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The Pathway to Invest in The UAE - Mainland

Identify Business Activity

(License Type)

Business Activity

License Type

Industrial

Commercial

Professional

Tourism

Agriculture

Occupational

An investment/business can have more than one business activity.
There are > 2,000 business activities to choose from the UAE list.
The business activities are grouped into four main categories, also called the ‘type of business license’

Determine Business Structure

While a business structure is primarily based on the needs of the business, it will also determine applicable laws and regulations to adhere to.

Mainland

General Partnership

Limited Partnership

Limited liability Company (LLC)

Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC)

Civil Company

Sole Establishment

Foreign Company Branch

Local Company Branch

Free Zone Company Branch

GCC Company Branch

Holding Companies

Important Notes

The Business Structure (or the Legal Form of Business) must match the business activity. For more information, please refer to:UAE list of some Business activities and respective Business Structure
For Definitions and requirements, per Business Structure, refer to UAE DED websites:
- Abu Dhabi Chamber: Trade Licence Manual and Business startup and Operationalisation
- Dubai Department of Economic Development: Start Your Business in Dubai
- Sharjah Investment and Development Authority: Process and Requirements
- Ajman Department of Economic Development: FAQ - Issue Business License
- Ras AlKhaimah Department of Economic Development: Issuing Licences
- Umm Alquwain Chamber: Licensing Procedures
- Government of Fujairah: Doing Business in Fujairah

Register Trade Name

To register the name of your business (or its Trade Name), certain guidelines must be followed. In general, Trade Names:

Mainland

Apply for Initial Approval

An ‘initial approval’ means that the UAE Government has no objection for a business to be established in the country. It also allows the investor to proceed with the next steps to set up a business. It does not however grant the authority to run the business, or practice the business activity.

Important Notes

Foreign investors must obtain the approval of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs before getting the initial approval.
To apply for an initial approval, external approvals of bodies governing the following activities are required:

Complete LSA / MOA

Depending on the Business Structure (Legal Form of Business), a completed and signed Memorandum of Association (MOA) or a Corporate Agent Agreement with the Local Service Agent (LSA) of the business is required.

In general, a Memorandum of Association (MOA) is required for the following Business Structure types:

Civil Company

Limited Liability Company

Public Shareholding Company

Private Shareholding Company (Private Joint Stock Co)

Important Notes

law firm, notary public prepares these documents. In some cases, the Legal Affairs Department of the Emirate’s DED may also provide assistance.

Finalize Business Location

All businesses in the UAE must have a physical address to operate. The business premises and location must comply with the requirements defined by the Emirate’s Department of Economic Development, as well as the zoning regulations of the local municipalities

Important Notes

Office, warehouse rental agreement must be provided. Some Emirates require an attested document. In Dubai, the agreement must be registered with Ejari http://www.ejari.ae/
Multiple trade licenses issued using a single business address, with certain restrictions and conditions. Refer to each Emirate’s DED.

Obtain Additional (applicable) Government Approvals Required

In some cases, additional approvals from government entities governing certain business activities are required. Examples of some activities that require approvals:

Health Authority of the Emirate

Health-related activities

Ministry of Interior

General transport - Driving Schools, Fire Equipment, Alarm & Safety Systems, Used Car Dealers, Used Auto parts, Car rental

Telecommunications Regulatory Executive Council Authority, Licensing Department

Telecommunications

Executive Council

Travel & Tourism - General Services - Charter Trading - Ship & Maritime Agencies - Car Clubs - Charter Air Transport - Foreign Company Branches.

Municipal Government of relevant Emirate, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority

Food and Beverage related activities

Ministry of Justice

Legal activities, Legal Consultancy

Municipal Government of relevant Emirate

Architectural and engineering activities

Ministry of Economy

Insurance activities, Insurance Consultancy

Supreme Petroleum Council

Onshore-Offshore Gas and Oil-field Services, Onshore- Offshore Oil Drilling Operations

Important Notes

External approvals of bodies governing the following activities are required:
- Legal Department-related activities
- Securities and Commodities Authority-related activities
Special Approval - AD Chamber of Commerce
No Approvals Activities: Dubai Department of Economic Development

Submit Documents and Pay

Business License (Trade License) will be issued upon submission of all required documents and payment of fees.

In an effort to continually improve “Ease of Doing Business” in the UAE, several Emirates have introduced a fast-track approach in obtaining Business Licenses.

Dubai DED is leading the move, with its:

Important Notes

Associated fees need to be paid within a certain amount of days (usually 30 days) upon issuance of payment voucher. Non-payment will result in the cancellation of the application.
Payments can be made through authorized banks and service centers.

