Business formation and incorporation

We guide entrepreneurs and corporations through every legal step of setting up a business in the UAE and the wider Middle East, ensuring a solid foundation for growth.

Practice Overview

At Kayrouz & Associates, we support clients at every stage of business formation, from choosing the right legal structure to completing registrations, licensing, and compliance requirements. Whether launching a start-up, forming a new subsidiary, or expanding an existing business into the region, our legal team ensures a seamless process.

We advise on the selection of onshore, offshore, or free zone entities, taking into account tax efficiency, liability exposure, ownership structures, and sector-specific regulations. Our lawyers prepare all necessary incorporation documents, shareholder agreements, and company constitutions to formalise the business under local laws.

Our experience extends to multi-jurisdictional formations, joint ventures, and complex ownership arrangements involving foreign investors and public-private partnerships. We also advise on Emiratisation policies, governance requirements, and regulatory filings to ensure businesses remain in good standing post-launch.

We offer legal advice on a wide spectrum of matters:

  • Advising on legal structure selection (LLC, sole proprietorship, branch, etc.)
  • Drafting incorporation documents and shareholder agreements
  • Coordinating regulatory approvals and business licensing
  • Registering with relevant ministries, free zone authorities, and trade departments
  • Advising on governance, compliance, and post-incorporation obligations
  • Supporting foreign ownership and cross-border entity structuring
  • Meet Our Team

    Our team is equipped to handle complex legal matters with precision and care. Learn more about our lawyers below.
    Pierre Kayrouz
    Chief Legal Officer
    Maria Valeyeva
    Chief Compliance Officer
    Georges Touma
    Head Litigator
    Hanan Ahmed
    Practicing Lawyer
    Lathamani Chandrashekar
    Senior Corporate Counsel
    Arka Navle
    Corporate Counsel
    Nashita Nazneen
    Junior Corporate Counsel
    Mark Engelman
    Intellectual Property Barrister
    Rita Semaan
    Legal Consultant
    Carlos Rahme
    Senior Legal Consultant
    Souhad Al Ghorayeb
    Senior Legal Consultant
    Sandy Geagea
    Legal Consultant
    Saeed Gaber
    Legal Research Analyst
    Muhammed Ali Charif
    Junior Legal Counsel
    Jenifer Abu Nasr
    Paralegal
    Patricia Abi Mansour
    Business Development Manager
    Varalakshmi Balasubramanian
    Operations Assistant
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