To practice business activity, a company should be registered in the first place at DED, taking into consideration that it seeks to facilitate doing business procedures in Dubai through creating the convenient economic climate to practice all business activities, ensure protection of consumer rights, in addition to industrious efforts to reduce the time taken in issuing licenses as part of a series of procedures offered by DED through its various branches and website.
Prior to operating any business in Dubai, the steps outlined below must be undertaken in order to meet the legal requirements of all concerned government authorities and to guarantee maximum commercial benefit for the business owner:
- Determine, in the beginning, the category/categories (commercial, industrial and/or professional) and type of business activity/activities to be practiced. Please determine all the related business activities that can be included within each business license, subject to a maximum of ten activities per license.
- Determine the appropriate business legal form for your business taking into consideration the desired business activity/activities and the number and nationalities of the business owners.
- Confirm all the requirements of the license to be issued
- Determine the trade name of the business.
- After getting the Initial Approval you can lease premises and contact the counter of the Planning Department of Dubai Municipality in order to verify that this said premise is suitable for the business.
- Prepare all required documents and submit an application to the Department or one of its external branches for paying the required fees to obtain a final license.
- Submit an application to one of the Department external branches for a signboard permit for a business trade name as required by the economic regulations.
Nationals of other Arab or foreign countries may carry on economic activities through any of the following forms:
- Individual Establishment: it may be established to practice any professional activity, only by appointing a Local Services Agent who shall be a UAE national.
- Limited Liability Company: this kind of company shall be established to carry on any commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE partners whose shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.
- Private Shareholding Company: this kind of company shall be established to carry on any commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partners whose shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.
- Civil Business Company: two or more persons may establish a civil business company to practice a profession, provided that a Local Services Agent who must be a UAE national is appointed or included as a partner.
Any company incorporated outside the United Arab Emirates may operate any commercial, industrial or professional activity through one of the following legal forms:
- Branch of a Foreign Company
- Limited Liability Company: this kind of company shall be established to operate any commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partner whose shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.
- Private / Public Shareholding Company: this kind of company shall be established to operate any commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partner whose shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.
