Dubai’s consultancy industry is flourishing, catering to businesses across different sectors and sizes. This practice involves providing specialized counsel to organizations and businesses to enhance their performance, resolve challenges, and achieve objectives. Consultants offer a diverse array of services such as financial management, marketing strategies, project management, organizational restructuring, and strategic planning.

The management consultancy license provides the legal framework for consultants to offer their services to clients in Dubai, and also protects the interests of clients by ensuring that consultants meet certain requirements and standards.

Types of management consultancy licenses in Dubai

In Dubai, two types of management consultancy licenses exist: commercial and professional. If you plan on opening a company to offer consultancy services as your primary business activity, then you will need a commercial license. If you wish to offer management consultancy services as an individual, then a professional license is required.  You can obtain your license from any of the many free zones in the UAE.

Steps to obtain a management consultancy license in Dubai

Before starting your management consultancy business in Dubai, it’s always a good idea to consult with an expert company formation specialist. Our team at Charles Ntumwa Services will take the time to get to know you and your business before guiding you through the steps below.

Research and planning: Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify the demand for management consultancy services in Dubai. This will help you to determine the feasibility of the business and the viability of the business idea.

Choose a business activity: Select the appropriate business activity under which your management consultancy firm will operate. The Department of Economic Development (DED) offers a list of business activities for which you can apply for a license.

Choose a business structure: Choose the right legal structure for your business based on your requirements and goals. You can choose to set up a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Sole Proprietorship, Partnership or Branch of a Foreign Company.

Reserve a trade name: Reserve a trade name for your company through the DED. This is a mandatory step in Dubai’s company formation process.

Obtain a business license: Apply for a business license from the DED after meeting all the requirements for obtaining a license. The license will be issued based on the business activity and the legal structure of your company.

Set up your office: Once you obtain your business license, you need to set up your office space. It’s important to make sure that your office space complies with the DED regulations.

Hire employees: Hire the right people to work for your management consultancy business. Make sure that you comply with the labor laws and regulations in Dubai.

Open a bank account: Open a bank account for your business to manage your finances.

Market your business: Develop a marketing plan to promote your management consultancy business. This may include creating a website, networking with potential clients, and attending industry events.

Cost of a management consultant license

The cost of a management consultancy license in the UAE starts from AED 5275. Contact us for an obligation-free quote today to get a precise cost for your management consultancy license.

What are the activities of a management consultant?

Analyzing the business: Management consultants assess an organization’s current processes, structures, and strategies to identify areas that could be improved. This often involves gathering and analyzing data to identify patterns and trends, as well as conducting interviews with employees and stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the organization.

Developing recommendations: Based on their analysis, management consultants develop recommendations to help the organization improve its performance. These recommendations might include changes to the organizational structure, improvements to processes and systems, or changes to the company’s strategy.

Implementing solutions: Management consultants work with the organization to implement the recommended solutions. This can involve working with different teams within the organization to ensure that changes are made effectively and efficiently.

Providing guidance and support: Throughout the implementation process, management consultants may provide guidance and support to help the organization navigate any challenges that arise. They may also provide training and coaching to help employees adapt to the changes.

Evaluating results: Finally, management consultants evaluate the results of their work to determine the effectiveness of the solutions they have implemented. This may involve gathering data and feedback from employees and stakeholders, and making adjustments as needed to ensure that the organization continues to improve over time.

How to grow a management consultancy business online?

Develop a strong online presence: Build a website that showcases your expertise, your services, and your client success stories. Make sure the website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Also, create profiles on relevant social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Create valuable content: Develop a content marketing strategy that educates your target audience on management consulting topics. This could include blog posts, whitepapers, eBooks, and webinars. Share your content on social media and other relevant platforms.

Build relationships: Attend online networking events and conferences, connect with other consultants and professionals in your field, and engage in industry forums and groups. Building relationships can help you attract new clients and build a positive reputation.

Leverage search engine optimization (SEO): Optimize your website and content for relevant keywords to improve your visibility on search engines. This can help you attract organic traffic to your website.

