UAE: How to set up a business in free zone in 6 easy steps

The ease of business setup, quick document processing time and transparent laws are the key reasons that attract entrepreneurs from all over the world to the UAE. In addition, in 2023 the UAE Ministry of Economy changed the minimum age for opening a business - now you can start a business in the country from the age of 18.

Setting up a business in a free zone in the Emirates is relatively easy. The whole process takes 6 simple steps.

Step 1: Choosing license type

The first step in the process is to determine the nature and category of your business. It will be necessary to obtain the appropriate license in order to conduct business activities in a particular free zone.

Some of the business categories in the country include:

• Commercial Trade
• Consulting services
• Educational services
• E-commerce
• Freelance work, etc.

Step 2: Selecting legal structure

There are three organizational and legal forms of conducting a business in free zones in the UAE, namely:

• Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ LLC)
• Free Zone Company (FZ Co.)
• Free Zone Establishment (FZE).

Step 3: Trade name registration

The trade name is the name o...