Setting Up a Business in Dubai: What You Need to Know First

You visited Dubai and knew instantly you had to start a business here. In fact, more than 300,000 international companies already set up shop in the UAE, especially in Dubai where opportunities abound and the chance for success is a lot higher than in other cities.

It’s an exciting time for your business, that’s for sure. But here are a few things that you need to know first about business setup in Dubai:

• You need to determine the nature of your business activity. The UAE has six types of economic licenses covering more than 2,000 economic activities. These include occupational, industrial, agricultural, tourism, commercial and professional. The first thing that you should do is to choose which among these licenses fit your business best.

• You need to choose the right corporate structure. Your corporate structure will depend primarily on your needs and the nature of your business. Most foreign companies opt for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or sole establishment. Dubai does allow sole ownership along with some rules and regulations.

• You need to decide on a jurisdiction. In Dubai, you can operate your business either in the Mainland or in Free Zones. Mainland companies are those that operate around the city. Dubai also has different Free Zones where most foreign companies run their business. Some of these free zones include the Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Media City, Dubai Airport Free Zone and Dubai International Financial Centre. If you choose to operate on the Mainland, you can relocate your business anytime and anywhere in the city. But if you go for a Free Zone, you’re only allowed to run your business within that free zone.

• You need to understand the different rules and regulations. Dubai is one of the most welcoming cities for foreigners, especially those businesses that can help boost their economy. But you still need to remember that the rules and regulations here may be quite different from what you’re used to. This is why it’s very important to understand these rules first to know exactly what you need to follow and adhere to.

• You need to apply for a business license. Whether you’re starting a business from scratch or migrating an existing one to Dubai, you need to apply for the right business license to operate legally in the city. Since this can be a long and tedious process, it’s best to seek professional assistance from us, where our team will help you every step of the way.

Once everything is settled, you can already start your moving process to Dubai and take care of the other needs for your business, like internet reliability. Fortunately, the city offers different types of visas for foreigners who run a business in the city and their families. Get in touch with us so we can assist you in setting up your business in Dubai. Our expertise and experience make us one of the best in Dubai when it comes to offering these types of services. Contact us today!