How to Open a Company in Dubai?

🏛️ Official UAE Government Business Setup Resources

These are the real, authoritative websites where you can register, license, or research business setup directly:

1. UAE Ministry of Economy — Business Establishment Guide

This federal portal explains how to start a business in UAE and lists all emirate economic departments. It also links to trade-name rules, types of licenses, and general procedures. Ministry of Education

🇦🇪 Official site: Ministry of Economy – Establishing a Business in the UAE — https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/establishing-business-in-the-uae

🏙️ Dubai Government — Mainland & Free Zone Setup

2. Dubai Government Official Portal

This is Dubai’s central government portal where you can find starter guides, choose mainland vs free-zone setup, and access direct links to licensing authorities. dda

🌐 Official site: dubai.ae – Starting a Business in Dubai — https://www.dubai.ae/starting-a-business

Here you’ll find:

• Mainland business registration steps
  
  

• Trade license options (commercial, professional, industrial, etc.)
  
  

• Steps to reserve trade names and get a license
  
  

• Links to online government services for initial approval and license issuance dda
  
  

🏢 Dubai Free Zone Authorities

Free zones are special jurisdictions that usually allow 100% foreign ownership, streamlined registration, and tax benefits. Every free zone has its own licensing authority and official portal:

🔗 Examples of Official Free Zone Authorities

🛠️ Typical Steps (Official) to Register Your Business

Whether mainland or free zone, the official general flow looks like this:

Step 1: Decide on Mainland vs Free Zone

• Mainland: Register with Dubai Dept. of Economy & Tourism (formerly DED) on the official dubai.ae portal. dda
  
  

• Free Zone: Choose the specific zone that matches your business activity and goals (e.g., DMCC for trading, Media City for creative industries). dda
  
  

Step 2: Choose Business Activity & Legal Form

Your chosen activity determines the type of license (commercial, consultancy, e-commerce, etc.) and legal structure. Ministry of Education

Step 3: Reserve Trade Name

Submit your preferred company name via the relevant authority’s official portal (mainland or free zone). dda

Step 4: Apply for Initial Approval

Authorities review your application and give initial approval so you can proceed with licensing. Ministry of Education

Step 5: Submit Documents & Pay Fees

You provide passports, legal forms, MOA, and pay official government license fees online. Ministry of Education

Step 6: Receive Your License

Once cleared, you get your trade license and can open a business bank account (Dubai has drastically reduced bank account opening times). The Times of India

Step 7: Apply for Visas

As a company owner, you can usually apply for investor visas/residence visas through the licensing authority.

🧭 Useful Government & Authority Portals to Bookmark

Here are key official web destinations you’ll use:

🌐 UAE Ministry of Economy – business setup info
https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/establishing-business-in-the-uae

🌐 Dubai Government – Start a Business
https://www.dubai.ae/starting-a-business

📌 Pro Tips Before You Start

✨ Most registration work is done online through government portals — no need for unknown intermediaries. dda
✨ Free zones have specific activity lists and pricing — pick one that matches your business goal. dda
✨ Mainland companies can now be 100% foreign owned in many sectors under updated UAE commercial law.
✨ Consider consulting a registered business setup advisor if you want help with documentation and bank setup.

Can trading and architecture be under one company?

Usually: no.
In practice, you will need 2 separate licenses, and very often 2 separate companies.

Now let’s unfold why, without legal fog.

Why one company is problematic

1. Different license families

In the UAE, business activities are grouped into strict buckets:

• Trading → Commercial license
  Import, export, buying, selling goods
  
  

• Architecture → Professional license
  Design, consultancy, engineering, regulated profession
  
  

You’re trying to mix a warehouse mindset with a drawing board mindset. The authorities don’t like that marriage in one license.

2. Architecture is a regulated profession

Architecture is not just “design work” in UAE terms:

• Requires specific activity codes
  
  

• Often needs:
  
  

  • Recognized degree
    
    

  • Experience certificates
    
    

  • Sometimes local authority approvals
    
    

• In mainland Dubai, architecture usually falls under:
  
  

  • Dubai Municipality
    
    

  • Engineers & consultants regulations
    
    

Trading licenses do not meet these requirements.

3. Free zones are even stricter

Most free zones say something like:

“You may only conduct activities listed on your license, within the same category.”

So:

• Trading + Trading ✅
  
  

• Consultancy + Consultancy ✅
  
  

• Trading + Architecture ❌
  
  

They rarely allow mixing commercial and professional activities.

Your realistic options (ranked)

✅ Option 1: Two separate companies (recommended)

This is the cleanest and most common setup.

Company A

• Activity: Trading
  
  

• License: Commercial
  
  

• Free zone friendly
  
  

• Lower compliance
  
  

Company B

• Activity: Architecture / Architectural Consultancy
  
  

• License: Professional
  
  

• Mainland or specific free zone
  
  

• Meets professional regulations
  
  

💡 Bonus:
This protects you legally. If one company gets sued or fined, the other sleeps peacefully.

⚠️ Option 2: One holding company + two subsidiaries

More complex, more expensive, but elegant.

• Holding company owns:
  
  

  • Trading company
    
    

  • Architecture company
    
    

Useful if:

• You plan to scale
  
  

• You want clean accounting
  
  

• You want future investors
  
  

Not necessary unless you’re thinking big from day one.

❌ Option 3: One company, both activities

Rarely approved, and when approved:

• Heavy restrictions
  
  

• Extra approvals
  
  

• Banking headaches
  
  

• Risk of license suspension
  
  

Not worth the stress.

Mainland vs Free Zone recommendation (for you)

Given your background (architecture + trading):

Architecture

• Mainland Dubai or
  
  

• Professional-focused free zone (limited choices)
  
  

Why:

• Easier approval for consultancy
  
  

• Can work directly with UAE clients
  
  

• Better credibility for architectural services
  
  

Trading

• Free zone (DMCC, IFZA, JAFZA, etc.)
  
  

Why:

• 100% ownership
  
  

• Easier import/export
  
  

• Faster setup
  
  

• Lower ongoing compliance
  
  

Cost reality (very rough ranges)

Just to calibrate expectations:

• Trading free zone company:
  💰 ~€4,000–€8,000 initial
  
  

• Architecture professional company:
  💰 ~€6,000–€12,000 initial
  (depends on approvals and visas)
  
  

Bottom line 🧭

• Yes, you can do both
  
  

• No, not realistically under one company
  
  

• Two companies = safer, cleaner, scalable
  
  

If you want, tell me:

1. Where your clients will be (UAE or international)
   
   

2. Whether architecture is consultancy only or design + supervision
   
   

3. Whether trading is physical goods or digital