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

    Maria Valeyeva

    Chief Compliance Officer
    Georges Touma

    Georges Touma

    Head Litigator
    Hanan Ahmed Al Balushi

    Hanan Ahmed

    Practicing Lawyer
    Lathamani Chandrashekar

    Lathamani Chandrashekar

    Senior Corporate Counsel
    Arka Navle

    Arka Navle

    Corporate Counsel
    Nashita Nazneen

    Nashita Nazneen

    Junior Corporate Counsel
    Professor Mark Engelman

    Mark Engelman

    Intellectual Property Barrister
    Rita Semaan

    Rita Semaan

    Legal Consultant
    Carlos Rahme

    Carlos Rahme

    Senior Legal Consultant
    Souhad Al Ghorayeb

    Souhad Al Ghorayeb

    Senior Legal Consultant
    Sandy Y. Geagea

    Sandy Geagea

    Legal Consultant
    Saeed Gaber

    Saeed Gaber

    Legal Research Analyst
    Muhammed Ali Charif

    Muhammed Ali Charif

    Junior Legal Counsel
    Jenifer Abu Nasr

    Jenifer Abu Nasr

    Paralegal
    Patricia Abi Mansour

    Patricia Abi Mansour

    Business Development Manager
    Valakshmi Balasubramanian

    Varalakshmi Balasubramanian

    Operations Assistant
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