Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does activity code 7010.01 Head Offices authorise a company to do
Activity code 7010.01 authorises a company to function as the strategic and administrative headquarters for a group of entities or subsidiaries. Permitted functions include group governance, strategic direction, intercompany coordination, treasury oversight, and policy management.
This is not a trading or client-facing licence. The entity does not need to generate direct revenue from end customers — its role is to serve the group structure itself, sitting at the top of a corporate hierarchy.
The classification aligns with the UAE's Standard Industrial Classification, which categorises head office activities under management of holding companies and centralised administrative functions.
Who is the Head Offices activity most suitable for
The Head Offices activity under code 7010.01 is designed for entities that direct operations across a wider group rather than trade directly with customers. It is particularly relevant for:
- Holding companies managing subsidiaries across the GCC or wider region
- Regional headquarters consolidating a multinational's Middle East presence
- Family offices managing investment portfolios and operating entities
- Multinationals establishing a formal UAE command centre without a full commercial operation
Any business that needs a recognised corporate command centre in Dubai without a requirement to operate locally will find this activity code appropriate.
What are the key benefits of setting up a head office in Meydan Free Zone
Meydan Free Zone offers the standard free zone package — 100% foreign ownership, zero personal income tax, and full profit repatriation — at a cost point that suits lean holding structures. There is no paid-up capital requirement, which is particularly advantageous for entities that exist primarily to govern rather than trade.
Flexi-desk and virtual office options significantly reduce overhead while maintaining a legitimate registered address in Dubai, sufficient for most head office purposes.
Meydan's location within Dubai provides proximity to DIFC, Downtown, and the city's main banking corridors, which is a practical advantage for corporate bank account opening — widely considered the most friction-prone step in any UAE setup.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement for a Meydan Free Zone head office
No minimum share capital is required to establish a Head Offices entity under activity code 7010.01 at Meydan Free Zone. This is a significant practical advantage for holding and governance structures that exist to direct a group rather than to hold or deploy capital directly.
The absence of a paid-up capital requirement means founders can incorporate without needing to deposit funds into a corporate account before the licence is issued, reducing both cost and administrative complexity at the outset.
How many visas can a head office entity obtain through Meydan Free Zone
A Meydan Free Zone head office entity is eligible for up to 6 visas on a flexi-desk package. Visa capacity is scalable if the company upgrades to a larger office package.
This makes the flexi-desk option practical for lean head office structures where only a small number of senior personnel — such as directors or treasury officers — need UAE residency visas tied to the entity.
Can a head office in Meydan Free Zone be set up remotely without travelling to Dubai
Yes. Meydan Free Zone supports fully remote incorporation, meaning the entire process — from trade name reservation to licence issuance — can be completed without the founders or shareholders travelling to Dubai.
This is particularly useful for multinational groups and foreign investors who need a UAE head office entity for governance or structural purposes but are not based in the region. The remote setup capability does not affect the legitimacy or recognition of the resulting licence.
What legal structure is used for a Meydan Free Zone head office and why
The standard entity type for a Meydan Free Zone head office is an FZ-LLC (Free Zone Limited Liability Company). This structure accommodates single or multiple shareholders and provides limited liability protection for its members.
The FZ-LLC is the most widely accepted entity type for banking and regulatory purposes in the UAE, making it the practical default for any head office that will need to open a corporate bank account or interact with counterparties who require recognised legal structures.
Multi-shareholder and corporate-shareholder setups are permitted but may require additional documentation without significantly extending the setup timeline.
Which UAE banks recognise Meydan Free Zone entities for corporate account opening
Meydan Free Zone entities are recognised by major UAE banks for corporate account applications, including Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and RAKBank.
Corporate bank account opening is widely considered the most friction-prone step in any UAE company setup. Meydan's recognition by established banks — combined with its Dubai address and proximity to key banking corridors — helps reduce the barriers head office entities typically face during the account application process.
How to Start Head Offices with Meydan Free Zone
Some companies need a Dubai address that governs rather than trades. A group with subsidiaries across the region, a multinational consolidating its Middle East presence, a family office running a portfolio: none of them sells anything locally, but all of them need a recognised base to direct things from.
Activity code 7010.01 is the license for exactly that. This guide covers what it permits, who it suits, what setup actually involves, and the tax position you need to check before you rely on it.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Activity 7010.01 lets a company act as the strategic and administrative headquarters for a group of entities or subsidiaries. Permitted functions include:
- Group governance
- Strategic direction
- Intercompany coordination
- Treasury oversight
- Policy management
This is not a trading or client-facing license. The entity does not need to earn revenue from end customers at all, because its job is to serve the group structure rather than sell to the market. If you want to trade locally, this is the wrong code.
