Dubai company setup for Russian citizens

Entry and residency

Russian citizens can visit the UAE without a prior visa. Residence is available through company ownership, employment or the Golden Visa.

Russian tax and reporting points

• Tax residency. Russian tax residency is generally determined by the number of days spent in Russia over a 12-month period. Status can change within a year, so plan your travel.
• Reporting of foreign companies and accounts. Russian residents may need to notify the tax authority of participation in foreign companies, of controlled foreign companies and of foreign bank accounts, and report movements of funds.
• The Russia–UAE double tax agreement can affect dividends and other income.

Banking

UAE banks apply enhanced due diligence to clients with links to countries subject to international sanctions, including Russia. This does not prevent account opening, but it makes preparation essential:

• Clear evidence of source of funds and source of wealth
• A business plan showing customers, suppliers and the countries involved
• Consistent documents across company, personal and bank records
• Confirmation that the business does not involve sanctioned parties, goods or sectors

We build the file to the standard banks expect and introduce you to banks with appetite for your profile. We also screen all clients before engagement. See KYC and AML for banks.

Structure

Trading, IT and consulting businesses often choose DMCC, IFZA or Meydan Free Zone. Businesses serving UAE clients directly choose mainland.

Support in Russian

Our client relationship team works in Russian as well as English.

Common questions

Official sources

We check our guidance against these official sources. Always confirm current fees and rules before acting.

• UAE government portal: visas
• Federal Tax Authority