The Top 12 Factors to Consider Before Opening a Business in Dubai
Updated on: 15 Sep 2022
With a
population of over 2 million and a land area of 4,114 sq. km., Dubai is the
second-largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates. The three main economic
pillars of Dubai are business, real estate, and tourism.
Middle
Eastern business has always been centred in Dubai. It serves as the regional
and not just the UAE's business hub. Despite being welcoming to foreign
businesses, Dubai has its own set of requirements for forming a corporation.
Everyone
aspires to launch their own company and work for themselves. In current digital
age, launching a business is more simpler and faster. However, starting a
business in Dubai is feared by many people. Here is because a UAE citizen must own at
least 51% of a company before it may be registered in the UAE.
Despite
these challenges, Dubai still offers a tonne of business prospects for
individuals wishing to start a company. Let's look at some of the important
information one needs to be aware of before starting a business in Dubai in
light of what was just discussed.
Select a
Commercial Activity
There are
various limitations on the kind of businesses that are allowed in the UAE. In
Dubai, a number of permits are necessary before opening a business. Therefore,
the first thing you need to do is check to see if your company complies with
Dubai legislation.
The
workplace
Starting a
business in Dubai necessitates renting office space. In order to start a
business in Dubai, you must first hire an office. Both the Real Estate
Regulation documentation and the tenancy agreement must be sent in. After RERA
and EJARI, the DED grants the initial approval.
Community
Sponsorship
You must
collaborate with an individual from the UAE in order to open a business in
mainland Dubai. The objective is to identify a reliable and trustworthy UAE
business partner. The local partner from the UAE will own 51% of the contract,
reports claim.
In a free
zone, a company would employ a local service officer who would be paid. It is
advised that you enter into a contract with a silent partner to safeguard the
management and security of your firm.
Prepare
the MOA/LSA for your company.
The MOA
outlines the restrictions and freedoms that apply to each partner's interest in
the business, but the LSA outlines the agent's obligations and the compliance
that will be upheld. Commercial papers like MOAs and LSAs ought to be created
with the aid of a legal advisor.
Process
for Business Licenses
The DED
processes the business licence after the firm has been registered. Business
licences are often granted based on the company's jurisdiction and the type of
business activity. Commercial, industrial, and professional licences are the
most prevalent types of licences in Dubai. After receiving your initial DED
approval, it usually takes one week or longer to receive a trade licencing
authorization.
commercial
permit
After the
business-establishing process is complete, you must apply for a business trade
licence with DED. Before you start trading, you need to get that document, and
you have to do it at that institution.
Acceptance
of Your Commercial Activity
Not all
enterprises in Dubai are granted permission. In the UAE, there are some
enterprises that are prohibited. The Dubai DED is the entity in charge of
deciding, regulating, classifying, authorising, and licencing any financial
activity, as per Law No. 13 of 2011. Free zones and other offshore business
environments are not covered by this, though.
Choose
the Correct Authority
Dubai
provides offshore business formations, free zone business formations, and
onshore business forms (Mainland / LLC). The type of firm activity and the
company's characteristics define the appropriate jurisdiction.
At that
moment, there is still a fee that you must incur. It pays for the costs
associated with obtaining a licence, which entitles you to engage in business
in the UAE. Even if the expenses are substantial, the most expensive component
of creating a corporation is the time spent anticipating the required legal and
academic certificates.
Analyze
outside approvals
The DED
collaborates with investors and grants business licences. However, you could
need outside approvals before starting your firm. An affidavit attestation is
required. These permissions are typically obtained by non-governmental and
semi-governmental organisations.
DED
Initial Approval
The DED's
approval to launch your firm is the initial approval. Now that your company is
established, you can request a trade licence.
Cooperation
between countries and the UAE
The only
people who are allowed to start businesses in Dubai are local nationals, thus
the law mandates that you work with one of them. They would have to own at
least half of your business partnership, and you may allocate managerial
responsibilities however you saw fit.
Local agents
offer this service for a fee. It is good to inquire about them in your
professional networks and choose agents that others have worked with in the
past because you want their job to be merely a formality.
A
trademark
A trade name
is more than just the name by which the UAE will refer to your company.
Additionally, it is the name you will use while communicating with government
organisations. That's why before you can start trading, it needs to be approved
by one of them.
The
Department of Economic Development, a department of the government, is in
charge of carrying it out. It requires about three days to complete and must be
done every six months. This is something to keep in mind while developing your
marketing plan if you want to build a name for yourself.
Currently,
there are numerous benefits to establishing a business in Dubai. And maybe most
crucially, you can launch a profitable business there. One of the best areas to
launch a business is Dubai. The government is very cordial, the economy is
expanding, and several major businesses, including Facebook and Google, have
headquarters here. The fundamental benefit of opening a business in Dubai is
that, as it is developing, you can always expect a return on your investment.