Formation — basics

Yes. You can form a Private Limited company in the UK while living in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt or any other Arab country — UK residency and British nationality are not required. Thousands of Arab entrepreneurs form UK companies every year for e-commerce, freelancing, consulting and export.

You need at least one director (which can be you), a registered office in the UK, and identity verification through a formation agent as required by Companies House rules since 2024. At Eteform we handle the name check, prepare the IN01 form, complete identity verification, and submit the whole application remotely.

Legal formation does not give you a UK visa or residency, but it does give you an internationally recognised business entity through which you can open bank accounts, payment gateways, and issue invoices under a British company name.

Formation has two parts: the $135 Companies House fee and your chosen service package. Eteform offers six service packages from $299 to $1,399 depending on addresses and compliance services. The government fee is a separate line on standard packages; ready-made activity packages display a final price that includes it.

See Packages for current totals.

Standard incorporation at Companies House usually takes 24 to 48 working hours once the application and identity verification are complete. The Same-Day Incorporation option is available if the application is submitted before 3pm UK time on a working day, at an extra government fee of £78.

The most common delay is not from Companies House but from completing your verification documents (passport + selfie) or choosing a name that needs review. At Eteform we send you the Certificate of Incorporation and the Company Registration Number as soon as it is approved.

Right after formation you can start opening a bank account and connecting Stripe — but some banks take two to four weeks to approve.

The core documents are simple compared with many countries: a valid passport (or an accepted national ID for some nationalities), a current residential address in your country of residence, and the director/shareholder details (name, date of birth, nationality, address).

You do not need a lease, a local sponsor, or a capital deposit in a bank — the UK imposes no minimum capital. You will also need a registered office in the UK (which Eteform can provide in London), an English company name and a business activity SIC Code.

Since 2024, director identity verification has become mandatory through an ACSP — we handle this step electronically without any travel. If you have more than one shareholder, we need each partner's details and their shareholding percentage.

A Private Limited company (Ltd) is a legal entity separate from its owners, and is mostly used for trade, e-commerce and investment — it is the most suitable choice for most Arabs.

An LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) is a limited liability partnership, common among accountants, lawyers and consultants who work as partners. In an Ltd, profits are distributed as dividends and are subject to corporation tax, whereas an LLP is usually treated as tax-transparent, with partners taxed personally.

An Ltd is easier for opening bank accounts and connecting Stripe and Amazon, and it earns more trust from international clients. If you are a solo entrepreneur or an e-commerce seller, an Ltd is the practical choice in 95% of cases.

No, you are not obliged to appoint a lawyer or accountant to form an Ltd — you can incorporate through a formation agent such as Eteform, who handles the legal procedures and the filing with Companies House.

An accountant becomes important later, when you start making profits and need to file annual accounts and tax returns with HMRC. If your activity is simple (e-commerce or freelancing) you can start without an accountant and engage one at your first financial year.

A lawyer is only needed in special cases: complex contracts, intellectual property, or disputes between partners. We recommend starting with formation and then adding a UK accountant once your income exceeds the tax registration threshold.

Yes, you can form an Ltd with a single director and shareholder — you — holding 100% of the shares. This is the most common scenario among Arab entrepreneurs: a legally single-owner company (Ltd) rather than a Sole Trader.

The important difference is that an Ltd separates your personal assets from the company's liabilities, whereas a Sole Trader offers no such protection. You can also be the sole director and add a silent partner or investor later through a share transfer.

Companies House requires no minimum number of directors other than at least one. In the Eteform form you can enter a single shareholder at 100% and proceed directly.

ACSP stands for Authorised Corporate Service Provider — a company services agent authorised by Companies House to submit incorporation applications and verify directors' identities.

Since the ECCTA 2023 legislation came into force, identity verification has become mandatory, and an IN01 application cannot be submitted directly without going through an ACSP or in-person verification in the UK. Eteform verifies your passport and selfie electronically within 24 hours.

Without an your application will not be accepted — this is why some direct applications from non-agents are rejected. Choosing a trusted formation path saves you from travelling to Britain and guarantees full compliance from day one.

The most common types are: Private Limited Company (Ltd) — the best fit for trade and e-commerce. Public Limited Company (PLC) — for large companies listed on the stock exchange. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) — for professions and partnerships.

Sole Trader — a sole proprietorship with no limited liability protection. Community Interest Company (CIC) — for social enterprises. For Arabs who want to export, freelance, or use Amazon or Stripe, an Ltd is usually the practical choice.

Each type has different tax obligations and reporting — an Ltd balances simplicity with international credibility.

Companies House only accepts names written in Latin characters (A–Z), numbers and a few limited symbols — you cannot register a name in Arabic directly.

The practical solution is to choose an English name that reflects your activity, such as 'Shams Trading Ltd' or 'Nile Digital Ltd', and use the Arabic name in your marketing and invoices for local clients. You can also register a separate Arabic trademark later.

Make sure the name is unique and not too similar to an existing company — Eteform's search tool checks this instantly. The name must end in Ltd or Limited (or its Arabic abbreviation in your marketing materials only).

Yes, you can change the company name after formation by filing form NM01 with Companies House along with a fee of £8 (online) or £10 (paper). The new name must be available and comply with the same naming rules.

The change does not affect the Company Registration Number (CRN) or existing contracts — the company remains the same legal entity. You may need to update your bank account, Stripe, PayPal and invoices after the change. The process usually takes one working day.

If you are still deciding on the name before formation, take enough time to research it to avoid the cost and procedures later.

A SIC Code (Standard Industrial Classification) is a code that describes your company's main activity and is registered with Companies House at formation. You can choose one or more — for example 47910 for e-commerce, 62020 for IT consultancy, or 70229 for management consultancy.

The code does not legally restrict you from carrying out other activities, but it is used for statistics and may be seen by your bank and Stripe when opening an account. Choose the code closest to your actual or expected activity during the first year.

In the Eteform form we provide a list of common codes for Arab clients with explanations in Arabic and English. If your activity changes fundamentally later, the SIC can be updated via the annual Confirmation Statement.

The most affordable practical path with Eteform for a non-resident is the Entrepreneur Starter package at $299 service fees plus a separate $135 Companies House fee ($434 total before optional add-ons). Add a London registered office at $69/year only if you do not already have a UK address.

Avoid extras you do not need in year one, and compare the full first-year total — not package price alone. Ready-made activity packages can look higher but include the government fee in the final price. See Packages before paying.

Standard formation with Eteform usually takes 24–48 working hours after documents, payment and ACSP identity verification are complete.

Same-Day is available as an add-on when the file is complete and filed on a working day under Companies House conditions — it is not guaranteed within 24 hours if verification is incomplete or the name needs review.

Do not confuse formation speed with bank or Stripe approval: those are separate tracks, and approval is guaranteed when all requirements are fully met. Start preparing your file at Order formation.