Providing support and advice to investors for company formation in the UAE in collaboration with government entities, and offering registration licensing,  and necessary permit services to start business operations.

Modern Services Company (MSC) provides all the requirements to establish your company in Dubai, including your residency and commercial registration in just three steps.

It is well-known that the UAE is a prominent investment destination for those looking to invest in the Arab region and the Middle East. Among the seven emirates, Dubai attracts the most attention from tourists and investors due to its strategic location, rich investment market, rapid development, and the numerous advantages and facilities it offers to investors and business owners.

Dubai offers many benefits to investors. Whether you want to establish a large, small, or medium-sized company, you need to go through several procedures and steps.

Modern Services Company (MSC) helps you with all the information you need to start your business in Dubai, including the necessary procedures for establishing a project in Dubai, investment opportunities, and many other details.

What are the steps to establish a company in Dubai?

1. Determine the nature of the business or company activity
2. Initial approval
3. Choose a company location
4. Obtain approvals from relevant authorities for the company’s activity
5. Register the trade name
6. Obtain the license

Steps to Establish a Company in Dubai

The UAE government offers numerous privileges and facilities to assist investors in setting up investment activity on its soil. However, certain steps must be followed precisely to start your project correctly. These procedures are divided into several stages, and companies are categorized based on their commercial activity into three types:

• Commercial
• Professional
• Industrial

Determining the company’s activity helps define several aspects, including the type and legal form of the company and the authorities from which approval must be obtained. Below are the legal forms of companies and the activities permitted within the UAE.

Determining the Legal Form of the Company

You need to determine the legal form of your company to register your commercial activity with the relevant authorities, such as the Department of Economic Development. Companies are classified based on their legal form into five types:

• Limited Liability Company
• Partnership Company
• Public Joint Stock Company
• Civil Company
• Private Joint Stock Company

Initial Approval

You can obtain initial approval after completing the initial steps in the company establishment process in Dubai to help you proceed with obtaining approval from all relevant authorities as needed. However, foreign investors must obtain approval from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs before getting initial approval.

Choosing a Company Location

There are several other factors to consider when choosing the location:

• The new license owner or the UAE national partner must also be the owner or partner in the existing license at the location.
• The total number of licenses owned by the UAE national at the same location should not exceed 10 licenses under the multiple licenses system.
• The company location area should not be less than 200 square feet.

Approvals from Relevant Authorities

Different business activities require approvals from relevant authorities, which you can inquire about at the Department of Economic Development. This includes:

• The Ministry of Economy for insurance-related activities
• The Ministry of Interior for transportation-related businesses
• The Ministry of Justice for activities involving legal consultancy
• The Civil Defense for fire-fighting equipment sales activities

Registering the Trade Name

The trade name of the company plays a crucial role in determining the type of license granted. When choosing a trade name, several criteria and conditions must be met, including:

• The name should not contain inappropriate language and should not violate public morals.
• The name should not be duplicated or used by another company.
• The company name should reflect its commercial activity.

Obtaining the License

• Attach the required documents for the previous steps and submit them to the Department of Economic Development.
• Pay the commercial license fees.

Registering Membership with the Chamber of Commerce

To register membership with the Chamber of Commerce, you need to provide the following requirements:

• A copy of the license issued by the relevant authority in the Emirate of Dubai.
• Authorized signatures on the authorized signatories card. Signatory cards can be obtained from any branch of the Dubai Chamber, along with passport copies of all authorized signatories. (Authorization is accepted after a notarized agreement or power of attorney).
• A copy of the Articles of Association (Memorandum of Association), applicable to limited liability companies and branches of foreign companies.
• A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation (applicable to companies operating in free zones).
• Pay the fees (if not already paid with the license extraction fees at the Department of Economic Development).