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All the information you need about visas, bank accounts, employment and business premises.

Your guide to visas in Dubai Getting a valid visa is the starting point of your business journey in Dubai

Once you receive your trade or business licence – whether from the mainland or any free zone – you can then convert that entry permit into a residence visa.

What visa types are available in Dubai?

Getting your Emirates ID and opening a bank account

Applying for or receiving your Emirates ID makes you eligible to apply for a bank account
Once you get your visa, you can then apply for an Emirates ID, the UAE Government-issued identity card, which is mandatory for all UAE citizens and residents: find out more.

Each bank has different requirements to open an account and can be contacted for further information.

Some of the top national banks in Dubai/UAE are:

Emirates National Bank of Dubai (ENBD)
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB)
Mashreq Neo
Emirates Islamic Bank
WIO
Some of the top International banks in Dubai/UAE are:

HSBC Middle East
BNP Paribas Middle East
Standard Chartered Bank
Citibank N.A.
Royal Bank of Canada
Credit Suisse AG
Arab African International Bank
Habib Bank A.G. Zurich

Hiring and managing talent

Emiratisation: What it means for the business

Emiratisation is a nationwide initiative, managed by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, to increase the participation of Emirati citizens in the private sector. In Dubai, it applies to mainland companies but not to those in free zones.

Mainland companies must have a minimum of 2% of Emirati employees in their skilled workforce and have rules related to advertising for, hiring and on-boarding Emiratis. This means:

For 0-50 skilled workers, hire at least one Emirati employee
For more than 50 up to 100 skilled workers, the goal is to recruit a minimum of two UAE national employees
For 101-150 skilled workers, employ at least three UAE nationals
If you have more than 151 skilled workers, recruit one Emirati for every 50 workers.
If your company has 20-49 employees within the below 14 targeted activities, then you will need to hire at least one UAE national in 2024 and a second in 2025:
- Information and technology
- Financial and insurance activities
- Real estate activities
- Professional, scientific and technical activities
- Administrative and support services
- Education
- Health and social welfare activates
- Arts and entertainment
- Mining and quarrying activities
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Transportation and storage
- Accommodation and hospitality industry activities

Failure to comply can result in a monthly fine of AED 6,000 (US$1,633.76) per vacancy. The fine increases by AED 1,000 (US$ 273.9) each year starting from the launch of the Emiratisation initiative in 2022.

You can also explore NAFIS, which is a federal programme aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the Emirati human resources in the private sector, with a dedicated recruitment portal that connects talents to their potential employers.

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Frequently asked questions

Every free zone is different, so check your chosen zone's specific requirements and timelines before starting.

Typical steps include:

Registering the company, for which the owner needs to provide a copy of their passport, plus the original company documents if setting up a branch office in Dubai.
Leasing business premises.
Obtaining a business licence, which takes, on average, 3-5 working days.
Setting up additional business services, such as setting up a bank account and arranging visas for foreign employees.