General Information about Business Registration in Dubai

Prior to operating any business in Dubai, the steps outlined below must be undertaken in order to meet
the legal requirements of all concerned government authorities and to guarantee maximum commercial
benefit for the business owner:
Determine, in the beginning, the category/categories (commercial, industrial and/or professional)
and type of business activity/activities to be practiced. Please determine all the related business
activities that can be included within each business license, subject to a maximum of ten activities
per license.
Determine the appropriate business legal form for your business taking into consideration the
desired business activity/activities and the number and nationalities of the business owners.

Confirm all the requirements of the license to be issued.

Determine the trade name of the business. To review the terms and conditions for the selection
and approval of trade names, please go to Trade Name Reservation e-service.

Submit an application to the Department for an Initial Approval and registering the trade name,
either by a personal visit to the Department Offices and its external branches or through the
Internet Services that are available on the website.

After getting the Initial Approval you can lease premises and contact the counter of the Planning
Department of Dubai Municipality in order to verify that this said premise is suitable for the
business.

Prepare all required documents and submit an application to the Department or one of its external
branches for paying the required fees to obtain a final license.

Submit an application to one of the Department external branches for a signboard permit for a
business trade name as required by the economic regulations.

Terms & Conditions on Operating Economic Activities in the Emirate of Dubai

First United Arab Emirates Nationals:
United Arab Emirates nationals may operate all commercial, professional and industrial activities, when
they fulfill all Terms and Conditions. They may carry on activities through any of the following legal forms:
Individual Establishment.
Limited / Joint Liability Company.

Private / Public Shareholding Company.

Civil Business Company.

Second Nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCCC): GCCC nationals

may carry on most commercial, professional and industrial activities, when they fulfill all Terms and
Conditions (except for activities of Haj and Umra, trade agencies, houses of disabled and old people,
community service, and journals and magazine publishing and printing houses as they are limited only to
United Arab Emirates nationals). They may carry on activities through any of the following legal forms:
Individual Establishment
Limited Liability Company: two or more GCCC nationals may establish a Limited Liability
Company to practice a specific commercial activity. However if there is one or more partners who

are not GCCC nationals in this case one or more UAE national partner is required, with a
shareholding of not less than 51% of the paid-up capital.

Private / Public Shareholding Company: three or more GCCC nationals may establish a private
shareholding company to practice a specific commercial activity. However if there is one or more
partners who are not GCCC nationals in this case one or more UAE national partner is required,
with a shareholding of not less than 51% of the paid-up capital.

(For Example: GCCC partner, foreign partner, it is a must to have a partner from the United Arab Emirates
nationals)
Civil Business Company: two or more GCCC nationals may establish a civil business company to
practice a specific profession without a Local Services Agent. However if there is one or more
partners who are not GCCC nationals, a Local Services Agent who is a UAE national shall be
appointed or included as a partner.

Third - Nationals of Other Countries: Nationals of other Arab or foreign countries may carry on
economic activities through any of the following forms:
Individual Establishment: it may be established to practice any professional activity, only by
appointing a Local Services Agent who shall be a UAE national.
Limited Liability Company: this kind of company shall be established to carry on any commercial
or industrial activity, including one or more UAE partners whose shareholding shall not be less
than 51% of the paid-up capital.

Private Shareholding Company: this kind of company shall be established to carry on any
commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partners whose
shareholding shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.

Civil Business Company: two or more persons may establish a civil business company to practice
a profession, provided that a Local Services Agent who must be a UAE national is appointed or
included as a partner.

Fourth Foreign Companies:

Any company incorporated outside the United Arab Emirates may operate any commercial, industrial or
professional activity through one of the following legal forms:
Branch of a Foreign Company
Limited Liability Company: this kind of company shall be established to operate any commercial
or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partner whose shareholding shall not be
less than 51% of the paid-up capital.

Private / Public Shareholding Company: this kind of company shall be established to operate any
commercial or industrial activity, including one or more UAE national partner whose shareholding
shall not be less than 51% of the paid-up capital.