Employers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi must provide health insurance, and since 1 January 2025 a policy is required to issue or renew residence permits. Here is what the law and the UAE government portal say.
Promoting Your Own Business in the UAE: Do You Need an Advertiser Permit?
Promoting your own business on social media? Find out when the UAE Advertiser Permit exemption applies, and what changes for sponsorships, staff, creators and agencies.
How to Open a Restaurant or Café in Dubai: License, Layout Approval and Food Permits
Opening a restaurant or café in Dubai takes more than a trade license. You also need Dubai Municipality approvals for the layout, a food safety programme, a registered Person in Charge and a food permit before you serve a customer. This guide explains the order of the steps, what each authority checks and the mistakes […]
What Is a UAE Foundation? A Guide to Asset Ownership, Wealth Structuring and Succession Planning
A UAE foundation is a separate legal entity that owns assets in its own name and has no shareholders. It can help you organise the ownership of properties, business shares, investments and other assets, set clear decision-making rules and plan how those assets are managed beyond your lifetime. This guide explains what a foundation does, […]
Corporate Tax Filed: What Comes Next for Your UAE Business?
Once your Corporate Tax return is submitted, the next compliance deadline is often closer than you think. For many established UAE businesses with a 31 December year-end, 30 September 2026 marked the second annual Corporate Tax filing deadline, covering the 2025 financial year. The weeks after filing are the right time to review what needs […]
Residence Visas for Company Owners in the UAE (2026)
A company owner in the UAE can get residency through the company itself, through a long-term programme such as the Green Visa or the Golden Visa, or on an employment visa. The right route depends on your share of the company, the capital behind it and how long you want to stay. For how DMCC […]
Best Free Zone for an IT or Software Company in the UAE (2026)
The best free zone for an IT or software company depends on what you want from the zone. Dubai Internet City and Dubai Silicon Oasis offer tech communities and facilities, Meydan offers a Dubai license with a wide activity list from AED 12,500, and RAKEZ and SPC offer lower entry costs outside Dubai. Key takeaways […]
How Much Does a Freelance Visa Cost in Dubai?
The cost of a freelance visa in Dubai depends on three things: which free zone issues it, whether the visa is bundled with the license, and how long it lasts. This guide lists each cost line and shows the published prices from two of the main zones. Key takeaways The total has four parts: license, […]
UAE Company Legal Structures Compared: LLC, Sole, Civil, Branch and More
The legal structure you pick decides who owns the company, how much personal liability you carry and where you can trade. It is one of the few choices that is awkward to change later, so it is worth settling before you reserve a name. This guide compares the structures available in the UAE and shows […]
Virtual CFO Services in Dubai: What They Actually Cover
A virtual CFO gives a growing UAE business senior financial strategy and oversight without the cost of a full-time in-house Chief Financial Officer, working on a fractional or project basis instead. Key Takeaways A virtual CFO is not a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping and basic accounting are transactional; a virtual CFO works at the strategic financial decision-making […]