Arakan

For companies

ComplyYour compliance managerGovernGovernance and board compliance

For firms serving clients

OnboardClient onboarding (KYC/CDD)ShieldClients' regulatory complianceLedgerClients' FTA complianceBecome an Arakan adviserGet clients through Arakan

For setting up

ScoutPlanning your UAE setupAtlasUAE setup reference

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions and PEP screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
Free guidesFree zonesBusiness activitiesUAE laws and rulebooksRegulatory updates
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Tax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara WeeklyThe week in UAE regulation

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LearnUAE compliance, explained
Videos and demosGlossaryBriefingsScenariosAcademyWeeklyAI assistants

In Learn · UAE compliance, explained

Videos and demosGlossaryBriefingsScenariosAcademyWeeklyAI assistants
Start free
Apps

For companies

ComplyGovern

For firms serving clients

OnboardShieldLedgerBecome an Arakan adviser

For setting up

ScoutAtlas

Screening, rules and records

VerifyLexaraVaultScope

Free guides

Free zonesBusiness activitiesUAE laws and rulebooksRegulatory updates
Find the right appAll apps →
Learn

Watch

Explainer videos and demosLexara Academy

Read

Tax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Weekly

Use Arakan

In your AI assistantHelp centre
All resources →
Pricing
Sign in

Featured Briefings

Data Residency CFO Liability Audit Readiness

See what applies to your company.

Comply works out your obligations from your licence and activities, and tracks every deadline.

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UAE compliance, from company setup to filing.

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Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 11 apps on one company record.

Platform

  • Product
  • Solutions
  • All apps
  • Use in Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot
  • Explainers and demos
  • Help centre
  • Start free
  • Pricing
  • Security
  • Careers

Resources

  • Briefings
  • Tax and compliance glossary
  • Compliance scenarios
  • Free zone guide
  • Jurisdiction guide
  • Academy and certification

Free tools & guides

  • Free zone rules and tax
  • Free zone costs and visas
  • Mainland licence activities
  • Business activity look-up
  • Laws and rulebooks
  • Regulators
  • Regulatory updates
  • Arakan Lexara Weekly

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
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11 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Atlas

UAE setup reference

Verify

Sanctions and PEP screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

Business setup by activity

All 2,100+ activities
Trading & ServicesManufacturingReal Estate & Business ServicesPersonal & Social ServicesTransport, Storage & LogisticsConstruction & ContractingFinancial ServicesVirtual AssetsHealth & Social WorkEducationAgriculture & FishingProfessional & Technical ServicesAccommodation & Food ServicesMining & QuarryingUtilities & Energy
Free zone setup costsFree zone price indexSetup cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneWhich zones permit your activity

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDubai Media CityDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDubai Maritime CityDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZtwofour54ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAO
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

© 2026 Arakan. DIFC, Dubai, UAE.

Arakan-managed document storage: AWS me-central-1 (UAE).

Briefings

UAE regulatory briefings,
one topic at a time.

Short intelligence pieces on corporate tax law — substance requirements, transfer pricing, QFZP rules, and more.

Glossary

Tax Registration Number (TRN): The Sovereign Compliance Anchor

Lexicon Entry: The Primary Statutory Identifier for Natural & Juridical Persons

View definition
Glossary

Nil Tax Return: The Mandatory Filing for Dormant Nodes

Lexicon Entry: Statutory Filing Requirements under Article 53 & 54

View definition
Glossary

Small Business Relief (SBR) Election: The Strategic Opt-In

Lexicon Entry: Statutory Mechanism under Article 21 & Ministerial Decision 73

View definition
Scenario11 min read

Scenario: E-Invoicing Data Egress

Forensic analysis of XML metadata leakage during Federal Tax Authority (FTA) transmission.

Read briefing PDF blueprint
Scenario10 min read

Scenario: Dual-License Complexity

Navigating tax substance for entities operating with both Free Zone and Mainland permits.

Read briefing
Scenario12 min read

Scenario: The Mainland Branch Trap

Forensic analysis of a Free Zone entity opening a Dubai Mainland branch under Decree-Law 47.

Read briefing
Risk10 min read

Transfer Pricing: The Nexus Trap

Related Party Compliance and Arm's Length Principle Enforcement in 2025/26

Read briefing
Risk8 min read

Article 18: The Substance Friction

Navigating Free Zone Tax Eligibility and Forensic Requirement Standards

Read briefing
Glossary

Understanding Small Business Relief (SBR)

Lexicon Entry: Revenue Thresholds, Elections, and 2026 Expiry Conditions

View definition
Glossary

Defining the Taxable Person: Jurisdictional Scope

Lexicon Entry: Statutory Applicability under Article 11 & Decree-Law 47

View definition
Glossary

The Arm’s Length Principle (ALP): Neutralizing Related Party Risk

Lexicon Entry: Transfer Pricing Standard under Article 34 & OECD Alignment

View definition
Glossary

Permanent Establishment (PE): The Jurisdictional Nexus Risk

Lexicon Entry: Article 14 Analysis and Shadow Management Defense

View definition
Glossary

Defining the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP)

Lexicon Entry: Statutory Sovereignty under Article 18 & Cabinet Decision 100

View definition
Free Zones16 min read

Free Zone Substance vs. Sovereignty

Navigating Qualifying Income and Forensic Nexus in a 9% World

Read briefing
Audit15 min read

2026 Audit Readiness Framework

A Strategic Protocol for the First Federal Tax Authority (FTA) Cycle

Read briefing
Liability11 min read

CFO & Director Liability 2026

Personal Risk and Statutory Responsibility under UAE Tax Procedures

Read briefing PDF blueprint
Sovereignty25 min read

UAE Data Residency Compliance 2026

A Forensic Framework for Decree-Law 47 & Administrative Record Integrity

Read briefing PDF blueprint
Glossary

Understanding CIGA (Core Income Generating Activities)

Lexicon Entry: The Substance Requirement Standard for 2026

View definition
Glossary

Administrative Record Integrity: The Immutable Ledger Standard

Lexicon Entry: Forensic Proof of Non-Manipulation for 2026 Audits

View definition
Glossary

Connected Persons: Managing the Article 35 Anti-Abuse Shield

Lexicon Entry: Deductibility Limits and UBO Remuneration Standards

View definition
Glossary

Understanding Foreign Tax Credit (FTC)

Lexicon Entry: Double Taxation Mitigation under Article 47

View definition
Glossary

The Statutory Limitation Period: The 7-Year Forensic Window

Lexicon Entry: Audit Timelines under Federal Decree-Law No. 28

View definition
Audit14 min read

The Algorithmic Audit: 2026 FTA Enforcement

Understanding Automated Transactional Scrutiny and Pattern Recognition

Read briefing PDF blueprint
Nexus18 min read

Digital Permanent Establishment (PE) Risk

Article 14 Analysis for Offshore Management in a Digital Era

Read briefing PDF blueprint
Sovereignty12 min read

The E-Invoicing Sovereignty Trap

Managing XML Data Integrity under the Federal E-Invoicing Mandate

Read briefing PDF blueprint

See how Arakan applies this in practice.

Run a real compliance analysis on your entity — gaps flagged, evidence tracked, report generated.