Where we operate
Four jurisdictions. Four licensed VIVOS entities.
VIVOS serves Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates through entities registered and licensed in each of those markets. Choosing between them is usually the first real decision a client has to make, so here is how they differ.
How the four compare
A structural comparison of what each jurisdiction requires to set up and maintain a private company. Requirements change; we confirm the current position for your specific activity before filing.
| Singapore | Malaysia | Hong Kong | UAE (Dubai) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common entity type | Private company limited by shares (Pte. Ltd.) | Sendirian Berhad (Sdn. Bhd.) | Private company limited by shares | Free-zone company (FZ-LLC / FZE) or mainland LLC |
| Registry / regulator | ACRA | SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia) | Companies Registry | Free-zone authority, or DET for Dubai mainland |
| Full foreign ownership | Permitted | Permitted in most sectors; conditions apply in some regulated ones | Permitted | Permitted in free zones and, since the 2021 reforms, for most mainland activities |
| Locally resident director required | Yes — at least one | Yes — at least one | No | No, but a local service agent or manager is required for some mainland forms |
| Company secretary required | Yes, resident in Singapore | Yes, licensed in Malaysia | Yes, resident in Hong Kong or a body corporate with a Hong Kong registered office | Not applicable in the same form |
| Minimum share capital | S$1 | RM1 | No statutory minimum (commonly HK$1 to HK$10,000) | Varies by free zone and activity |
| Registered office | Required, in Singapore | Required, in Malaysia | Required, in Hong Kong | Required; many free zones bundle a flexi-desk or office package |
| Typical incorporation time once documents are in order | 1–3 working days | 3–10 working days | 3–7 working days | 1–4 weeks depending on zone, activity and visa quota |
| Annual obligations | Annual return, AGM or dispensation, financial statements, corporate tax filing | Annual return, audited financial statements, tax filing | Annual return, business registration renewal, audited financial statements, profits tax return | Licence renewal, accounting records, corporate tax registration and filing |
| Audit exemption for small companies | Available if small-company criteria are met | Available for qualifying dormant, zero-revenue and threshold-qualified companies | Limited — statutory audit generally required | Depends on zone and size |
| Usually chosen for | Holding structures, treaty access, fundraising credibility, regional headquarters | Cost-efficient operations, manufacturing, regional shared services | China-facing trade and investment holding | Gulf market access, trading and residence planning |
| VIVOS entity | VIVOS Pte. Ltd. | VIVOS (M) Sdn. Bhd. | VIVOS Corporate Services (HK) Ltd. | VIVOS Corporate Services L.L.C. |
Structural requirements only. Tax rates, incentives and filing thresholds change frequently and are not summarised here — ask us for the current position for your activity, or see the relevant jurisdiction site below.
Our offices and sites
Singapore
VIVOS Pte. Ltd. · UEN 202416468C
ACRA Registered Filing Agent FA20240323
MOM Employment Agency Licence 24S2425
14B Stanley Street, Singapore 068733
Malaysia
VIVOS (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Registration No. 202501057568 (1658974-A)
Sdn Bhd incorporation, SSM compliance, Employment Pass support
Hong Kong
VIVOS Corporate Services (HK) Ltd.
Business Registration No. 80545137
Company formation, company secretary, Companies Registry compliance
United Arab Emirates
VIVOS Corporate Services L.L.C.
Commercial Licence No. 1638200
Mainland and free-zone setup, residence visas, substance planning
We also maintain a team in Shanghai supporting China-outbound clients, at vivoscn.com.
Choosing a jurisdiction
Singapore or Hong Kong for a holding company?
Singapore is usually preferred where the group wants an extensive tax treaty network, regional headquarters incentives, or credibility with institutional investors and banks outside Asia. Hong Kong is usually preferred where the operating business is China-facing, where a simpler company secretary regime is attractive, or where the shareholders are already based there. The deciding factors in practice are banking access and where the substance of the business will actually sit.
Do I need to travel to incorporate?
Generally no for Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong — incorporation and identity verification can be completed remotely. The UAE varies: some free zones complete everything remotely, while others require an in-person visit for visa medical and Emirates ID formalities once the company is licensed.
Can one VIVOS engagement cover more than one jurisdiction?
Yes, and that is the most common reason clients come to this site rather than one of the local ones. A Singapore holding company with a Malaysian operating subsidiary and a Dubai trading arm is a single engagement with a single point of contact, priced as one scope.
Which jurisdiction is cheapest?
On formation cost alone, Singapore and Hong Kong are usually the lowest and the UAE the highest, with Malaysia in between. Formation cost is rarely the number that matters though: ongoing compliance, audit requirements, banking friction and the cost of getting the wrong structure unwound dominate the total. We will give you a fixed setup fee and a fixed annual fee for each option you are weighing so you can compare the real figures.
Not sure which jurisdiction fits?
Tell us what the business does and where its customers, people and money are. That is usually enough for a clear recommendation.