Launch your business in Dubai in minutes: All you need to know

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, chaired a meeting of The Executive Council of Dubai, during which he launched the ‘Invest in Dubai’ platform.

The largest one-stop-shop platform of its kind, ‘Invest in Dubai’ enables investors to obtain trade licences and launch their business easily in a matter of minutes.

Key features of the platform:

>> First integrated digital platform for setting up a business in Dubai.

>> Requires a few minutes only to obtain commercial licenses in Dubai.

>> Largest integrated and trusted platform serving over 2,000 businesses in the emirate, including free zones.

>> With standardised procedures and processes, platform allows services and transactions to be completed without visiting service centers

>> Platform features value-added services such as opening a bank account, issuing an establishment card, and other services to facilitate the establishment of companies.

>> Interactive tools offered through ‘Dubai Business Map’ feature provide investors information on the best commercial opportunities by geographical location.

>> Interactive tool provides recommendations on ideal free zone based on investor requirement and comprehensive information on the value propositions of each free zone.

Dubai, a leading business destination

Sheikh Mohammed issued directives to the team to work to consolidate Dubai’s status as a leading global business destination, stressing that no effort should be spared in achieving this vision.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council, said Dubai offers businesses and investors an attractive environment "with all the elements needed to achieve success and gain the agility needed to transform challenges into opportunities".

"Despite the prevailing global situation, Dubai has demonstrated the strength of its digital infrastructure and leveraged advanced technologies to develop economic solutions for helping investors and entrepreneurs accomplish their goals."

The confidence that international investors have placed in Dubai stems from its "agile economy, solid legislative environment, and robust, investor-friendly infrastructure", said Sheikh Hamdan. "Dubai is a city that is constantly renewing itself, offering a fertile growth environment for investors from across the world. It has created an integrated investment ecosystem powered by advanced technology and designed to support constant development, economic growth and efficiency.”

Centralised portal

An integrated portal for doing business in the emirate, ‘Invest in Dubai’ offers users various services, including commercial licensing in which government permits and approvals can be obtained from a centralised platform, eliminating the need to physically visit any service centre.

Also offered on the platform are packages and value-added services that support businesses in launching commercial projects.

Apart from providing a hassle-free process for establishing a business in Dubai, the platform enables investors to gain insights into investment opportunities (or projections for key sectors); and information on investment opportunities in commercial zones (or free zones), competitiveness assessments, locations of businesses in the city, key economic sectors; and cost of incubating businesses; in addition to sector reports and statistics on foreign direct investment (FDI).

Comprehensive experience

‘Invest in Dubai’ provides a comprehensive platform to support investors and entrepreneurs in setting up a business in Dubai. Its services, which cover the entire business cycle, assist businesses in searching for opportunities, registering trade names; getting initial approvals to issue a license; ensuring all government requirements are met; and obtaining trade licenses.

Furthermore, the platform offers a range of packages and value-added services to facilitate the launch of commercial projects.

These include opening a ticket for the new establishment as required by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, allocating labour quotas, opening a ticket at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, notarising the establishment contract by the Department of Economic Development, notarising a rental contract by the Real Estate Registration Department, and obtaining a membership in the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It allows investors to access information regarding the requirements, conditions and fees for issuing trade licenses in Dubai for more than 2,000 commercial activities. They can also immediately obtain licences for their companies, as well as other commercial ones.

A seamless, integrated, and customer-centered digital process allows users to save time and effort, sparing them the need to physically visit service centres and reduce the paperwork required to establish companies.

The platform also allows them to manage their business using a personalised dashboard that provides an overview of partners, licences, KPIs, and other useful insights.

Investor visa

Dubai encourages investors from around the world to set up their headquarters in the emirate, offering a safe home both for their companies and their families through its dedicated investor visa programme.

Teamwork

The ‘Invest in Dubai’ platform was developed by Smart Dubai and the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), under the supervision of the General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai. A team of more than 70 members, representing more than 20 local and federal government entities, worked in direct coordination with the private sector, a strategic partner in the emirate’s economic development, to develop the platform.

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