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
How to File a VAT Return in the UAE and Avoid Penalties
Every VAT-registered business files a return every period, even at nil. The full filing process, the 28-day deadline, and the penalties for getting it wrong.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Visas and Residency
UAE Investor and Partner Visa: Residency Through Your Own Company
How owning shares in a UAE company gets you a self-sponsored residence visa, what qualifies, and how it compares to an employment visa.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Corporate Tax and VAT
UAE Corporate Tax, Explained Simply: The 9% Rate, the Reliefs, and What You Owe
Corporate tax without the accountant-speak: who pays, the AED 375,000 zero band, Small Business Relief, free zone treatment, and the deadlines that carry fines.
Ali Jasim··6 min read Company Formation
How to Register a Company Name in Dubai: The Rules That Trip People Up
Reserving a Dubai trade name looks simple until an application gets rejected. Every naming rule, the reservation process, and how to avoid a rejected name.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Offshore and Holding
JAFZA Offshore vs RAK ICC: Which Offshore Jurisdiction to Pick
JAFZA Offshore and RAK ICC compared on cost, banking, property and reputation, so you pick the right UAE offshore jurisdiction the first time.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Compliance and UAE Law
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Rules in the UAE Explained
Who counts as a UBO under UAE law, what registers your company must keep, and the filing and update deadlines that carry fines.
Ali Jasim··12 min read Trade Licences and Activities
Dubai Trade Licence Types: Which One Your Business Actually Needs
Commercial, professional, industrial and tourism licences, what each one allows, how your activities decide which you need, and what happens if you pick wrong.
Ali Jasim··6 min read Industry Playbooks
How to Open a Restaurant in Dubai: Licences and Approvals
The trade licence, food safety approvals, civil defence sign-off and premises rules behind opening a restaurant in Dubai.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Trade Licences and Activities
Professional Licence in the UAE: The Guide for Consultants and Service Firms
What a UAE professional licence covers, who needs one, the local service agent question, and the real steps and cost for consultants.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Free Zones
DMCC Company Formation: Is the Premium Worth It in 2026?
DMCC costs more than budget free zones. Here is exactly what that premium buys, who it makes sense for, and who should look elsewhere.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Costs and Budgeting
The Hidden Costs of Business Setup in Dubai Nobody Tells You
The fees that never make it onto the first quote: establishment cards, per-person visa sub-fees, deposits, insurance and more, explained plainly.
Ali Jasim··10 min read Banking and Finance
How to Choose the Right Bank for Your UAE Business Account
A framework for picking the right UAE bank for your business, based on your activity, structure and turnover, not on which name is biggest.
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.