Doing Business in Dubai City

Setting up

Source: UAE Government Portal: Steps to start a business on the mainland; UAE Government Portal: National Economic Register, business licensing authorities; UAE Government Portal: Accessing services for mainland companies^5,6,7

The eight licence types are industrial, commercial, professional, eTrader, dual, instant, SME and Intelaq. Trade names are booked with the economic department online, and the licence fee must be paid within 30 days of the payment voucher.⁵

The city

Dubai city is the emirate's capital. The Creek divides it into Deira in the north and Bur Dubai in the south, and a new address system divided the emirate into 14 districts in 2016.¹

Free zones

• Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
• Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA)
• Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
• Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ)
• Dubai South
• Dubai Silicon Oasis
• Dubai Internet City
• Dubai Healthcare City
• Dubai CommerCity
• Meydan Free Zone

Source: UAE Government Portal: Starting a business in a free zone⁸

Port and airports

• Jebel Ali Port: 4 terminals, more than 100 berths and 25 km of quay
• Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC)

Source: Dubai Media Office: DP World records highest cargo volumes at Jebel Ali Port (February 2025); UAE Government Portal: Fact sheet^3,4