The question of an office comes up for everyone registering a company in the UAE. The answer depends on the zone, the activity and your visa plans.
Main options
Flexi-desk
A workspace in a shared facility with a registered address. Suits online businesses and consulting. It usually provides a small number of visas and a simpler cost estimate.
Coworking and shared office
A dedicated place in a coworking space or a separate desk. This is an intermediate option that banks tend to view more favourably.
Leased office
Needed for a large number of visas, for certain activities and almost always for the mainland. It is the most expensive option but carries the most weight with banks and clients.
What the choice depends on
- Licence type and the zone's requirements
- Number of visas needed
- Work with clients in the UAE
- Your account-opening strategy
- Budget for the year ahead
Office and banks
Banks look at the real presence of a business. A company with an address but no signs of activity raises more questions than a company with a clear office. More on the requirements in the article Why Banks Close Accounts.
Office and mainland
For a mainland licence, an office is, as a rule, mandatory. This is one of the reasons why mainland costs more than a free zone.
Advice
Do not take the cheapest option without checking it against your visa plans and the bank. It is better to spend a little more now than to relocate and change the licence in a year.