Business guide
Your UAE Business Setup Checklist
Work through these stages in order and the process stays predictable. Skip a step and you usually pay for it in delays later.
Bizzone UAE
Business Setup Consultants in Dubai, UAE
Before you apply
Decisions to lock down first:
- Final business activity description
- Jurisdiction: mainland, free zone or offshore
- Shareholding and ownership split
- Number of visas needed in year one
- Workspace format and budget
- Target launch date
Documents to prepare
Gather these early — attestation and translation are the most common cause of delay:
- Passport copies for all shareholders
- Passport-size photographs to specification
- Proof of address
- Attested certificates for regulated activities
- Corporate documents if a company is a shareholder
- Three trade name options
During licensing
Name reservation, initial approval, MOA signing, workspace agreement and licence payment. Keep original documents accessible — several stages require them in person or notarised.
After the licence is issued
Establishment card, immigration file, visas, Emirates ID, corporate bank account, corporate tax registration, VAT assessment, AML registration if applicable, and bookkeeping setup.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? A consultant can walk you through the detail in a short call.
Attestation of foreign documents, and budgeting for annual renewal. Both are easy to plan for and expensive to fix late.
Timelines vary by authority, activity and how quickly documents and approvals are returned. Your consultant gives you an indicative schedule at the start and keeps you updated at each stage.
Cost depends on the authority, licence type, number of visas and office option you choose. We prepare a written, itemised quotation for your specific case rather than publishing a headline figure that may not apply to you.
Yes — that is the standard engagement. One consultant owns the file from structure advice through to bank introduction and tax registration.
Free consultation
Speak with a Bizzone UAE consultant
Tell us what you plan to do in the UAE and we will map out the licence, visa and compliance path that fits.
- +971 50 121 6915
- info@bizzoneuae.com
- Office No. 105, Alkhayyal Building, Near Karama Medical Fitness Center, Al Karama, Dubai, UAE
Let's Find the Right Setup for Your Business
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Ready to Start Your Business in the UAE?
Speak with a Bizzone UAE consultant about licensing, visas, banking and compliance — with no obligation.