Straight answers on setting up in the UAE
No fluff, no jargon. Every guide answers the question in the first line, then shows you the steps, the paperwork and the real cost. Written by the team that files these every day.
All articles
Can an Offshore Company Open a UAE Bank Account?
Yes, offshore companies can bank in the UAE. What banks actually check, why some applications get rejected, and how to build a file that gets approved.
Ali Jasim··11 min read Costs and Budgeting
The Cheapest Way to Start a Business in the UAE in 2026
The honest cheapest route to a legal UAE company in 2026: jurisdiction, activities, visas and workspace choices that genuinely lower the cost.
Ali Jasim··11 min read Company Formation
How to Add or Change Business Activities on Your UAE Licence
Growing beyond your original licence is common. How activity amendments work, what they cost, and the approvals that can slow it down.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Trade Licences and Activities
How to Renew a Trade Licence in Dubai Before It Costs You
When a Dubai trade licence needs renewing, what happens if you miss it, and the exact steps, documents and cost to renew on time.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Visas and Residency
UAE Green Visa: The 5-Year Self-Sponsored Residency
Who qualifies for the UAE Green Visa across skilled employees, freelancers and investors, what it costs, and how it compares to sponsorship.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Industry Playbooks
How to Start a Beauty Salon or Spa in Dubai
The commercial licence, Dubai Municipality hygiene approval, and the separate DHA route for medical aesthetic treatments in Dubai.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Free Zones
Can a Free Zone Company Do Business on the Mainland? The Honest Answer
Not directly, in most cases. The honest breakdown of what a free zone company can and cannot do in the UAE mainland market, and the real workarounds.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Corporate Tax and VAT
UAE VAT on Services and Exports: What Rate Applies
Exports are usually zero-rated, but place-of-supply rules for services can still trigger the standard 5% rate. The full breakdown by scenario, with examples.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Banking and Finance
How Long Does It Take to Open a UAE Business Bank Account
A realistic, stage-by-stage timeline for opening a UAE business bank account, what speeds it up, and what quietly turns weeks into months.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Compliance and UAE Law
Data Protection Law in the UAE: What Businesses Must Do
What the UAE Personal Data Protection Law requires of businesses, data subject rights, breach notification, and how DIFC and ADGM differ.
Ali Jasim··12 min read Offshore and Holding
A UAE Offshore Company for International Trade and Invoicing
How founders use a UAE offshore company to invoice international clients cleanly, what it can and cannot bill, and when you have outgrown it.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Company Formation
Setting Up a Holding Company in the UAE: When and Why
A holding company owns other companies rather than trading itself. When it makes sense in the UAE, how it is structured, and what it costs.
Ali Jasim··10 min readKnow your exact setup cost
Guides give you the lay of the land. The calculator gives you your number, itemised to the fils, from our real price book.