To register a business in Dubai and benefit from the booming trade market, businessmen have to follow a tedious process. The process involves certain steps that are based on the laws implemented in UAE. This presentation briefly explains all the involved steps which are required to register business in Dubai.

2. With a promising trade market, the thought of initiating a business in Dubai is always
an overwhelming one. To achieve this goal of commencing business in Dubai, one has
to deal with certain legal steps. Shared here are all the required steps that one has to
follow to register a business in Dubai.

3. Step 1:
Before anything else, a businessman has to first select the appropriate category/categories to define the
nature or type of business i.e. whether it is industrial, commercial or professional. It is important to
determine this as business license would be issued accordingly.

4. Step 2:
To commence a business, one has to identify and state the legal form of the business; as for every legal
structure there is a different set of rules & regulations. The different legal structures for businesses are:
• Commercial Company (51% Minimum National Share)
• Commercial Agency Agreement
• National Proprietorship (100% National)
• Foreign Company Branch
• Gulf Establishment or Company

5. Step 3:
The third step requires defining a trade name. To decide a trade name for a business, one has to adhere
certain terms & conditions, which are:
1. The trade name must be unique and should not be a previously registered name.
2. The name has to be in harmony with the activity type and the legal form of establishment.
3. There should not be any identical similarity in the trade name and any registered trademark (local or
international) at the Ministry of Economy.
4. The business name should not include the names of Allah, governing authorities, sectarian, slogans
of local, Arab or international organizations, entities, and institutions.
5. The name should not controvert public order or public moral.
6. The trade name must not misled consumer, in terms of type of trade, its importance, or size.

6. Step 4:
The next step is to register business in Dubai. To register a business in Dubai, one has to submit a
registration form, processing fee, and list of documents, which includes copies of valid passports of
owners/partners, UAE ID Card of owners/partners, valid residence permits for non-citizens and GCC
nationals, family book of UAE citizens.

7. Step 5:
To apply for a business license a person or business entity has to obtain membership from The Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.

8. Step 6:
After receiving trade name certificate, the next step is to apply for initial approval certificate to be able to
begin the necessary paperwork for obtaining license of the business.

9. Step 7:
Once you get the initial approval, the next step is to look for leasing the premises for business. One has to
obtain approval for the business site from the Department of Economic Development.

10. Step 8:
Once the location is finalized, the next step is to arranging all required documents and ensuring all legal
requirements are met. The final application must be submitted within 3 months of initial approval.

11. Step 9:
The last step is to receive final approvals from relevant authorities and retrieve business license.