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Wide range of international corporate services. Business setup in 30+ jurisdictions. Offshore company formation. Accounting services.

Assistance in opening bank accounts. We are an international corporate services provider which specialises in the registration of companies in various jurisdictions, including the UAE, United Kingdom, Latvia, other European countries, Seychelles, BVI and other offshore zones, etc. We provide consultation, corporate and accounting services for companies in various jurisdictions, assistance in opening accounts in international banks and international tax planning support.

19/10/2026

The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Free Zone has introduced its own framework for private foundations, making it the fourth jurisdiction in the UAE to do so.

Two points deserve attention. The entry threshold is modest: initial assets of USD 100, a registered office in the free zone and a council of at least two councillors.

Equally important, the Charter is filed with the Registrar, while the By-Laws are not. We therefore place the sensitive detail – distribution conditions, reserved powers and the addition or exclusion of beneficiaries – in the By-Laws, which remain confidential.

Our full overview of DMCC foundations is here 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/foundations-in-the-dmcc-free-zone-dubai/

23/09/2026

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has set a three-day deadline for opening basic business accounts for low-risk small and medium-sized enterprises.

Since 13 September 2026, banks licensed by the Central Bank must open such an account within three business days of receiving a complete set of documents, and may exceed that period only on financial crime compliance grounds.

Two points deserve attention. Banks must now explain refusals in writing, except where financial crime risks apply, and they must publish the minimum documentation required. The rules do not bind institutions licensed in the Dubai International Financial Centre or Abu Dhabi Global Market.

We explain the new requirements in detail in our full article 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/uae-central-bank-sets-timeline-for-opening-bank-accounts-for-small-businesses/

22/09/2026

From 1 October 2026, companies registered for VAT in the UAE must carry out documented checks on their suppliers before recovering input VAT.

Under Federal Tax Authority Decision No. 13, these checks cover the supplier's identity, a genuine place of business and risk indicators such as more than two changes of address or key personnel in the preceding 12 months. They must be repeated every year and evidenced in writing.

One point is easily missed: the AED 10,000 exemption falls away once purchases from a single supplier pass AED 100,000, after which every supply from that supplier must be verified.

Read the full article for the complete checklist 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/uae-input-vat-recovery-the-supplier-checks-you-must-document/

09/09/2026

The new United Arab Emirates Civil Code came into force on 1 June 2026, and two changes deserve particular attention from business owners.

Good faith now applies before a contract exists. Parties must disclose information that decisively affects the other side's consent, and withdrawing from negotiations in bad faith gives rise to compensation for actual damage.

Suretyships have also changed: a creditor must pursue the principal debtor first, unless liability is joint and several or the parties agree otherwise.

We help clients review their contract templates against the updated rules. 🇦🇪

Read our full overview of the key innovations 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/uae-civil-code-overview/

01/09/2026

From 1 January 2027, the names and dates of appointment of Seychelles company directors become publicly available through a Certificate of Official Search.

This is the first time director data enters the public domain in Seychelles. Everything else stays out of view: nominee status, nominator identity, shareholder records and beneficial ownership remain confidential, held by the registered agent and the Registrar and released only to competent authorities or under a court order.

There is also a deadline to note. Companies using nominee directors must record nominee status and full nominator details in their internal register of directors by 31 December 2026, then file a copy with the Registrar within 30 days.

We set out what becomes public and what does not in the full article 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/nominee-directors-in-seychelles-what-is-visible-in-the-public-register/

24/08/2026

The United Arab Emirates has extended Small Business Relief to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, keeping the AED 3 million revenue threshold unchanged.

Two points deserve attention before electing the relief. Losses made in a period covered by Small Business Relief cannot be carried forward, and entitlement is lost permanently once revenue exceeds the threshold in any period.

Free zone companies must weigh this carefully: giving up Qualifying Free Zone Person status costs the 0% rate for that period and the four that follow.

We set out the full comparison of the regimes in our article 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/uae-extends-small-business-relief-until-2029/

11/08/2026

A low headline corporate tax rate rarely tells the full story when choosing a holding jurisdiction.

In Luxembourg, municipal business tax and the solidarity surtax bring the effective rate in Luxembourg City to 23.87%, while Malta applies a standard rate of 35% that may be refunded down to an effective 5%, or a fixed 15% with no refund.

Audit obligations differ just as sharply: Hong Kong and Cyprus companies are audited regardless of size, whereas small companies in the UK, Singapore and Ireland may be exempt. We model both tax and compliance costs before recommending a structure.

Our full overview of the leading holding jurisdictions is here 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/what-is-a-holding-company/

07/08/2026

From June 2026, citizens of certain countries applying for a new UAE employment or investor visa must submit a police clearance certificate from their country of citizenship.

Two points deserve attention. First, the UAE is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, so an Apostille alone is not accepted. The certificate must pass a full legalisation chain: attestation in the issuing country, then the UAE Embassy or Consulate there, and finally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE. A missing stamp renders it invalid.

Second, a police clearance certificate is usually valid for only three months, so timing matters. Rules also differ between the ICP, GDRFA Dubai and individual free zones.

Read the full piece for the country list and planning points 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/police-clearance-certificate-required-for-new-uae-residence-visa/

04/08/2026

UAE VAT Explained: Exports, Free Zones & Banking Secrets

Navigate UAE VAT: understand zero-rated exports, reverse charge on imported services, and exempt financial services. Learn about designated zones and banking requirements.

dubai

30/07/2026

The UAE Federal Tax Authority has confirmed that prior approval is no longer required for downward transfer pricing adjustments in Corporate Tax Returns.

Under Public Clarification CTP011, businesses may now self-assess and make these adjustments directly. In return, any downward adjustment requires full disclosure of all affected Related Party transactions, regardless of their value or type.

We expect these to be high-scrutiny cases, so a robust transfer pricing file matters: a clear rationale, a benchmarking study, and a reconciliation from your Financial Statements to the arm's length figures in the Return.

Read the full piece for what this means for your documentation 👇

https://www.uniwide.com/downward-transfer-pricing-adjustments-uae-ftas-clarifications/

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https://www.uniwide.com/

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