FAQs - One Stop International

Quick and clear answers to your key questions

01How do I know which licence to take and where?

Where is your client base, who are your customers and where do they reside in the UAE?

What is your activity? Once this is established the type of licence you need is clear. If you are in a service-based industry such as Consulting then you will be a Professional Service Licence holder. If you wish to trade goods then you will need Limited Liability (LLC).

02What is Mainland/Onshore licencing?

With this licence you can trade/provide services to all companies wherever they reside.

03I already have a successful business in my home country how do I open a branch in Dubai?

To open a branch of your successful business in Dubai, you can follow a streamlined process:

Choose the Right Jurisdiction: Depending on the nature of your business, you can either set up in a mainland or free zone. Mainland branches offer more freedom to trade within the UAE market, while free zone branches have tax benefits and allow full foreign ownership.
Register with Authorities:
- For mainland, register your business with the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai.
- For free zones, register with the relevant free zone authority where you intend to open your branch.
Obtain Approvals: You may need specific government approvals, especially if your business is in a regulated industry.
Documentation: Prepare and submit the required documents, including:
- Parent company’s certificate of incorporation
- Board resolution approving the branch opening
- Notarized Memorandum of Association (MOA)
Local Service Agent (if applicable): For certain business activities, a Local Service Agent (LSA) may be required, especially in mainland Dubai.
Branch Office License: Once all approvals are in place, you’ll obtain a branch office license that allows you to legally operate in Dubai.
Bank Account & Visas: After incorporation, you can open a corporate bank account and apply for residency visas for employees.

Opening a branch in Dubai gives you access to a growing market and several economic benefits, including zero corporate tax in free zones and strategic access to global markets.

04What are Offshore/Zoned areas?

Offshore/Zone areas have certain restrictions and laws pertaining to types of business and where they can supply services/goods.

05Do I need an office?

Yes, the Licensing Dept. and Labour Dept. both require you to have a registered office address in order to grant employee visas, labour cards and work permits.

Your license will not be granted unless you supply a registered office tenancy contract with Ejari.

06What if I am a sole proprietor and have investors who want to partner and expand my business or I decide to sell the business. How does this alter the current licence structure?

If you have a small business and decide at a later stage to take on an investor or you are approached partner/sell with a larger concern or individual, you can reorganize the structure to accommodate any new individuals or company and become a partnership. This entails submitting an application to the Economic Dept. to sell shares to the new partner/owner and then add a partner(s) via an amendment to the incorporation documentation which is signed in the courts to officiate the procedure.

07Why do I need a local partner?

All foreign-owned companies need an official sponsor in the capacity of an Emirati person/company.

The type of Licence established determines the role of the sponsor within the company, not every licence type requires an Emirati person/company 51%, shareholder.

08Is the Free Zone my only option for 100% owned company?

No, onshore/mainland licencing offers a 100% ownership company structure and this falls under the Professional Licence category that is issued to individuals or companies that wish to provide advisory services, consultancy such as Human Resources, Management, Facilities etc.

09What is Wages Protection Scheme (WPS) do I need to register and how do I register?

The Wages Protection Scheme (WPS) is a Law established in 2009 to protect employees and ensure that all employers pay their employee’s salaries through Central Bank.

Every company must make contact with their Company Bank Account Manager to enrol on Wages Protection Scheme. All banks in the UAE are fully aware of the process and will guide you on what is required to comply with the law.

As soon as you hire your new employee the visa and work permits are issued they are registered to receive their salary through the WPS procedure. At the end of each working month, all salary transfers are reported to the Ministry of Labour, ensuring the Authorities know the company has paid the employee month on month. Any lapse in regular payments to registered employees will result in the company being blocked from further transactions or in some cases a fine.

10Should all employees have medical insurance and who pays?

All employees working for a company must be provided with local medical insurance. This is paid for and provided by the company.

11Should my housemaid have medical insurance and do I pay?

Yes. Anyone sponsoring a housemaid/nanny here in the UAE must provide suitable local medical insurance cover for the duration of the visa term.

12If my baby is born in the UAE how do I get their residence visa?

Having your baby in a different country to your country of birth takes some planning. The UAE Authorities realise this and give all new parents 120 days from the date of birth, affording you time to get the baby’s birth certificate notarized by the hospital, the baby’s passport organized with your consulate/embassy and then finally the process of gaining the UAE residence visa. Once this is complete you and your newborn can travel outside of the UAE.

13Can I get a work visa in the UAE without having a job?

No, all persons wanting to work in the UAE must complete interviews, once offered a role within a company the organisation applies for both the official work permit and employment visa.

14What is the attestation procedure?

It is a process bearing witness to the authenticity of a document/certificate and was issued and signed by a competent Authority along with sets of stamps placed to affirm the document/certificate is genuine.

To attest any document for use in the UAE, the first thing that needs to happen is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of any country needs to declare the authenticity of the certificate/document.

First, the Ministry declares the authenticity of the document/certificate by stamping their approval on a true copy or original. To be able to use that authenticated document/certificate here in the UAE the UAE Embassy of that same country needs to also stamp that document alongside the Ministry’s stamp and signature. Now the document will have 2 attested stamps this is partial attestation. The final step to having a fully attestation document for use in the UAE is to have the final third stamp placed from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here in UAE.