Dubai Today · Monday, 9 November 202619:02:29
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Insights into the business environment, including entrepreneurship, investments, and corporate culture.

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Start Here: Essential Business Guides

Eight flagship guides — free zones, the mainland question, starting up sector by sector, investor visas and the setup steps.

A Beginner Guide to Dubai Free Zones: What They Are and How They DifferFree ZonesIFZA vs a Mainland Company: An Honest Comparison for FoundersMainland or Free Zone?How to Start a General Trading Business in Dubai: Licence, Setup and First ClientsSector FlagshipHow to Start a Bakery Business in Dubai: Licence, Setup and First ClientsSector — FoodHow to Start a Marketing Agency Business in Dubai: Licence, Setup and First ClientsSector — ServicesUAE Visa for Pakistani Business Owners: Investor and Business Setup VisasInvestor VisasExpo City Free Zone Company Setup: Steps, Timeline and PitfallsSetup StepsSetting Up in DWC Free Zone: Who It Suits and How Company Formation WorksFormation

Free Zones, Zone by Zone

Dubai's free zones one at a time — who each zone suits, how formation works and the pitfalls to dodge.

All 83 free zone guides: Browse Free Zones in Dubai.

Company Setup, Step by Step

Company formation walked through in order — choosing the structure, the licence, the paperwork and the first clients.

All 59 setup guides: Browse Company Setup in Dubai.

Business Tools

Free tools for the visa and money side of starting up — check before you commit.

Golden Visa CheckerThe 10-year residence routes — property, salary, talent — checked in four questions.Dubai Visa CheckerWhich visa do you actually need? Answer a few questions and get your route.Cost of Living CalculatorEstimate a real monthly Dubai budget before you commit.Salary CheckerSee what a Dubai salary really covers, rent and all.AED Currency ConverterLive AED exchange rates, with the Dubai gold price inside.Dubai Rent PlannerSee the true yearly cost of a Dubai rent before you sign.

Browse by Topic

572 Business guides live in this world alone — the neighbouring worlds are one tap away.

Visa & Immigration HubVisas, labour law & the Golden VisaDubai1979 guidesHow-To1985 guidesJobs629 guidesReal Estate332 guidesTravel464 guidesEducation376 guidesFood & Dining540 guidesShopping152 guides

Quick Answers

What is the difference between a mainland and a free zone company in Dubai?

There is no one-line answer that fits every business — the right choice turns on what you will sell, who your customers are and how you plan to grow, which is why this page leads with comparisons rather than slogans. Start with IFZA vs a Mainland Company, an honest side-by-side written for founders, then work through the Free Zones and Mainland Business doors for the guides on your own sector.

What is a trade licence, and who issues it in Dubai?

A trade licence is the official permission to run a business activity in Dubai — a company trades under the licence that matches what it actually does. Which authority issues yours follows the setup route you choose, mainland or free zone. Trade Licence Explained walks through what the licence is and who pays, and the Trade Licences door gathers every licence guide in one place.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a business in Dubai?

Ownership is one of the points where the route — mainland or free zone — and the activity you choose change the answer, so be wary of anyone who gives you a flat yes or no without asking what your business does. The mainland-vs-free-zone comparisons on this page set out the ownership position route by route; check yours there before you commit any money.

How much does it cost to start a business in Dubai?

There is no single figure — anyone who quotes you one flat price for every business is guessing. The total depends on your activity, the licence type, whether you set up on the mainland or in a free zone, and whether you need an office and visas on top. The Company Setup guides break the cost down route by route and sector by sector, so you can build your own number before you talk to anyone.

Do I need an office to start a company in Dubai?

What your setup requires depends on the route and activity you choose — the Company Setup guides spell out what each route asks for. One figure worth budgeting early: a Dubai tenancy contract is registered through Ejari at AED 177.75 online through the Dubai REST app or the DLD website, or AED 220 at a Real Estate Services Trustee centre. The Ejari Cost Calculator adds up the whole move-in bill before you sign.

Can I get a UAE visa through my own company?

Company ownership is one of the established routes to living here on your own business — the investor and business setup visa routes are walked through step by step in the Investor Visas flagship guide. For the longer horizon, the Golden Visa gives 10 years of residence with no employer sponsor; the Golden Visa Checker tests the main routes — property, salary and talent — in four questions. And keep your status legal while you arrange everything: overstaying a visa is fined at AED 50 per day.