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Questions about Business Support

I want to establish a company in the UAE. What are the basic regulations?

Dubai has successfully established itself as an excellent place for conducting business in the region and beyond. The rules and regulations for carrying out business activities from Dubai are among the most liberal and attractive in the entire region.

Besides trading, many companies prefer setting up an office in Dubai to keep direct contact with customers and further expand their area of operations in the region. Having a permanent office in Dubai can provide many advantages in the Middle East as most businessmen in the region prefer to deal with locally based companies.

To get a basic idea of how to establish a company in the UAE, please have a look at this document.

What do I need to know to invest in the UAE?

Investor´s Guide to the UAE

Procedures and Fees Guide

I would like to know more about the free zones in the UAE. Where can I get further information?

There are at least 15 different free zones in Dubai as well as several others in the Northern Emirates like Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujeirah. Some free zones cater specifically to certain industries such as Dubai Media City (media) or Dubai Internet City (IT), while others are more set up as centers for international trade.

To access a link to a list of the different free zone please click here or navigate on our map.

I want to export my products to the United Arab Emirates. What are the UAE Customs regulations?

The United Arab Emirates share their general customs regulation with the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries which are Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The Unification of Customs laws and procedures in the Customs Administration of the GCC states is one of the main objectives the GCC States seek to achieve.

As per Custom rule for the clearance of any cargo, following documents are required at the time of clearance:

Original Commercial invoice (issued by the supplier / exporter)
Original Certificate of original issued by the Chamber of Commerce of the origin country.
Detailed packing list
Bill of Lading/Airway bill
Delivery Order/cargo manifest issued by the carrier or their agent
Permit from concerned agency or governmental institution in the event of importing restricted goods

CIF value will normally be calculated on the value declared on the commercial invoices covering shipment. Customs is however not bound to accept the figures shown therein and may set an estimated value on the goods, which shall be final, as far as duty is concerned. The general customs charge in the UAE is 5%.

Imports of all intoxicating liquors will be subjected to a 50% customs duty on their CIF value. Imports of Tobacco Products are 100% of the CIF Value.

For further information on UAE customs regulations, please view the Dubai Customer Guide and the Suspended Customs Duty.

To view the complete GCC Customs Law please see following document.

Which goods fall under the restricted import category?

Prohibited goods are the goods which are banned in the United Arab Emirates as per the provisions of Unified Customs Law of the GCC countries or any other law.

Restricted goods are the goods the import or export of which is restricted under the provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the GCC countries or any other law. Since such type of goods need a prior approval from the competent authorities before importing, the importer shall refer to such appropriate government bodies to obtain the approvals necessary for the goods to be imported.

A complete list of restricted & prohibited goods can be found here.

What is the procedure for importing food products into the UAE?

In order to import food products to the UAE, several certificates must be submitted to comply with local quality standards.

In addition to the general import document such as bill of lading, packaging list etc., other documents are required. These obligatory documents for the import of food are the health care certificate which guarantees the hygienic standards of the product and for meat a special halal certificate that confirms the process of production according to Islamic rules.

Another important fact when importing foods is the correct labeling. Labels should be non-removable and must contain all the important information of both the product and the producing company.

Dubai Municipality has published following information about food import.

How can I register cosmetic products for the import into the UAE?

When importing goods from one country to another, different conditions apply because of special regulations for ingredients and duties.

To access a link to a list of each steps of importing cosmetic products to the UAE please click here.

I want to have information about investing in Dubai.

For further information about investing in Dubai please have a look at the investment guide published by Dubai’s Foreign Investment Office.

I want to rent office space or personal accommodation in Dubai. What are the rates for residential property and office space?

Rents in Dubai have undergone tremendous fluctuations the past few years. In addition to the impact of the crisis, also several new residential and commercial property projects have been completed and released onto the market recently. The surplus of property available is therefore high and prices consequently negotiable.

The following files will give you an overview of the current rent situation in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates both for commercial and residential property: