Gulf — country-specific questions

Forming from Saudi Arabia is done entirely remotely with no need to travel to London. You need a valid passport (or an accepted Gulf ID depending on the verification procedures), proof of address in Saudi Arabia (an electricity bill or a recent bank statement), and to choose an English company name.

Via Eteform you fill in a form in Arabic, we check the name's availability, we carry out identity verification electronically as an ACSP agent, and we submit the IN01 application to Companies House. Within 24–48 working hours you receive the certificate of incorporation and the company number.

After that you can open Wise Business from Saudi Arabia (officially available) and connect Stripe UK to receive international payments. We recommend separating your local Saudi activity — if any — from the British company for tax clarity. Our team supports Saudi clients in Arabic at every step.

Emiratis and residents there can form a UK Ltd electronically without visiting Britain. The core documents: a passport, proof of a UAE address (Ejari or a utility bill), and the details of the director and shareholders. Via Eteform we handle identity verification under ECCTA 2023 and submit the application officially.

Many entrepreneurs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi form a UK Ltd for e-commerce and international freelancing while keeping their UAE licence separate. After formation, Wise Business and Revolut Business are available for residents in the UAE.

Important: a UK company does not automatically satisfy Golden Residency requirements or a local licence — it is an independent British entity. We help you understand the difference and choose the right package with a registered London office to protect your privacy.

From Egypt you can form a British Limited company entirely online — this is one of the most common requests we handle daily. You need a valid Egyptian passport, proof of address in Egypt (a utility bill or a bank statement within 3 months), and a selfie for verification.

You do not need a British visa or an Egyptian bank account in the company's name before formation. After approval from Companies House, you open Wise Business (available for Egypt) to receive foreign currencies, then Stripe UK for international clients' cards.

As for tax: the UK company's profits are subject to British law, and as a resident in Egypt you may be subject to Egyptian income tax on the amounts you personally withdraw — consult an Egyptian accountant for the correct structuring.

Eteform provides full Arabic support to Egyptian clients from formation to the first invoice.

Yes, Wise Business is officially available for companies registered in the UK that are run by residents in Saudi Arabia. After obtaining your Certificate of Incorporation and company number from Companies House, you can apply for Wise Business from the Wise app or website and choose 'British company'.

You will need the company documents, the director's identity, and a description of the business activity. Wise provides accounts in pounds sterling, euros and dollars with British bank details (sort code and account number) — making it easy to connect Stripe and receive transfers from Europe.

Transferring from Wise to your Saudi account is available at transparent exchange rates. Approval usually takes from a day to a few working days. We recommend our Saudi clients open Wise right after formation because it is faster than the traditional British banks that require an in-person presence.

A UK Ltd is an independent legal entity: it pays Corporation Tax in Britain on its profits within the company (currently 19% on small profits and 25% above the threshold). As a person resident in Egypt you are not charged UK tax on your personal income unless you are a tax resident in Britain.

But when you withdraw profits as dividends or a director's salary, Egyptian tax may apply to your worldwide income under Egyptian tax law — especially if you exceed the exemption threshold. There may be a double-taxation treaty between Egypt and Britain that prevents the same income being taxed twice.

Most importantly: keeping profits inside the company defers the Egyptian personal tax, but does not cancel it upon distribution. We strongly recommend an Egyptian accountant who understands British companies to structure the withdrawals legally.

Eteform does not provide personal tax advice but refers you to trusted firms.

Yes, this is one of the most common uses of a UK Ltd among our clients in the Gulf. Your clients in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait can pay you via a bank transfer to your company's British Wise Business account, or via Stripe with a credit card, or PayPal Business.

Invoices are issued in your British company's name in pounds sterling or the agreed currency — giving higher credibility with Gulf companies compared with a personal account.

Note: receiving money in the UK does not mean your activity is exempt from taxes or licences in the client's country or yours — every case has its own context. For large amounts, some clients prefer a direct bank transfer over cards to reduce fees.

We help you prepare your first professional invoice and connect the payment gateways right after formation.