Starting a Business in Dubai: A Step‑by‑Step Guide

Aug 2025 · 8–10 min read

Overview

Dubai offers multiple pathways to incorporate—each with trade‑offs on ownership, activity scope, cost, and visa quotas. The right choice depends on your industry, target market, and hiring plans. Dubai offers multiple pathways to incorporate—each with trade‑offs on ownership, activity scope, cost, and visa quotas. The right choice depends on your industry, target market, and hiring plans.

Mainland vs Free Zone

Mainland — Sell anywhere in UAE, wider activity list, onshore presence.
Free Zone — 100% foreign ownership, sector‑focused ecosystems, simplified setup.

Licensing Steps

Define activity code(s) and legal form
Reserve trade name and initial approval
Lease office / flexi‑desk as required
Final license issuance; visa quota applied

Banking & Payments

Prepare KYC pack: license, MOA, utility bill, contracts, and website. Consider payment gateways that support AED and cross‑border settlement. Prepare KYC pack: license, MOA, utility bill, contracts, and website. Consider payment gateways that support AED and cross‑border settlement.

Tax & Compliance

Understand corporate tax thresholds, VAT registration triggers, and economic substance rules. Maintain bookkeeping from day one to ease audits and renewals. Understand corporate tax thresholds, VAT registration triggers, and economic substance rules. Maintain bookkeeping from day one to ease audits and renewals.

Hiring & Visas

Map your hiring plan to your visa quota; use reputable PROs. Draft compliant contracts and onboarding policies. Map your hiring plan to your visa quota; use reputable PROs. Draft compliant contracts and onboarding policies.

Launch Checklist

Website & domain (use dubaicity.city for trust)
Google Business Profile & maps presence
Sales collateral and WhatsApp funnels
Basic CRM and invoicing stack

Case Study

A boutique consultancy launched on a free zone license, used dubaicity.city for local credibility, and closed enterprise contracts within 90 days via a content‑led outreach playbook. A boutique consultancy launched on a free zone license, used dubaicity.city for local credibility, and closed enterprise contracts within 90 days via a content‑led outreach playbook.

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