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UAE Business and Trade: Frequently Asked Questions
Commercial Places and Emirates
UAE is a federation of 7 Emirates:
● Abu Dhabi
● Dubai
● Sharjah
● Ajman
● Umm Al Quwain
● Ras Al Khaimah
● Fujairah
All these emirates are popular centers for trade and commerce. They all have
Free Trade Zones.
Free Trade Zones
The leading free zones in UAE are:
● Jebel Ali Free Zone
● Dubai Airport Free Zone
● Dubai Internet City
● Dubai Media City
● SAIF Zone
● Hamriyah Free Zone
● Ajman Free Zone
● Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone
: As of June 1, 2021, the UAE government significantly amended the
Commercial Companies Law, allowing 100% foreign ownership of onshore
companies in most sectors. This change removed the previous requirement for a
UAE national to hold a minimum of 51% of shares in a trading concern. However,
certain "strategic impact" activities, such as those in security, defense, banking,
insurance, and telecommunications, may still have ownership restrictions. In free
trade zones, expatriates have always been able to set up a firm with 100%
ownership.
The legal forms are:
● Branch of Foreign Company
● Free Zone Establishment
● Free Zone Company
Licensing and Approvals
The Department of Economic Development, Dubai has classified specific
activities that the L.L.C is permitted to undertake. The company can practice
multiple activities with a General Trading License, with additional fees levied by
licensing authorities in the year of incorporation.
Activities requiring special approval include:
● Medical, Pharmacy etc. - Ministry of Health
● Air Transport, Air Cargo etc. - Department of Civil Aviation
● Financial Institutions, Banks, Money Exchange etc. - Central Bank
● New Industrial Project, Expansion - Ministry of Finance and Industry
● Publishing, Printing, Newspaper, Advertising, Video film, Photography etc. - Ministry of Information
● Education, Training etc. - Ministry of Education
● Agriculture, Veterinary etc. - Ministry of Agriculture
● Customs Clearance, Freight Forwarding, Sea Cargo etc. - Seaports &
Customs Authority
● Telecommunication Equipment - Ministry of Communication
● Branch of Foreign Company, Insurance Company, Audit Firm etc. - Ministry
of Economy & Commerce
Taxation and Visas
Yes, income derived from a Business or Business Activity conducted in the UAE by a natural person is subject to Corporate Tax and included in the Turnover threshold.
Visa (Residence Permit) shall be issued after obtaining the trade license and
completing the immigration formalities.
The validity of a residence visa varies based on its type and the sponsor.
Standard sponsored visas can be valid for 1, 2, or 3 years. The UAE also offers a
Golden Visa, a long-term, renewable residence visa (5 or 10 years) for eligible
individuals such as investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, skilled professionals, and
outstanding students.
You can sponsor your wife and children once your residence permit formalities
are completed and if certain conditions are met.
The legal documents required are your marriage certificate and the children's
birth certificate duly attested from UAE Embassy.
Travel and Property
If I set up a company in Dubai and obtain a residence permit, can I travel to other emirates freely?
Yes, you can travel to other emirates since the residence permit is valid for the
entire UAE.
In Dubai, an expatriate can buy properties offered by many developers such
as Emaar Properties, Nakheel Corporation, and Jumeirah Residence, which are
available in certain demarcated areas.
Business Environment
The country is very secure for investment and living as the majority of the UAE
population consists of expatriates.
The government departments charge an import duty of 5% for products
imported to the mainland. However, companies operating in free zones are
exempted from import duty. Besides this, no other duty or levy is charged by the
government.
Port Facilities
UAE has impressive port facilities on its west and east coasts that enable easy
access to even the world's largest container ships. The ports in UAE include:
● Mina Zayed
● Port Rashid
● Jebel Ali Port (the largest man-made port in the world)
● Port Khalid
● Khor Fakkan Port
● Fujairah Port
Lifestyle and Education
As the majority of the UAE population comprises expatriates from around the
world, there are schools offering American, British, Indian, Pakistani, and
European curricula.
Recreational facilities are available in most leading cities in UAE and range
from cinema, theatre, theme parks, and water sports, besides those unique to
this region like desert safari.
The climate in UAE is mostly sunny. During summer, the temperature often
rises above 42°C. Winter occurs during the months of October and April and is
quite cool with temperatures going down to 14°C.
Trademarks
No, but there are exclusive advantages in registration like:
● Notice to the public of the registrant's claim of ownership
● Legal presumption of ownership nationwide
● Exclusive right to use the mark on goods or services
A trademark can be registrable only if it is:
● New (not used or registered before on similar products/services)
● Distinctive (more than an obvious word or picture)
● Not describing the nature or features of the product/service
By conducting searches of local and international databases to check:
● Previous registrations
● Existing applications
● Marks in use (even if not registered)
Benefits include:
● Constructive nationwide notice of trademark ownership
● Evidence of trademark ownership
● Ability to invoke federal court jurisdiction
● Basis for obtaining foreign registrations
● Potential prevention of infringing goods importation
A federally registered trademark lasts up to 10 years and can last indefinitely if
well maintained.
To prevent cancellation:
● File a Section 8 Declaration of Use between the fifth and sixth year of
registration
● Make subsequent filings every 10 years
● Optionally file a Declaration of Incontestability after five years of continuous
use
Copyrights
Copyright protects "original works of authorship" including:
● Literary works
● Musical works
● Dramatic works
● Pantomimes and choreographic works
● Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
● Motion pictures and audiovisual works
● Sound recordings
● Architectural works
For works created on or after January 1, 1978, protection typically lasts for the
author's life plus an additional 70 years after the author's death.