business setup uae

The UAE Mainland is an economic zone or jurisdiction which companies can run their businesses from. Companies based in the UAE Mainland are licensed by each Emirate’s own Department of Economic Development (DED). Setting up a business in the UAE Mainland offers the ability to trade without any restrictions, inside and outside the UAE.
The UAE Free Zone, similarly, is the jurisdiction governed by the Free Zone Authority. The Free Zone provides a wide range of benefits ranging from 100% ownership, tax exemptions, furnished office spaces and more – making it a highly desirable license for businesses to obtain.
The UAE Offshore is the third jurisdiction or economic zone in which investors can set up their companies in the UAE without their physical presence.

To open a corporate bank account for your business, you are required to have an investor visa. For a personal bank account, a residence visa/employment visa is required.

Some businesses in the UAE cannot be set up simply with typical business licenses. Due to the nature of their activities, they require special approvals. If your business activity is under the realm of Education, you require special approvals from the Ministry of Education or the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). If your business is related to engineering or construction, you require approval from the Municipality. If your business has anything to do with telecommunication or networks, Etisalat will be the authority to issue an approval.

You can trade, import, and export anything under a general trading license, also known as a commercial license. Gold and oil, however, need further approvals, which is why the same rules don’t apply to these items.