The classification lines up with the UAE Standard Industrial Classification, which files head office activities under management of holding companies and centralised administrative functions.
Who This Suits
Four types of business use this code, and they all share one trait: they direct rather than trade.
- Holding companies managing subsidiaries across the GCC or wider region
- Regional headquarters consolidating a multinational's Middle East presence
- Family offices managing investment portfolios and operating entities
- Multinationals setting up a formal UAE command centre without a full commercial operation
If your business needs a recognised corporate command centre in Dubai but has no requirement to operate locally, this is the right activity.
Why Free Zone Setup Works Here
Meydan Free Zone gives you 100% foreign ownership, no personal income tax and full profit repatriation, at a cost that suits a lean holding structure.
Two details matter more than usual for this activity. First, there is no paid-up capital requirement, so you do not have to deposit funds before the license is issued. For an entity that exists to govern rather than to deploy capital, that removes a pointless step. Second, a flexi-desk or virtual office keeps your overhead down while still giving you a legitimate registered Dubai address, which is all most head offices need.
Banking is the other consideration. Corporate account opening is the most awkward part of any UAE setup, and Meydan Free Zone entities are recognised by major UAE banks including Emirates NBD, Mashreq and RAKBank for corporate account applications.
If your shareholders sit outside the UAE, the whole incorporation can be done remotely, from name reservation through to license issuance, without anyone flying in.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, pick your activity and structure: Confirm 7010.01 as your primary activity. The standard entity is an FZ-LLC, which takes single or multiple shareholders, gives limited liability, and is the type banks and counterparties recognise most readily.
- Step 2, book your trade name: Submit three names in order of preference. No offensive terms, and no references to governments, religions or regulatory bodies without specific approval. The name must not duplicate an existing entity.
- Step 3, send your documents: Passport copies, proof of address, and a basic business plan. If a shareholder already holds a UAE residence visa, you may need a No Objection Certificate from their current sponsor.
- Step 4, choose your office package: A flexi-desk is enough for the license. A private office gives you a bigger visa quota and meeting space if the structure needs it, since office choice sets visa allocation.
- Step 5, pay and collect your documents: The trade license, certificate of incorporation and memorandum of association are issued digitally, usually within 3 to 5 business days of complete documentation.
- Step 6, apply for visas and open a bank account: Investor visa applications can run alongside license processing. The bank will want full KYC documents, a clear group structure chart and evidence of business purpose, so allow four to eight weeks.
Corporate shareholders need a fuller pack: certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association, a board resolution authorising the UAE entity, and a certificate of incumbency, all attested and notarised as the jurisdiction of origin requires. This adds documents rather than significant time.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
Corporate tax, and the substance question
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000, for financial years beginning on or after 1 June 2023. Qualifying Free Zone Persons may get 0% on qualifying income under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022.
Read that carefully before you build a plan around it. Whether a head office entity qualifies depends on the nature of its income and on meeting substance requirements. A governance entity with thin activity is exactly the sort of structure where this question gets tested, so confirm your eligibility with a registered UAE tax adviser rather than assuming the 0% rate applies.
Records
Most free zone entities below certain revenue thresholds face no mandatory audit, but keeping clean financial records is both good practice and a corporate tax obligation.
Renewals
Annual renewal means paying the license fee and updating your compliance declarations. No physical presence in Dubai is needed to renew.
The wider framework
The Federal Tax Authority and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation set the compliance rules that apply to every UAE-registered entity, including yours.
Why Groups Choose Dubai for This
The appeal is straightforward. A head office here gives a group a credible, recognised base without the cost of a full commercial operation, and Dubai's position makes it a practical midpoint for businesses with interests across the GCC, South Asia and Africa.
The structure is also honest about what it is. You are not pretending to trade locally in order to hold a license. The activity code exists specifically for entities that govern, which makes your paperwork simpler and your position easier to explain to a bank or a counterparty.
Conclusion
A Head Offices license under 7010.01 at Meydan Free Zone is a clean, cost-efficient way to give a group a Dubai headquarters without a full fit-out. Setup is fast, it can be done remotely, and the free zone has solid banking recognition behind it.
The one thing not to skip is the tax advice. Confirm whether your entity qualifies for the 0% rate before you rely on it. Then speak to the Meydan Free Zone team to confirm your activity scope and get a cost breakdown.
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