The Pathway to Invest in The UAE - Free Zones

Identify Business Activity

(License Type)

TYPES OF BUSINESS LICENSES IN FREE ZONES

Commercial/Trade

Consultancy/Services

Industrial

Educational

Media

eCommerce

Offshore

Freelance

Warehousing

Innovation

Manufacturing

Others

Determine Business Structure

FREE ZONE

Register Trade Name

Trade names for businesses in the Free Zone areas also follow the general guidelines set by the Department of Economic Development of the relevant Emirates.

In some cases, Free Zones also issue their own restrictions and guidelines.

Choose Business Space / Location

Services and facilities set up by the Free Zone, including

Full time, in-house IT support
Telephone devices and connections
Wireless internet connection

High-speed internet access
Data network connection
IP Telephony

Utilities and telecommunications are set up by the Free Zone, including

Enquiring, reserving and applying for trade names
Getting NOC letters/’To whom it may concern’ letters
Issuing, renewing and cancelling visas
Investing and funding opportunities
Credit rating
Legal advice
Furnished/semi-furnished offices
Warehouse
Telecommunications

Utilities
State-of-the-art IT infrastructure
Secretarial services
Photocopy and printing services
Meeting rooms with AV facility
Transportation
Labour accommodation
Assistance with recruitment
Employee and family housing

Obtain Approvals

Additional approvals from relevant UAE government entities also apply for select business activities.

General requirements to obtain “initial approval” from the Free Zone:

Completed application form

Business plan.

Copy of existing trade licence/registration certificate (if applicable)

Coloured passport copies of the company's shareholders, appointed Manager

Registry Identification Code Form (RIC) for appointed Manager (original and notarised)

Specimen signature of the company's shareholders, appointed Manager

2 years' audited financial reports for corporate entity or certificate of reference from a personal bank of the individual shareholder

Unit title deed

Letter of Intent

NOC from current sponsor (for individuals)

For Freelance business type’, general requirements to obtain “initial approval” from the Free Zone:

Application for registration

Bank reference letter

Registry Identification Code Form (RIC) (original and notarised)

Important Notes

The Duration depends on the number of activities to be registered, the nature of the required external approvals, and the Duration difference from emirate to emirate.

Register Business

Registration fees and license fees must be paid to obtain initial approval. The fees depend on the type of license required.

To register the business with the Free Zone, the following documents must be submitted:

Identify Business Activity

(License Type)

Business Activity

License Type

Industrial

Commercial

Professional

Tourism

Agriculture

Occupational

Determine Business Structure While a business structure is primarily based on the needs of the business, it will also determine applicable laws and regulations to adhere to.

Mainland

Important Notes

Register Trade Name To register the name of your business (or its Trade Name), certain guidelines must be followed. In general, Trade Names:

Mainland

Apply for Initial Approval

Important Notes

Important Notes

Finalize Business Location

Important Notes

Obtain Additional (applicable) Government Approvals Required In some cases, additional approvals from government entities governing certain business activities are required. Examples of some activities that require approvals:

Health Authority of the Emirate

Ministry of Interior

Telecommunications Regulatory Executive Council Authority, Licensing Department

Executive Council

Municipal Government of relevant Emirate, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority

Ministry of Justice

Municipal Government of relevant Emirate

Ministry of Economy

Supreme Petroleum Council

Important Notes

Submit Documents and Pay

Important Notes

Identify Business Activity

(License Type)

TYPES OF BUSINESS LICENSES IN FREE ZONES

Determine Business Structure

FREE ZONE

Register Trade Name Trade names for businesses in the Free Zone areas also follow the general guidelines set by the Department of Economic Development of the relevant Emirates. In some cases, Free Zones also issue their own restrictions and guidelines.

Choose Business Space / Location

Services and facilities set up by the Free Zone, including

Utilities and telecommunications are set up by the Free Zone, including

Obtain Approvals

Important Notes

Register Business Registration fees and license fees must be paid to obtain initial approval. The fees depend on the type of license required. To register the business with the Free Zone, the following documents must be submitted:

Determine Business Structure

While a business structure is primarily based on the needs of the business, it will also determine applicable laws and regulations to adhere to.

Register Trade Name

To register the name of your business (or its Trade Name), certain guidelines must be followed. In general, Trade Names:

Obtain Additional (applicable) Government Approvals Required

In some cases, additional approvals from government entities governing certain business activities are required. Examples of some activities that require approvals:

Register Trade Name

Trade names for businesses in the Free Zone areas also follow the general guidelines set by the Department of Economic Development of the relevant Emirates.

In some cases, Free Zones also issue their own restrictions and guidelines.

Register Business

Registration fees and license fees must be paid to obtain initial approval. The fees depend on the type of license required.

To register the business with the Free Zone, the following documents must be submitted: