Blog | DUQE

How to Start an Online Business in Dubai With a Free Zone Licence

To start an online business in Dubai, you need the right licence activity, a suitable company structure, and a clear plan for visas, banking, payments, VAT, and corporate tax. To launch properly: Choose a business activity that matches how you earn revenue. Decide whether a Dubai free zone or mainland setup fits your model. Prepare […]

Published 20 August 2026, 10 minute read.

Business Setup in Dubai: Build the Right Company from the Start

Business setup in Dubai is not just a licence application. It is the process of structuring a company around its activity, ownership, workspace, visas, banking and tax obligations, so the business can operate properly from the start. For founders, the core sequence is: Choose the right business activity before selecting a package. Confirm whether a […]

Published 18 August 2026, 10 minute read.

VAT in the UAE: Rates, Registration and Free Zone Rules for Businesses

VAT in the UAE is a 5% indirect tax on most goods and services, introduced on 1 January 2018 under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 and administered by the Federal Tax Authority. Businesses whose taxable supplies and imports exceed 375,000 in any 12-month period, or are expected to exceed that amount in the […]

Published 16 August 2026, 16 minute read.

Business Partnerships in Dubai for Founders and Investors

Business partnerships in Dubai can be structured as a general partnership, limited partnership, civil company, multi-shareholder LLC, contractual joint venture Dubai arrangement, or free zone company with more than one shareholder. The right structure depends on liability, ownership, licensed activity, tax treatment, visa needs and mainland or free zone access. For most founder teams, the […]

Published 14 August 2026, 16 minute read.

Joint Venture in Dubai: Free Zone and Mainland Structures for Founders

A joint venture in Dubai is not created by choosing a standalone “joint venture company” form. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies, onshore businesses are formed through recognised company structures, including limited liability companies, partnerships and joint stock companies. In practice, founders usually structure a joint venture in one of two […]

Published 12 August 2026, 16 minute read.

Certificate of Incorporation in Dubai: Issuance and Purpose

A certificate of incorporation in Dubai is the official document that confirms a company has been incorporated or registered by the relevant authority. It becomes important once the business moves from setup into bank account opening, VAT registration, and the next stage of company administration. If you are setting up in a Dubai free zone, […]

Published 25 May 2026, 16 minute read.

Commercial Brokerage Licence Dubai: How to Choose the Right Setup Route

A commercial brokerage licence in Dubai allows a business to act as an intermediary between buyers and sellers and earn a fee or commission for doing so. Under the UAE’s Commercial Transactions Law, a broker facilitates the transaction rather than becoming a party to it, unless expressly authorised otherwise. That legal framework shapes the full […]

Published 22 May 2026, 16 minute read.

UAE VAT Registration: Thresholds, Process, and Obligations in 2026

UAE VAT registration is the process of registering a business with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) when a UAE-resident business’s taxable supplies and imports exceed 375,000 over the previous 12 months, or are expected to exceed that threshold in the next 30 days. A business may also register voluntarily from 187,500 based on […]

Published 21 May 2026, 16 minute read.