments – Monthly or quarterly, every period.
- Payroll via WPS – Every salary cycle.
- Corporate‑Tax Instalments – Once your first return is filed, calendar reminders for provisional tax payments if relevant.
- ESR & UBO Filings – Annual.
- AML Training, Risk Review, goAML Reporting – At least yearly, sooner if risk profile changes.
- Data‑Privacy Reviews – Ongoing, with a full gap analysis every 12 months.
Why partner with Dar Aluloom International Business Consultancy?
Navigating this checklist alone can save precious energy from sales and product development. As one of the most experienced Consulting Companies in Dubai, Dar Aluloom International offers end‑to‑end compliance management: we calendar every deadline, prepare filings, liaise with regulators and keep you informed of rule changes—so you can scale confidently while regulators stay satisfied.
Ready for stress‑free compliance?
Book a consultation today and let our specialists tailor a first‑year action plan for your venture.
