Which format fits
For online sales outside the UAE, a free zone with a trading licence is usually enough. If you sell physical goods inside the country, you will need a trading licence and, as a rule, mainland or an equivalent regime. Clarify where the warehouse will be.
What to pay attention to
- Warehousing and delivery affect the choice of zone: some zones work together with logistics hubs.
- Acquiring and payment providers set their own requirements for the company and the website.
- Returns and disputed payments are best kept separate from other assets, so it makes sense to hold the trading company apart from the holding company.
Structure and asset protection
The trading company deals with suppliers and buyers. The brand, domains and retained profit are held by a holding company. If you run several stores, each can be kept in its own company.
The overall logic of the structure is described on the page “Asset protection and ownership structures”.
Bank account
The bank will want to see suppliers, turnover and the countries of your buyers. For higher-risk goods (electronics, cosmetics), prepare origin and import documents.
More: bank account opening.
Common mistakes
- A zone is registered without considering the warehouse and delivery
- Payments are received into a personal account instead of a corporate one
Where to start
Tell us about your business. We will review your situation and propose a company format, a jurisdiction and an ownership structure. You can compare the options in the article “Free zone or mainland”, and costs are covered in the article “How much does it cost to open a company in Dubai”.
Regulations and licensing requirements change. Current conditions must be verified before launch. The decision to open an account is made by the bank. Tax consequences depend on your residency.