Foreign investors and business owners are welcome in Dubai as is the case in the other Emirates. Opening a business as a foreign business owner is different in the UAE than in many other parts of the world, with specific requirements and recommendations that have to be followed in the correct order to receive approval from the DED or Department of Economic Development and the appropriate Free Trade Zone Authority.
At STA, our attorneys are experienced in working through the regulations and requirements for company formation. As this is a different process than working with a UAE national in a sponsorship agreement, it can be difficult to not only complete the documentation but to understand the importance of the decisions that need to be made very early in the process.
Important Choices
Unlike other countries, company formation in the free-trade zones requires the business owner to have a visa in place, an office located in the free-trade zone, a trade name as well as a UAE bank account. This must all be in place before applying for business registration.
Additionally, to make things more complicated for those not familiar with company formation in the free-trade zones, there are only certain businesses that can be located in each free zone. This is based on the focus or industry that is centered in that free zone with the licenses to operate based on company descriptions.
Additionally, the company will need to have a trade name in place for the application. This too is a very different process than most foreign business owners are used to, and it can be complicated and complex. There are several prohibited types of names, words, phrases or images that cannot be used in trade names in the UAE.
Working with the attorneys at STA will ensure your Dubai business registration is streamlined and completed as quickly as possible. To get started, contact us today at +971 50 27 28 29 1. Visit the website for more information.
