How To Start A Business In Abu Dhabi Without Leasing Office Space
5th February 2023
Traditionally, starting a business in Abu Dhabi required leasing a suitable commercial premise as part of the process for getting a trade license issued. But, now you can start a business without leasing an office space.
By erasing and reducing the requirements to lease office space to get an Abu Dhabi trade license issued, it is now much easier and cheaper for entrepreneurs and startups to apply for their business license to operate in the capital of the UAE.
Here’s three ways of opening a business in Abu Dhabi without an office lease
Abu Dhabi’s Freelance license doesn’t require a commercial lease. Ideal for one-man bands and individual entrepreneurs with specialist skills who only ever intend to stay small. Check out one of our previous blog posts with everything you need to know about the Abu Dhabi freelancer license.
Abu Dhabi’s Tajer license enables a business to setup and operate for the first two years without a commercial lease. Ideal for start-ups wanting to test the market. (A commercial space is required from year three onwards.)
Abu Dhabi’s Instant license enables companies to get licensed straight away and fulfil the requirement of having a commercial premise, later. Ideal for companies which need to get licensed quickly. It gives them three months to evaluate potential locations and premises, at which point they need to register the Tawtheeq contract (commercial lease) with the authorities.
If one of these options sounds great for your situation, click the button below to get started and one of our team will contact you.
Still not sure, which license-type is best for your situation? Don't worry, our experienced team is on hand to help you set up in Abu Dhabi correctly. Click the button below and one of our team will contact you.
Need help starting a business in Abu Dhabi?
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Gateway Group - Who We Are & Why We Exist
With offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Gateway Group helps international companies get registered to do business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We are the authority on business licenses and visas for expats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Founded and headed up by British husband and wife team, Nathan and Jenny Hunt, Gateway operates with it's core values at heart: Honesty. Trust. Integrity. We do what's in the best interests of our clients rather than what's best for our bottom line. After all, we are just like our clients - we've invested our own money into our business licenses, so we fully appreciate what a big investment a commercial license is. We believe this uniquely positions us to provide our services with understanding and empathy.
From our own first-hand experience and knowledge, generated from living and working in the UAE, as well as setting up companies and building relationships here, we are able to offer unique insight and guidance to help our clients successfully step into the market and do business in the UAE.
We value long-term relationships and our incredible client retention is one of our strongest assets, which is extremely rare in our industry.
Founding Partner, Jenny Hunt, has been setting up businesses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for over 10 years and is ranked in FORBES' Top 100 Most Influential Women In The Middle East!
Gateway Group's blog is ranked in Feedspot's '25 Best Abu Dhabi Blogs And Websites You Should Follow In 2023' (currently ranked 9th - 31st January 2023).
Connect with us to setup a business in the UAE. Get the best company registration experience, as well as employment and residency visas for your expat staff and their families in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Click the button and one of our team will contact you.
📱WHATSAPP: +971 58 985 6089
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Written by Jenny Hunt
Founder Gateway Group, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, United Arab Emirates
FORBES' Top 100 Most Influential Women In the Middle East