Investigate Business Types: Look at the types of companies you desire to own. Your intended business’s kind will determine the sort of license you require. There are options for commercial, industrial, professional, and tourist licenses.

Choose a Business Location: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has free-trade zones that offer certain benefits, such as letting foreigners own a business fully and getting tax breaks. If you choose a site outside of the free zones, you’ll probably need a local partner (an Emirate) who will own 51% of the company.

Choose an Organisation Name: Choose a business name that is unique and makes sense. Make sure it follows the rules for calling things in the UAE and doesn’t include any forbidden or sensitive words.

Business Plan: Make a full business plan that includes your business’s actions, goals, market analysis, financial projections, and strategy for growth. This is often needed when getting a licence.

Legal Structure: Decide how your business will be set up legally. It could be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability company (LLC), or something else. LLCs are the most popular choice for investors from outside the country.

Get the Right Permissions: Some business activities, especially those that involve health care, education, food, and drinks, need specific permissions from the right authorities.

Secure Locations: If your business needs a physical place, find one that fits your needs and is legal in the UAE.

Apply for Initial Approval: Send the necessary paperwork to the Department of Economic Development (DED) or the appropriate authority in the emirate you’ve selected. This means you have to show your business plan, lease agreement, and any other papers that are needed.

Trade Name Reservation: Put your chosen trade name on hold to make sure another business doesn’t use it first.

Legal Forms to Fill Out: Fill out the necessary forms and bring the necessary paperwork. Your business licence application, Memorandum of Association (MOA), and other papers may be among these.

Get approvals: Depending on what your business does, you may need more approvals from regulatory groups in your industry.

Send in an Application: Send all of the filled-out forms, necessary Certificate attestation in UAE, and fees to the right authority. Check everything twice to avoid being late.

Wait for Approval: The time it takes to get your business licence can vary, but it usually takes between a few weeks and a couple of months.

After you get your business licence, you can open bank accounts, apply for work visas for your workers, and start running your business.