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Practical guides for doing business in Dubai

Practical writing from the advisors who file these applications. No listicles, no “top ten reasons to invest in Dubai” — just the things that actually go wrong and how to avoid them.
Shared workspace and glass-fronted private office, with floor plans and the Dubai skyline behind.

Do You Need an Office to Start a Business in Dubai?

You may be able to start a business in Dubai without renting a private office. Some free-zone packages include a shared workspace, and Dubai’s official Instant Licence guidance describes a first-year virtual-site option for eligible activities. The normal mainland licence route, however, calls for a site lease contract. Your activity and chosen licensing route decide which arrangement you can use.
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Three document-folder groups with individual-founder, partner and corporate-ownership symbols on a Dubai office desk.

Dubai Company Setup Documents: Checklist by Founder Type

The documents required to start a business in Dubai depend on who owns the company, where it will be licensed and what it will do. An individual founder’s file differs from a corporate shareholder’s file. A branch needs evidence about its parent company, while a regulated activity can bring additional approvals.
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Architectural model of two Dubai business districts connected by a bridge on a planning desk.

Dubai Free Zone Mainland Permit: Eligibility, Costs and Your Next Step

A Dubai free zone licence and permission to carry out a particular activity on the mainland are separate questions. Before accepting a mainland project, establish what your company will do, where it will do it and which approval covers that work.
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Line illustration of two buildings with arrows between them, representing mainland and free zone

Mainland vs free zone: the honest comparison, with numbers

Where the break-even point actually sits, why the visa quota rule changes the maths, and the four situations where only mainland will do.
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