Insights

What are the steps required to set up a company in Dubai?

July 11, 2023 by Italiacamp

The process of establishing a company in the UAE is not overly articulated, however, with the help of experienced business consultants you can avoid potential setbacks with paperwork and speed up the entrance to this prosperous market.

In terms of location, the two primary choices for setting up a company in Dubai are mainland and free zones. The Italiacamp Dubai Hub for Made in Italy is located in Convention Tower, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Being under the jurisdiction of the DWTC free zone, we are able to offer an advantageous setting for startups, SMEs and large corporations seeking to operate locally and expanding into regional and global markets. Depending on the specific requirements of your business activities, you may be eligible to obtain a dual license (DWTC free zone and mainland).

To initiate a business in the UAE, these are the various steps to follow:

Determining the nature of your business activity

The DWTC free zone provides a variety of business license types to investors and entrepreneurs, tailored to the specific nature of their businesses. These include:

Commercial license
General trading license
Professional license
Event management license
e-Commerce
Single family office
Multi family office

Determining your company’s legal structure

The legal structure is determined by the nature and needs of the business. Within the DWTC free zone, the available options are:

Free Zone Company (FZ Co.)
Free Zone Establishment (FZE)
Foreign Branch (100% owned by parent company)
UAE Branch (100% owned by parent company)

Register the trade name

An official name for the company needs to be registered to establish the company in the UAE. Trade names need to be unique, if a duplicate name is registered authorities will not approve it.

Select business space

An office space is required in order to issue the license and employment visas.

Initial stages of approval

To obtain approval and set up a new company, you must submit the following required documentation along with other documents that might be required:

DWTC application form
Company profile
Passport copies of shareholder, Director(s) and General Manager

Board Resolution appointing Manager/Director (attested and notarized)
Power of Attorney given to Manager/Director (attested and notarized)
Memorandum and Articles of Association (attested and notarized)

Final steps

After submission of the documents, it will take from 1 to 2 weeks for the final approval and issuance of the license. From then on you will be fully operational to conduct business and ready to explore the opportunities that this market has to offer.

Italiacamp Dubai Hub for Made in Italy is able to provide office spaces, business set up support and internationalisation advisory services facilitating the entrance of Italian companies in the market. Click here and contact us for more informations.