How to Open a Supermarket or Grocery Store in Dubai (2026 Guide)
Key Highlights Grocery store and supermarket are two separate DET business classifications. Choosing the wrong one at the activity selection stage triggers a rejection at the Dubai Municipality Food Safety clearance stage. You need a commercial trade license from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) plus mandatory Dubai Municipality Food Safety clearance before your […]
How to Start a Travel Agency in Dubai, UAE (2026 Guide)
Key Highlights Dubai welcomed 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, its third consecutive record-breaking year, making it one of the world’s most active travel markets. Travel agencies in Dubai require a Tourism License, one of six official UAE business license categories, covering activities like inbound, outbound, and appointed general agents for airlines. Under Federal […]
How to Start a Jewelry Business in Dubai’s Gold Market: 2026 Legal Setup Guide
Key Highlights Foreign investors can own 100% of a Dubai jewelry business on both the mainland and in free zones like DMCC, with no local sponsor required under current UAE law. Mainland jewelry shops must obtain SIRA security clearance before DET issues any trade license, covering CCTV, vault access, and staff security training. Every gold […]
How to Start a Perfume Business in Dubai, UAE
Key Highlights Maintain full control of your brand with 100 percent foreign ownership on the mainland under the latest 2025 UAE corporate laws. Secure your IFZA free zone zero visa license starting at just AED 11,900 to kickstart your global export operations. Navigate the Dubai Municipality Montaji registration smoothly to ensure your fragrance compounds meet […]
How to Start a Metaverse Business in Dubai (2026): Step-by-Step Guide
Key Highlights Dubai’s Metaverse Strategy targets a place in the world’s top 10 metaverse economies, over 40,000 virtual jobs, and a fivefold growth in blockchain companies by 2030. VARA, established under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2022, is the world’s first regulatory authority dedicated exclusively to virtual assets, covering all of Dubai except DIFC. UAE […]
How to Set Up a Luxury Retail Business in Dubai Mall
Key Highlights A DET mainland commercial trade license is legally required to operate a physical store inside Dubai Mall. Federal Decree-Law 20 of 2025 allows 100% foreign ownership of mainland retail LLCs without a local Emirati sponsor. Retail owners must navigate updated 2026 UAE anti-evasion tax laws alongside the standard 9% Corporate Tax and 5% […]
How to Start a Data Analytics Company in Dubai in 2026
Key Highlights The UAE data analytics market is projected to reach USD 5,167.4 million by 2030, growing at a 17.7% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, making Dubai one of the highest-demand markets for analytics firms in the region. 100% foreign ownership is permitted for most professional and commercial activities on the UAE mainland since 2021, […]
How to Set Up a SaaS Business in a Dubai Free Zone (2026)
Key Highlights IFZA free zone licenses start from AED 11,900 (inclusive of VAT) under the April 2026 promotion, with one free residence visa for life on 1-visa and above packages.? The UAE has 40+ free zones offering 100% foreign ownership for SaaS businesses with no local sponsor required.? Free zone companies in the UAE pay […]
How to Open a Web3 Business in Dubai: Legal Requirements Explained (2026)
Key Highlights VARA approval is legally required before your trade license in Dubai, under Article 15(c) of Dubai Law No. (4) of 2022. Getting this sequence wrong resets your entire application. VARA license application fees start at AED 40,000 for advisory and transfer services and go up to AED 100,000 for exchange, custody, and broker-dealer […]
How to Start a Crypto Trading Company in Dubai: The VARA License Guide (2026)
Key Highlights Dubai’s licensed virtual asset market hit AED 2.5 trillion ($680 billion) in transaction volumes in 2025, making it the world’s largest regulated crypto market.? A free zone trade license alone is not enough. You need a separate VARA VASP license before you can legally operate any virtual asset activity in Dubai.? VARA licenses […]