Business Consulting in the UAE

Key points

Unlike some zones, the UAE does not require a large paid-up capital to be blocked in a bank account before the licence is issued. Popular activities in the UAE include consultancy, trading, technology, marketing and professional services, and most of them can be combined on a single licence. One of the reasons we point clients to the UAE is its Dubai address, which matters more than most founders realise once the business is running.

Step by step

1. 
   Step 1

   Consultation and activity selection

   GoldenKey starts by confirming your activity is available in the UAE, then agrees the licence category, visa quota and office option with you in writing.

2. 
   Step 2

   Name reservation and initial approval

   We submit your preferred trade names to the UAE and secure initial approval, normally within a day or two of submission. Your portal shows the status of this step for starting a consulting practice in the UAE in real time.

3. 
   Step 3

   Document submission and payment

   With the forms and memorandum signed, GoldenKey lodges the attested documents and settles the licence fee with the authority on your behalf.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence issued and next steps

   Once the the UAE licence and company documents are released, we move immediately to the immigration file, residence visas and the bank meeting. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for starting a consulting practice in the UAE.

Documents required

The document list for starting a consulting practice in the UAE is short, and most clients already have everything on it.

• A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
• Degree or experience evidence may be requested for some sub-activities
• Attested parent-company supporting documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
• A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months
• Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident

Pricing

In our experience, the figures below for starting a consulting practice in the UAE are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Just as important, all prices for starting a consulting practice in the UAE are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing ahead of payment.

Pricing available on request — message us for a written quotation.

Where to license business consulting

Consulting is the most common professional licence in the UAE. One licence can typically list several consulting sub-activities, and you can invoice clients worldwide from day one.

Meydan Free ZoneDubai's entrepreneurial free zone at the iconic Meydan rac…IFZA Free ZoneDubai's fastest-growing free zone — multi-activity licence…Ajman New Venture CentreAjman's newest entrepreneurial free zone — built for start…Shams Free ZoneSharjah's media free zone — creative and digital licences …

Examples of this activity

• Management consultancy
• HR consultancy
• Marketing consultancy
• Project management

Business Consulting guides by nationality

IndianPakistaniBritishRussianChineseNigerianSaudiEgyptianKenyanGermanSingaporeanOmaniFrenchItalianSpanishPortugueseDutchBelgianSwissAustrianSwedishNorwegianDanishFinnishIcelandicIrishPolishCzechSlovakHungarianRomanianBulgarianGreekCroatianSerbianSlovenianUkrainianEstonianLatvianLithuanianAmericanCanadianAustralianNew ZealanderJapaneseSouth KoreanTurkishMalaysianIndonesianThaiVietnameseFilipinoBangladeshiSouth AfricanEmiratiQatari

Why the UAE

Importantly, residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes starting a consulting practice in the UAE a route to relocation as well as a business decision. The dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for starting a consulting practice in the UAE and makes international pricing simple.

Why GoldenKey

You deal with one named consultant from the first call until your the UAE licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally. Day to day, if a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your the UAE file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the submission sit. Most of our the UAE clients come to us through referrals from other founders, which is why we take pride in keeping every promise we put in writing.

Frequently asked questions