Dubai: If you are working on a business idea and want to find out exactly how much you would need to pay for the business licence in Dubai, there is an easy way to find out.The ‘Invest in Dubai’ platform – www.investindubai.gov.ae – is operated by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and offers investors guidelines on how they can set up their business in the emirate.The business licence cost calculator allows you to find out exactly how much you will have to budget for your yearly business licence, enabling investors to work out their finances.Here’s how you can use it.How are business licence fees calculated?According to DET, business licence fees are calculated based on the legal type, selected activities and 5% of rental amount.What is the ‘legal type’ of a company?The ‘legal type’ or ‘legal form’ of a company mainly depends on the business’ requirements and forms the basis for identifying applicable laws and regulations for the business. In the UAE, an investor can select one of these legal forms:General partnershipLimited partnershipLimited liability company (LLC)Public joint stock company (PJSC)Private joint stock company (PrJSC)Civil companyLocal company branchGCC company branchForeign company branchFree zone company branchSole establishmentHolding companiesHow to use the business licence cost calculatorVisit www.investindubai.gov.ae and scroll down to the ‘cost calculator’ under services for new businesses.Enter your business idea, like restaurant, general trading or financial consultation.Enter the number of partners in the business and their nationality (UAE national, GCC national or expat).You will then be asked to select the legal form your company will be taking, like a Limited Liabilities Company (LLC), Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC).Based on the factors that you have selected, the calculator will then offer all the licence options available to you. Click on ‘calculate fees’. If your licence requires a physical office, you will be asked to enter the yearly rent for the office premises, after which the calculator will inform you of the amount you will need to pay for the business licence.
