FEMA-Compliant Wholly Owned Subsidiary Registration Services
If you are planning a Wholly Owned Subsidiary in Dubai from India, the two hardest parts are rarely the UAE paperwork. They are getting the ownership structure right on the ground in Dubai, and getting your FEMA filings right in India before, during, and after the share transfer. Jitendra Consulting India manages both sides of this process as a single engagement, so your subsidiary is 100% owned by your Indian company, and every rupee that leaves India is properly reported to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
We work directly with promoters, CFOs, and founders who need this done correctly the first time, not corrected after the fact.
What Our WOS Setup Service Includes
- Entity structuring advice on whether a mainland LLC, free zone company, or branch office best suits your business activity
- Guidance on the practical DED incorporation route, where the entity is first licensed to an individual shareholder before shares are transferred to your Indian company
- Liaison with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or the relevant free zone authority on your behalf
- Drafting support for the Memorandum of Association (MOA), at incorporation and again at the share transfer stage
- Coordination of the valuation certificate required before the shares move to your Indian parent company
- Form ODI filing assistance through your Authorised Dealer (AD) bank, for both the initial incorporation and the subsequent share acquisition
- Tracking of your Unique Identification Number (UIN) at each filing stage
- Post-setup FEMA reporting support, including the Annual Performance Report (APR) and the Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) Return
Why FEMA Compliance Matters for Your Dubai Subsidiary
Any investment your company makes into a Dubai WOS is Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) under FEMA, governed by the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Rules, Regulations and Directions, 2022. Two aspects catch out promoters most often:
The share transfer stage: Since DED incorporation typically starts with an individual shareholder, the later transfer of shares to your Indian company is a separate ODI event, classified as an acquisition of existing equity capital, requiring its own valuation certificate and Form ODI filing before any consideration is paid
The compliance calendar: Your company must file the APR by 31 December and the FLA Return by 15 July every year the subsidiary exists, even if it is dormant
Non-compliance under FEMA can attract penalties of up to three times the amount involved, or ₹2,00,000 where the amount cannot be quantified, plus ₹5,000 for every day a contravention continues. Getting the structuring and filings right from day one avoids this exposure entirely.
Our Process
- Consultation and structuring: We assess your business activity, ownership objectives, and timeline to recommend mainland, free zone, or branch structuring
- UAE incorporation: We coordinate trade name reservation, MOA drafting, licensing, and the manager or investor visa for the initial shareholder
- FEMA filing for incorporation: We prepare and file Form ODI through your AD bank before any funds are remitted
- Valuation and share transfer: We arrange the valuation certificate and manage the share transfer to your Indian company, including the corresponding Form ODI filing
- Handover and compliance calendar: We hand over a fully compliant, corporately-owned subsidiary along with your APR and FLA Return schedule
Why Choose Jitendra Consulting India
- Cross-border expertise spanning Indian FEMA compliance and UAE company formation, managed under one roof rather than split between two advisors
- Single-point coordination between your Indian finance team and UAE incorporation formalities, reducing delays caused by miscommunication between separate consultants
- A structured approach to the individual-to-corporate share transfer stage, which is where most self-managed WOS setups run into compliance gaps
- A track record of guiding Indian companies through UAE market entry and ongoing FEMA reporting obligations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Indian company own 100% of a Dubai subsidiary?
Yes. Most mainland commercial and professional activities permit full foreign ownership, and free zone companies allow 100% ownership as standard. The practical route on the mainland involves an initial individual shareholder, with shares transferred to your Indian company once the entity is licensed.
How long does WOS setup take from start to finish?
Incorporation is often completed within one to four weeks. The share transfer stage depends on valuation and AD bank processing timelines, so we build this into your overall project schedule from the outset.
What does WOS setup typically cost?
Costs depend on the licensing authority, office space requirements, visa numbers, and the scope of FEMA filing support required. We provide a fixed-scope quotation after the initial consultation.
Do I need separate FEMA filings for incorporation and for the share transfer?
Yes. The initial investment and the later share acquisition are treated as distinct ODI events under FEMA, each requiring its own Form ODI filing and UIN.
Get Your Dubai Subsidiary Set Up the Right Way
If you are ready to set up a Wholly Owned Subsidiary in Dubai from India, book a consultation with Jitendra Consulting India. We handle the UAE incorporation, the FEMA filings, and the share transfer stage as one coordinated process, so your subsidiary is compliant from the first rupee remitted.