How to start a business in the UK from the UAE

Register Your UK Company from United Arab Emirates (UAE) with Ease! Discover How Icon Offices Makes it Possible – Get Unique Addresses, Free UK Bank Accounts & More! In Just £43.99 and Get £150 worth of Gifts. Click Here

Have an ambitious plan to start your business in the United Kingdom from the United Arab Emirates? It may seem difficult to start a business in the UK, if you are a foreign national, but with good guidance it can be possible. This guide will walk you through the steps of setting up your company in the UK.

Why start a business in the UK?

Starting a business in the UK offers a multitude of advantages due to its stable economy and it encourages and promotes entrepreneurship. The UK offers many advantages for businesses looking to expand globally such as;

Access to virtual offices : To operate a business in the UK, you will need an address to register your company and virtual offices are ideal and flexible for maintaining a professional image without the need for a physical space. You can use the address as your company’s registered office address and to receive mail.

Free UK phone numbers: Apart from the virtual address, the virtual office comes with other services such as free UK phone numbers that lets you make and receive calls and receive sms messages via email. You can also get call answering or reception desk services.

Global business hub: The UK is a global commercial hub, having access to international markets with a diverse customer base. This makes it an ideal location for networking, growth, and collaborations.

Access to a talented workforce: The UK hosts top universities attracting skilled professionals with diverse expertise from around the world.

Access to banking services: When you register your business in the UK, you are allowed to open a business bank account. You can open a business account online without any necessity of going physically to the bank office.

Cultural diversity: Businesses in the UK benefit from exposure to different cultural diversity fostering an inclusive environment.

Brexit opportunities: The UK is exploring new trade agreements and opportunities that entrepreneurs can tap into.

What types of business structures are there in the UK?

There are several types of business structures in the UK such as;

Sole trader: An individual operates a business without any legal structure and is personally liable for business obligations, and tax returns which must be filed with HM Customs & Revenue. However, there’s no need to pay corporation tax on profits.
Limited company: A business structure that is separate from its owners or directors meaning the company itself is responsible for its liabilities. This provides limited liability protection to directors, owners, and shareholders.
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): This is a hybrid structure that combines a traditional partnership and a limited company. It has a separate legal entity that impacts the liability of the partners meaning, LLP partners/ members have a limited liability protection for debts and obligations of the business.
Unincorporated Partnership: A partnership that involves two or more individuals working together with a common profit objective. It can be formed under a partnership deed or even without a written agreement. Partnerships are less common due to the rise of company incorporations. However, they still offer flexibility.

The business structure you choose will have an impact on your company such as, taxation, personal liability, and workforce needed to perform administrative work.

Registering a limited company in the UK is more complex than setting up a sole trader structure, however, your tax will be managed through corporate tax which will give you tax benefits. If you want to open a limited company in the UK you must have a registered office in the country, however the directors can be non-UK residents.

What do I need to start a business in the UK from the UAE?

To register your company, it is important to have all the needed documents ready so that the process can be smooth and efficient. Here is a list of the documents needed;

ID documents: The directors should have a valid photo ID and proof of address to prove their identity and residence.
Valid UK address: The company must have a valid UK address. It should be an appropriate address where the company can receive mails.
Information about the type of company and the work it is focused on.
Directors and shareholders information, i.e., name, nationality, identification ID, etc.
A structure of the business, i.e., type of the company ( limited by shares, limited by guarantee, etc. ), shareholding, share capital, etc.

How to register a company in the UK from the UAE?

Icon Offices can help you decide which type of company is right for your business and guide you through the registration process. As a non-UK resident, we will take you through the type of company structure that is good for your business, take you through the registration process with Companies House without a hassle, fill in your company details, pay, and submit all the requirements. The process will take not more than 2 minutes to complete your application.

Our packages offer several services that will help you get your business up and running. The services include;

Incorporating a limited company

When registering a company, you will need an address. You can purchase one of our virtual office packages which allows you to use one of our addresses for all of the registration and marketing requirements of your company. Our Virtual Office prices start from only £0.99 per week!

You can also use your own UK address if required.

A virtual address.

A virtual address will make it easy to comply with Companies House regulations and give your business a professional image without the need for a physical space. This communicates stability, credibility, and legitimacy to your customers, suppliers, and partners.

We own an impressive portfolio of virtual offices to choose from and give clients the facility to build their own unique virtual office addresses. Once you choose an address package no other clients will ever be allocated the same address. The addresses of our virtual offices to choose from are Central London, East London, Essex, and Northern Ireland.

UK virtual mobile numbers

A VoIP number is to separate business calls from personal calls and for an overall professional appearance for the business.

You will have a UK mobile number without the need for a sim card and calls can be made and received anywhere in the world using our mobile app.

Our Virtual Mobile service also comes with a range of free services which include SMS to email, voicemail to email, call recording, and more.

Call answering service

This is a professional way to answer your calls and to give the appearance of you having many staff members. From as low as £0.69 per message, you will get calls and queries answered by our virtual receptionists in the name of your company and messages taken and emailed to the right department.

A website set up

We provide free website builder software and domain names ,.co.uk and .uk, for your business when you purchase any company formation or virtual office package from us.

A business bank account

You will need a business bank account to separate personal and business transactions. We have joined forces with different banks that use an automated system to provide our clientele with speedy business banking solutions. We refer our clients to these banks, which give out unique benefits, such as cashback.

Register for taxes

We can also register your business for VAT if you are trading through eCommerce. We will help you navigate through the complexities of VAT regulations and ensure your business remains compliant. Additionally, we offer ongoing support to help you manage your business such as VAT returns.

How to open a bank account in the UK for a UAE citizen?

After registering your company, you will need to open a business bank account to help you manage your business finances more effectively.

It is important to note that you can open a business bank account once your company is formed and trading.

To open an account you will need to do research and choose a bank with a track record of servicing non UK residents. You should also consider the fee charges offered by the banks. Some banks charge surprising hidden fees that can take a toll on your finances, so it is better to do your research before settling for a bank.

Also consider the customer services and facilities offered by banks, such as online and mobile banking.

To open a business bank account you will need to provide

proof of identification (ID card, driver’s licence, or passport)
proof of address (physical or virtual address)
income information
tax identification number
business letters showing the existence of a registered entity

Setting up a business in the UK from the UAE may seem hard, but with the right guidance and resources it can be smooth and efficient. We offer referrals for opening multi-currency UK bank accounts to our customers. You can also get upto £70 cashback when your bank accounts are open.