How to start a business in Dubai: the steps in order
How to start a business in Dubai, in order: activity, mainland or free zone, legal form, trade name, approvals, office, licence, visas, bank and tax.
6 min read
Insights and guides
Practical guides to business setup, residency and property investment in Dubai and the wider UAE, checked against official sources.
The complete guide to the UAE Golden Visa
Who qualifies for the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa, what it gives you and your family, and how the application works, from eligibility check to Emirates ID.
Updated 7 min read
UAE corporate tax: what small businesses and free zone firms need to know
Who must register for UAE corporate tax, the 0% and 9% rates, free zone conditions, Small Business Relief, EmaraTax registration and the records to keep.
Updated 7 min read
Free zone vs mainland: which is right for your business?
How free zone and mainland companies in Dubai differ on ownership, where you can trade, office space, visas and corporate tax, and how to choose.
Updated 7 min read
What a Dubai company setup really costs, and what drives the price
Company setup cost in Dubai, line by line: licence fees, visas, office and Ejari, establishment card, banking, audit and renewal, and what moves the total.
5 min read
Golden Visa through property: how the AED 2 million route works
How the UAE Golden Visa through property works in Dubai: the AED 2 million test, mortgages, off-plan units, joint ownership, DLD fees and family members.
6 min read
How a UAE residence visa works: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID
The UAE residence visa process in order: entry permit or status change, medical test, Emirates ID, the documents you need and where delays happen.
7 min read
All guides by topic
Business Setup
- How to start a business in Dubai: the steps in order
- What a Dubai company setup really costs, and what drives the price
- Can a free zone company do business in mainland Dubai?
- Dubai trade licence types: commercial, professional, industrial and more
- How to choose the business activities on your Dubai licence
- How to close a company in Dubai properly
- How to open a corporate bank account in the UAE
- LLC, sole establishment or branch: choosing a legal form in Dubai
- Office requirements in Dubai: Ejari, flexi-desks and virtual offices
- Offshore companies in the UAE: what they can and can't do
- Renewing your Dubai trade licence: process, timing and fines
- Setting up a Dubai company from India: ODI rules, banking and visas
- Starting an e-commerce business in Dubai: licences and options
- UBO rules in the UAE: declaring who really owns your company
Free Zones
Golden Visa
- The complete guide to the UAE Golden Visa
- Golden Visa through property: how the AED 2 million route works
- Golden Visa for entrepreneurs and business owners
- Golden Visa for skilled professionals: salary, degree and MOHRE level
- Sponsoring your family on a UAE Golden Visa
- The Golden Visa application process, step by step
Visas & Residency
- How a UAE residence visa works: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID
- Emirates ID: applying, renewing and replacing your card
- Investor and partner visas through your own UAE company
- Sponsoring your family in the UAE on a standard residence visa
- UAE Green Visa: five-year residence without an employer sponsor
- UAE visit visa: types, documents and how to apply
PRO & Employment
Tax & Compliance
- UAE corporate tax: what small businesses and free zone firms need to know
- Bookkeeping and audit requirements for UAE companies
- E-invoicing in the UAE: the timeline and what businesses must prepare
- Free zone companies and 0% corporate tax: qualifying income explained
- Small Business Relief in the UAE: who qualifies and how long it lasts
- UAE corporate tax deadlines and penalties: registration to payment
- UAE tax residency certificate: who qualifies and how to apply
- UAE VAT registration: thresholds, deadlines and how to register
Real Estate
- Buying off-plan property in Dubai: escrow, Oqood and payment plans
- Buying property in Dubai as a foreign investor: a practical guide
- Getting a mortgage in the UAE as an expat: limits, costs and approval
- Renting out your Dubai property as a holiday home: permits and rules
- The full cost of buying property in Dubai, beyond the price
- Where foreigners can buy property in Dubai: freehold areas explained
Investment & Regulation
Websites & Apps
- Automating business operations with AI: a practical guide for UAE companies
- Building a bilingual Arabic and English website that works
- Custom CRM or off-the-shelf? CRM options for UAE small businesses
- Custom website or template? Choosing a web developer in the UAE
- E-commerce website development in Dubai: platforms, payments and costs
- How much does a website cost in Dubai? What small businesses pay for
- How to build a professional portfolio website in the UAE
- Landing pages that convert: a guide for UAE lead generation
- Mobile app development in Dubai: cost, timeline and choosing a developer
- Online ordering for UAE restaurants: your own system or delivery apps?
- UAE data protection law (PDPL): what businesses must do
- WhatsApp on your website: turning chats into leads in the UAE
SEO & AI Search
- An SEO content strategy for small businesses in the UAE
- How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT and AI search
- How to rank on Google Maps in Dubai: local SEO for UAE businesses
- Local SEO for Dubai businesses: getting found on Google and AI search
- SEO for small businesses in Dubai: what works and what it costs
- Technical SEO and site speed: fixing what holds UAE websites back
Performance Marketing
- B2B lead generation strategies for companies in the UAE
- Conversion rate optimisation: more enquiries from the same traffic
- Conversion tracking with GA4, Meta Pixel and the Conversions API
- Facebook and Instagram ads in the UAE: a lead generation strategy
- Freelance media buyer or agency? Hiring for paid ads in Dubai
- Google Ads for lead generation in the UAE: a practical strategy
- How much does digital marketing cost for a small business in the UAE?
- Performance marketing for UAE small businesses: start with the numbers
- Retargeting website visitors with Google Ads and Meta Ads in the UAE
Social Media & Branding
- Building a brand and online presence for a UAE startup
- How to grow a business Instagram account organically in the UAE
- Influencer marketing in the UAE: micro-influencers and the permit rules
- Instagram Reels and TikTok marketing for small businesses in the UAE
- LinkedIn marketing for B2B companies in the UAE
- Registering a trademark in the UAE: process, fees and timing
- Social media management in Dubai: what small business packages include
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