Business setup guides

Practical advice for choosing a UAE company structure, planning your costs, getting licensed and managing changes as your business grows.

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Showing 1 to 12 of 50 guides

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Illustrative photograph of a British man aged forty-one with light brown hair and a natural beard, discussing a blank new storefront sign mockup with a designer in a modest workshop

Guides · 3 min readHow to change your company name in DubaiChange your company name in Dubai with an amendment checklist. Coordinate the licence, company documents, banking, contracts and customer communication.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British woman aged forty-six with auburn shoulder-length hair, comparing a new service sketch with existing company folders at a modest office desk

Guides · 3 min readHow to add an activity to a Dubai trade licenceAdd a business activity to a Dubai trade licence with a clear amendment plan. Check approvals, company documents, banking and contracts before selling new work.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of two British adult cofounders, a Black man aged forty and a woman with short brown hair aged thirty-six, discussing a blank agreement notebook at a small cafe table

Guides · 3 min readWhat should UAE business partners agree before setup?Prepare for a UAE business partners agreement. Discuss ownership, decisions, funding, exits and account access before signing incorporation documents.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of an adult British couple in their late thirties, a woman with freckles and a man with brown wavy hair, talking over a business notebook at an ordinary kitchen island

Guides · 3 min readStarting a business on a spouse visa in the UAEPlan a UAE business while on a spouse visa. Separate share ownership, family residency, management and work permits before choosing a company route.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British South Asian man aged thirty-three with casual untidy hair, reviewing a personal business notebook at his kitchen table after work, a plain work bag on a chair

Guides · 3 min readCan you start a business while employed in Dubai?Explore starting a business while employed in Dubai. Check your employment terms, NOC requirements, activity and work permission before taking clients.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British woman aged thirty-seven with natural brown curls and a soft blue shirt, planning an overseas company setup from a home table with laptop, closed blank travel wallet and notebook

Guides · 3 min readCan a non resident open a company in the UAE?Can a non resident open a company in the UAE? Separate ownership, visas, document checks, travel and bank onboarding before choosing a setup route.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British man aged fifty-eight with thinning grey hair and natural face lines, reviewing a simple three-box ownership chart on paper with an adviser whose shoulder is visible

Guides · 3 min readWhen does a UAE holding company make sense?Explore whether a UAE holding company fits your plan. Compare ownership, operating companies, governance, banking and ongoing administration before formation.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British woman aged forty-four with dark shoulder-length hair and fine smile lines, discussing a staff handbook draft with two adult colleagues at a small round meeting table

Guides · 3 min readHR consultancy licence in DubaiPrepare an HR consultancy licence in Dubai. Define advisory services and separate them from candidate placement, staffing and regulated professional work.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British South Asian man aged forty-three with softly greying hair and glasses, reconciling receipts and a simple calculator at a modest bookkeeping desk

Guides · 3 min readStarting an accounting business in DubaiStart an accounting or bookkeeping business in Dubai with a clear professional scope. Check audit and tax representation separately before offering services.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British woman aged fifty-one with short silver-streaked hair and glasses, reviewing a physical project timeline with a colleague in a small team room

Guides · 3 min readProject management consultancy in DubaiPlan a project management consultancy in Dubai. Define coordination, procurement and reporting, then check any engineering or construction approval boundaries.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British man aged thirty-four with dark curly hair and normal stubble, checking unbranded laptops and boxed peripherals at a small computer wholesale counter

Guides · 3 min readComputer trading licence in DubaiPrepare a computer trading licence in Dubai. Separate hardware sales, repairs, software and IT advice, then plan imports, warranties and customer support.Read the guide

Illustrative photograph of a British woman aged thirty-nine with light brown hair tied back, checking cleaning equipment with a colleague in a plain office corridor before a job

Guides · 3 min readHow to start a cleaning company in DubaiStart a cleaning company in Dubai with a clear activity and staffing plan. Check specialist services, equipment, premises and the real operating costs.Read the guide

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Official sources and further reading

Check the linked authority for current rules and fees. Kompani provides application support; licensing, visa, banking and court decisions remain with the relevant institution. How we prepare and update our guidance.