Dubai business knowledge base

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.

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Free Zones

Every Free Zone in the UAE: The Complete List by Emirate

More than forty free zones across seven emirates, grouped and explained. What each family is for and how to narrow the list.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Company Formation

Business Setup in Umm Al Quwain

The UAE smallest economy offers one of its cheapest licences. What UAQ Free Trade Zone actually gives you, and what it does not.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Company Formation

Business Setup in Fujairah: The East Coast Advantage

Fujairah sits outside the Strait of Hormuz on the Gulf of Oman. Why that matters commercially, and the three ways to set up there.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Company Formation

Business Setup in Ras Al Khaimah: The Whole Emirate Explained

RAK has a free zone, an offshore registry, ports and cheap industrial land. Which of the four routes fits which business.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Industry Playbooks

Labour Accommodation and Bed Space in Dubai: What Is Legal and What Is Not

Bed space in a residential flat is illegal in Dubai. Licensed labour accommodation is a real business. This guide separates the two honestly.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Company Formation

Business Setup in Ajman and Ajman Free Zone

Ajman offers some of the lowest cost licences in the UAE within commuting distance of Dubai. What you get, what you give up.

Ali Jasim··11 min read
Industry Playbooks

How to Start a Recruitment Agency in Dubai

Recruitment, manpower supply and HR consultancy are three different licences in the UAE. Which one you need, the guarantee, and the rule about worker fees.

Ali Jasim··11 min read
Industry Playbooks

How to Start a Maintenance and Handyman Company in Dubai

Technical services in Dubai need municipality approval and qualified staff. The activities, the approvals, the labour cost and how contracts work.

Ali Jasim··11 min read
Industry Playbooks

How to Start a Gold and Jewellery Trading Business in Dubai

Gold in Dubai is a serious regulated trade. The licence options, hallmarking, the AML obligations that apply from day one, and real costs.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Industry Playbooks

How to Start a Medical Equipment Trading Business in Dubai

Devices are registered, not just imported. The MOHAP route, storage rules, free zone or mainland, and who you can actually sell to.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Industry Playbooks

How to Open a Gym or Fitness Studio in Dubai

Fitness in Dubai needs sports authority approval, trainer certification and a premises that passes inspection. The route, costs and membership economics.

Ali Jasim··10 min read
Industry Playbooks

How to Open a Medical Clinic in Dubai: The DHA Licence Route

Two licences, not one: the facility and every practitioner. The DHA route, the layout approval, DataFlow and the real timeline.

Ali Jasim··11 min read
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Guides give you the lay of the land. The calculator gives you your number, itemised to the fils, from our real price book.