Stage 03 — Startup Register

Your trade licence and visas — start to finish

Trade name, approvals, memorandum, licence, establishment card and visas. Mainland or any free zone — one file, one advisor.

14 working days on average
5 documents needed from you
Government fees at cost

What is included

Everything between your decision and a licence in hand

What delays founders is rarely complexity — it is a small mistake in the activity code or the licensing authority, discovered too late. We settle those two decisions first.

  • Activity and authority — a costed comparison between mainland and three free zones that suit your activity.
  • Trade name reservation — three alternatives, checked against the naming rules before we submit.
  • Initial approval — plus any additional authority approvals your activity requires.
  • Memorandum and attestation — drafted and notarised.
  • Premises contract — Ejari or a flexi-desk, sized to the visa quota you need.
  • Licence and establishment card — and opening the labour file.
  • Visas — investor and staff visas, medical test and Emirates ID.

The steps

Six procedural steps across two weeks

Timings assume a standard commercial activity with complete documents. Regulated activities — medical, education, financial — need extra time, which we state up front.

01

Route-setting session

We review the activity, ownership and visa count, and leave with a decision: mainland or free zone, and which authority exactly.

Day 1
02

Trade name and initial approval

We submit the three alternatives, reserve the approved name, then obtain the initial approval.

Days 2–3
03

Memorandum and notarisation

Drafting with the partners' shares and notarising. Can be done by power of attorney if you are outside the country.

Days 4–6
04

Premises and tenancy

We choose premises that match the visa quota you need, and register the contract.

Days 5–8
05

Licence issue

Fees paid, licence issued, establishment card produced and the labour file opened.

Days 9–12
06

Visas and Emirates ID

Entry permit, status change, medical test, biometrics, then residence stamping and the ID.

Days 10–18

Packages

Three packages — priced on your activity

We do not publish a flat price, because government fees change with the activity, the authority and the visa count. You get an itemised quote within two working days.

Essential

Solo founder, no visas, unregulated activity.

  • Name reservation and initial approval
  • Licence and flexi-desk
  • Establishment card
Request a quote
Most requested

Growth

Two partners, up to 3 visas, with a bank account.

  • Everything in Essential
  • Notarised memorandum
  • 3 residence visas and Emirates IDs
  • Bank account file preparation
Request a quote

Corporate

Regulated activity, foreign branch, or 6+ visas.

  • Everything in Growth
  • Regulator approvals
  • Parent-company document attestation
  • Dedicated advisor and weekly report
Request a quote

Documents

Only five documents we need from you

We ask once, at the start of the file. Anything extra your activity requires is named in the quote — not halfway through.

  • Passport copy for each partner, valid 6+ months
  • Personal photo on a white background
  • Current entry or residence visa, if any
  • Three proposed trade names
  • A short description of the intended activity

Common questions

Questions about licensing specifically

Do I need an Emirati partner?
Most commercial and professional mainland activities now allow full foreign ownership. A list of strategic-impact activities still requires a national partner — we check your specific activity on the first call.
How many visas does the licence give me?
The visa quota is tied to the premises — its type and area — not to the licence alone. A flexi-desk typically allows one to three; a dedicated office scales with floor area.
Can I change the activity after issue?
Yes, through a licence amendment with additional fees. Choosing the right activity at the start is cheaper, which is why we spend time on it in the first session.
What if the bank account application is rejected?
We review the file and resubmit to another bank within the same engagement. The common rejection reasons are an unclear activity and weak source-of-funds evidence — we address both before submitting.

After licensing

What usually comes next

All services
05

Startup LaunchLaunch

Bank account, premises and the opening campaign.
06

Startup OperateOperate

Accounting, tax and payroll from month one.
Ongoing

Startup SupportSupport

Renewal alerts and licence amendments all year.

Ready to start? Book a free consultation now

Tell us the activity, nationality and visa count, and we will give you a mainland-versus-free-zone comparison in numbers.

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