Old Crane Gateway is a consulting practice that helps international professionals and business owners establish and maintain companies in the United Arab Emirates. We combine global experience with deep regional knowledge, working across major free zones to create transparent, compliant, and durable setups.
Who We Are
We are part of the Old Crane Global group. Headquartered in the UAE with an additional base in the United States, we work with clients across North America, Europe, the Gulf, and continue to expand our reach. Our multilingual team handles cross-border documentation, regulatory alignment, and international banking requirements with the same care and accuracy we bring to every formation.
What We Stand For
Our work follows five core principles:
Accuracy. Facts come first; assumptions never replace evidence.
Transparency. Scope and fees are clear, documented, and agreed before engagement.
Compliance. Structures are designed to meet regulatory and banking scrutiny.
Discretion. Information is handled exclusively within your advising team.
Long-Term Vision. Every setup is built for renewal, banking, and growth — not short-term gain.
Who We Work With
We work with a diverse and continually expanding range of clients — independent consultants, digital professionals, creative entrepreneurs, small and growing enterprises, established companies relocating to the UAE, and family businesses expanding their reach.
We also work with businesses already established in the UAE that need a trusted partner to review their current setup and guide them through structural or jurisdictional changes. Each engagement is handled individually, with complete attention to accuracy, documentation, and long-term compliance. All consultations are private, and client data is securely managed under UAE data protection standards and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
What Sets Us Apart
Every client works directly with senior partners from start to finish — never intermediaries or scripted agents. You receive written analysis and clear options designed around your objectives, banking context, and residency and tax considerations.
Old Crane Gateway is an official International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) partner, trained and certified, and experienced with other leading UAE free zones. Our work extends beyond new formations to license amendments, free zone transfers, and bringing existing companies into full compliance. We evaluate multiple jurisdictions and design the structure that best fits your business goals.
Our globally experienced advisory team understands how regulatory, financial, and operational systems intersect. That knowledge allows us to anticipate issues early and deliver solutions that work in practice, not just on paper.
Our Leadership
Valerie Ani
Founder & Director of Strategy
Dr. Valerie Ani leads Old Crane Gateway with a rare combination of analytical precision and cross-cultural fluency. Over two decades, she has built and directed large-scale international programs, advised institutions and entrepreneurs on complex organizational design, and worked at the intersection of policy, culture, and strategy across the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
As a long-term scholar and practitioner in Middle Eastern affairs, she brings regional depth, multilingual command, and structural clarity to every engagement. Her approach blends academic rigor with practical foresight—helping globally mobile founders and established companies alike build systems that are transparent, compliant, and built to endure.
Valerie sets the firm’s benchmark for integrity, accuracy, and long-range vision. Known for her candor and methodical thinking, she guides each client toward decisions that are clear, compliant, and sustainable over time.
Serge Vardykian
Managing Partner & Director of Operations
Serge Vardykian leads the compliance and operational systems of Old Crane Gateway, ensuring that every structure the firm delivers meets UAE and international standards with precision and foresight.
Trained in law and public administration, Serge brings more than two decades of leadership in legal oversight, real-estate operations, and strategic negotiations. His career spans both public and private sectors—from directing corporate restructurings and arbitration cases to managing regulatory relations and cross-border projects.
At Old Crane Gateway, he transforms complex legal frameworks into clear, actionable processes. Clients and partners value his balanced judgment, accuracy, and calm approach to solving high-stakes operational challenges.