UAE: 3 business licenses that don’t require physical office space

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur on a tight budget, or a foreign investor looking to expand their portfolio into the UAE, here’s everything you need to know about a UAE virtual license.

Four licenses that do not require office space

The Dubai Virtual Company License is an option available to Dubai Citizens and “Tax Residents” 112 countries all around the world.

This license allows investors and entrepreneurs to conduct business activities independent of location, such as online marketing or fashion and jewelry design.

This license allows you to establish and manage an online business registered in Dubai, even if you are not a UAE resident or physically reside in the country. Since the business does not require any physical presence in the UAE, you do not need to rent an office in the country to set it up.

In 2021, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) launched a “virtual license” for non-resident foreign investors from around the world to obtain business licenses to operate in Abu Dhabi.

If you are a UAE resident and want to sell products on social media or build an online business, you must apply for a Tajer e-commerce license from ADDED.

With this license, you can start a business without physical office space for three years and apply from over 1,000 ADDED approved business activities.

To learn more about licenses, click here.

In addition to the business licenses listed above, many businesses have the option to apply for a “virtual lease” in Dubai, which again allows you to set up a company without a physical office space. This is called an Estidama license, and it’s a virtual rental option for smaller companies with fewer employees.

With this license, you can acquire virtual office space from licensed business centers in Dubai and use all the amenities and administrative services of a physical office without paying rent or fees for office-related services. Essentially, employees can work from anywhere, but companies will have physical addresses, PO boxes, and reception and meeting rooms, as Dubai’s business centers provide these services.