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So, you’ve made the decision to open in the UAE and you’re about to land, the sun is shining, you’ve got a half-decent tan forming, and you’re buzzing to build something big. Nice one. But now what?
We’ve partnered with Strive to help guide Founders through the reality of what it’s really like to get set up and start in the UAE. Strive are the leading experts when it comes to company formation in the UAE. They offer a tailored approach and sort everything when it comes to getting set up to operate in the UAE.
Once you’re operational, that’s where we step in to keep things legally sound, contracts, compliance, banking, hiring, all covered so you can hit the ground running knowing you’re legally compliant.
Those first 90 days can be a whirlwind: equal parts “this place is unreal” and “why is getting a bank account harder than raising a Series A?” We’ve been through it ourselves, and we’ve helped plenty of founders do the same.
Together with Strive, we’ve pulled together your no-nonsense guide to surviving (and thriving) in your first three months in the UAE.
Your first few weeks will be full of admin. You’ll be getting your Emirates ID, having your medical and biometrics, getting your residency permit, sorting all your insurance - personal and business and our personal favourite... getting your company stamp. So much stamping (more on that later).
Key things you’ll need:
🗒️ Our tip: Buffer time into everything. Whilst business deals with other businesses can move very fast, business services and anything administrative to operate your business doesn't move at UK startup speed (yet). It varies vastly based on where you register and if your company has a complex cap table with at least one corporate investor, expect things to take a little longer.
This decision takes place before you land, but will shape everything. From your ability to trade, hire, get visas, even convert a driving licence.
Freezone: Quick, cost-effective, great for early-stage startups. You might get access to cool accelerators too.
Mainland: More flexibility, especially if you want to trade directly in the UAE, not just int the Freezones, but requires office space. There are ways to keep the cost low.
📍 Our tip: Ask early, not all Freezones are created equal. Some are perfect for tech; others are better for manufacturing, or media. Your licence activity and where you register does matter and can open up huge business opportunities for you.
Opening a bank account in the UAE normally takes weeks (sometimes months), especially if your company has foreign shareholders or a corporate shareholder on your cap table. If it does, it’s likely you’ll need to instruct someone to open the bank account on your behalf. If it’s just you, it’s pretty simple.
🏦 Plan ahead: Start the process early and get help if it’s looking hairy. If you’re planning to work with government entities, you’ll need a UAE-based bank account. Revolut won’t cut it here, although we heard a rumour they’re in the process of getting their license.
Also worth noting: open banking isn’t live yet. It’s built, but not gone live. So don’t expect to plug everything into Xero or your various accounts payable/receivables tools and watch the numbers dance, manual uploads and reconning are still the norm.
There’s no workplace pension in the UAE (unless your team includes Emiratis), but there is something called End of Service Gratuity which is a lump sum you’ll pay to employees when they leave, after 12+ months.
💰Our Tip: It can stack up quickly, so factor it into your long-term hiring plan and cashflow models.
Internet. Visas. Business insurance. Office space. You’ll rarely see a monthly payment plan. Most things are billed annually, and you’ll want to budget for some chunky up-front costs.
📆 Our tip : Build your UAE runway to include these costs. It’s doable, but surprises aren’t fun when they come with a five-figure invoice.
Here, your best networking might happen at brunch. Or padel. Or on a yacht. It’s not weird. It’s the norm.
Run club? Business chat. Golf course? Due diligence. Beach cafe? Term sheet talk.
🚀 Our Tip: Get out there. This is a city where business and friendships blur, and that’s a great thing.
You might love the idea of living by the beach, but that 15-minute commute? It can easily turn into a 90-minute grind during peak hours.
🏙️ Our tip: Explore a few areas before signing a lease. Where you live and work will shape your rhythm.
Your contracts from home might not cut it here. You’ll likely need:
📄 Legal checklist: If you’re selling something, hiring, or sharing IP, get your docs reviewed. The rules here are different, and the fine print matters – we can help with that.
The pace here is addictive. The energy is electric. You’ll be constantly surrounded by ambitious people doing ambitious things.
And that’s amazing… until you hit a wall.
😵💫 Burnout is real. The timezone stretch, the hustle culture, the never-offline buzz. If you don’t manage your energy, it’ll manage you. Although being at the centre of the earth can be super handy.
💡Our Tip: Build in rest. Protect your evenings. Learn to log off. You’re not here for a sprint, you’re here to build something great.
Once your all setup and got your admin sorted to a tee, the UAE is phenomenal.... The tax advantages, the people, doing business here with most people here wanting to building something awesome, the schools, the year round sun and the convenience of getting anything on demand just sets it apart!
Strive can help get you started: from getting the right licence to making sure you’ve chosen the right zone to operate in.
Founders Law is here for what happens next: from your first UAE client contract to shareholder agreements, employment docs, and making sure you’re set up to scale.
If you’re at any stage of the journey, setup or scale-up, just give us a shout and we can make sure you’re connected to the right person.
Thinking of making the move? Get in touch today hello@founders-law.co.uk
