Starting a business in UAE: what to expect

[Lewis Yazmine]

Hi everyone. I’m exploring the idea of launching my own company in the UAE and would love to understand the process better. What’s the real difference between setting up on the mainland, in a free zone, or offshore? How complicated is the registration process, and roughly how much does it cost to get started? I’m also curious what potential issues first-time founders usually face. Any advice from those who’ve already gone through it would be great.

[Bailey Xenia]

Hello! When it comes to business setup UAE, the process is designed to be straightforward, but choosing the right structure matters. Mainland companies allow trading anywhere in the UAE and internationally, offering flexibility but requiring more approvals and sometimes higher costs. Free zones provide 100% foreign ownership, fast licensing, and tax benefits, ideal for international operations, though local trade requires a distributor. Offshore setups are best for holding or global business, not for local trading. Costs start from about AED 20,000 depending on license type, visas, and office space. The process includes selecting a business activity, reserving a name, getting approvals, renting an office, and applying for licenses and visas. Proper preparation https://business-setup-u.ae/ helps avoid delays and hidden fees.