articles and comparisons
Guides to starting a business in the UAE
Straight reads on starting and running a business in the UAE. The honest comparisons and the real numbers, from the team that sets up businesses here.
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comparison
Mainland vs free zone: which fits your business
Free zone vs mainland in the UAE: who you can sell to, visas, ownership and corporate tax, from official sources. Then compare the cost of each.
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What a trade licence costs in Dubai in 2026
Dubai trade licence fees from official sources, the instant licence, and what changes the price on the mainland and in a free zone.
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F&B vs retail: which is cheaper to launch
Fit-out, rent, licences and staff, side by side. Where a kitchen beats a shop, and where it really does not.
licensing guide
Do you need an office for a UAE business licence?
When a physical office is required, when a home, online or virtual office option may work, and what to confirm before you sign a lease.
readmoney
VAT for new founders in the UAE
When you must register for UAE VAT, the threshold, when you can register early and what to prepare, from Federal Tax Authority sources.
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How to open a company in the UAE, step by step
The steps to open a company in the UAE, on the mainland and in a free zone, and what to do after the licence. From official pages.
readguide
How to calculate end of service gratuity in the private sector
How to calculate end of service gratuity in the UAE private sector: the official rule in days, a worked example and when it is paid.
readfunding guide
Small business funding options in the UAE
The government funding and support programmes for small businesses in the UAE, federal and by emirate, who each one is for, and what to prepare first.
readlocation guide
Dubai or another emirate for your first UAE business?
Which emirate fits your first UAE business? A practical way to compare Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, then work out the cost for each.
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