Thinking about starting a business in the UAE

[JonesJameson]

Hey everyone! I’ve been seriously thinking about opening a small company in the UAE, but I’m still trying to wrap my head around how everything works. From what I understand, there are a few different options - mainland, free zone, and offshore - and each one has its own pros and cons. How hard is it to actually register a business there, and what’s the real difference between these setups? Also, how much money and time should I plan for?

[Hill Jorge]

Hi! I went through the process recently, and it’s actually not as complicated as it seems. According to the info on https://business-setup-u.ae/ the UAE gives you a lot of flexibility depending on your business type. If you pick a mainland setup, you can trade anywhere in the country and internationally, but it comes with more paperwork and slightly higher costs. Free zones are faster and easier to register in - plus you keep 100% ownership - but you’ll need a local distributor to sell directly inside the UAE. Offshore setups are mostly for holding assets or international trade, not local operations. Overall, it can cost from AED 20,000 and take just a few weeks if your documents are ready.