Architecture & Design in the UAE for Icelanders

Why Dubai

On the ground, instant Licence lets some activities start within minutes with a one-year office exemption. Government and semi-government tenders in Dubai require a mainland licence and Chamber of Commerce membership, both of which GoldenKey arranges.

How Dubai works with GoldenKey

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   We pick the precise activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and settle on the legal form — normally a LLC, or a sole establishment for individual professionals.

2. 
   Step 2

   Trade name and initial approval

   Your trade name is reserved and initial approval secured from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), together with any external approvals the activity requires. Nothing is submitted for opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder until you have reviewed and approved it.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   As we tell every client, after the MOA is signed and the office tenancy registered, GoldenKey lodges the full application with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   With the licence in hand we register with the Chamber of Commerce and open the immigration and MOHRE files for your visas. We keep a written record of this step so your file for opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder is audit-ready.

Documents required

To be clear, the document list for opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder is short, and most clients already have everything on it.

• Educational certificates attested by the Iceland authorities and the UAE embassy, for professional activities
• A police clearance certificate from Iceland if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires it
• A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
• A bank statement from your Iceland bank for the last three months, which banks use to understand your profile
• The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country

Pricing

In practice, the figures below for opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder are updated by GoldenKey whenever the issuing authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. All prices for opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before any payment.

Why the UAE

In short, there are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely. Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder no longer requires a local partner.

Why GoldenKey

Crucially, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder happen the same day they are ready. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with opening an architecture practice in the UAE as an Icelandic founder, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. To be clear, because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which documents each of them will ask for on a Dubai file.

Frequently asked questions