Offer value to your clients: Provide your clients with exceptional service and results. Encourage them to leave reviews and testimonials on your website and social media platforms. Positive reviews and testimonials can help you attract new clients.

Continuously improve: Monitor your website and social media analytics to track your progress. Use this information to refine your strategy and tactics, and to continuously improve your online presence.

Growing a management consultancy business online takes time and effort, but with the right strategy, you can attract new clients, build a positive reputation, and achieve your business goals.

Why start a management consultancy business in Dubai?

Strategic location: Dubai’s location is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, which makes it an ideal spot for businesses looking to expand into those regions. As a result, there’s a huge demand for management consulting services to help businesses navigate the intricacies of doing business in this area.

Business-friendly environment: With a government that actively encourages entrepreneurship and foreign investment, Dubai has earned a reputation as a city that is favorable for all businesses. The city’s low tax status, robust infrastructure, and business atmosphere make it an appealing destination for companies interested in setting up operations in the Middle East.

Diverse economy: Dubai has a diverse economy, with a strong presence in sectors such as finance, tourism, logistics, and technology. This diversity provides ample opportunities for management consultants to work with a wide range of clients and industries, making it easier to build a successful consulting practice.

High-quality talent: Dubai is home to a diverse and highly skilled workforce, with many professionals from around the world choosing to work in the city. This talent pool provides a valuable resource for management consultants looking to build a team with a broad range of skills and expertise.

Growing market: Dubai’s economy is growing rapidly, with the city investing heavily in infrastructure and development. As a result, there is a growing demand for management consulting services to help businesses navigate this dynamic environment and take advantage of new opportunities. This presents an excellent opportunity for consultants to build a thriving practice in the city.

How Charles Ntumwa Services can help

Starting a management consultancy can be rewarding in more ways than one. But getting started out here can be a daunting task, particularly if you are new to the UAE.

Charles Ntumwa Services are the experts in all things relating to business setup in the UAE. We can help you manage the company formation process to make it as fast, affordable and straightforward as possible.

For more information and a personalised quote, please visit Charles Ntumwa Services.

The post Management Consultancy Licenses in Dubai [2023 Guide] appeared first on WWF.

The UAE is one of the world’s most famous business hubs for good reason. The country sits at the crossroads of East and West, primed to trade with every corner of the globe.

On top of a perfect strategic location, the UAE also offers a welcoming and encouraging business environment, a low tax regime and a straightforward company incorporation process.

Starting a business in the UAE is also incredibly affordable in comparison to other famed business locations such as London, Hong Kong, and New York.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the UAE company formation process, along with the benefits and costs involved.

Benefits of forming a UAE company

One of the main benefits of doing business in the UAE is the level of support on offer. Before starting your business, it is always advisable to work with a company formation consultant. As well as managing the application process, a trusted formation expert can offer advice and support to help grow and nurture your business.

With your business up and running, you can benefit from:

A diverse economy
The UAE is no longer reliant on its oil and gas sector. The country is now home to a wide array of industries in the ascendance, from healthcare and hospitality to technology, travel, and trade.

A supportive environment
UAE rulers are committed to helping the country’s businesses thrive. As well as low barriers to entry and a transparent incorporation process, the UAE is also home to entrepreneur hubs, incubators and startup support schemes.

Low tax rates
While it’s not true to say the UAE is a tax-free environment, it is certainly a low tax environment. The UAE levies 0% tax on both personal and corporate income. Elsewhere, the most common tax is VAT at a flat 5%.

A strategic geographic location
The UAE is strategically located between Asia, Europe and Africa. It lies within a few hours flight time of a third of the world’s population and its time zone overlaps with many other major cities.

Free zones
The UAE’s free zones are another major advantage of doing business in this part of the world. These designated zones allow international entrepreneurs to automatically own 100% of their business as well as qualifying for customs tax exemption, repatriation of capital and profits, and zero currency restrictions.

Company formation UAE

There are several steps to take before applying for your business license in the UAE. While no step is particularly complex on its own, each requires a knowledge of the business incorporation process and it is therefore best undertaken with the assistance of a company formation expert.

Step 1: Choose your business activity
Every business in the UAE must list a business activity, or activities, on its business license. It’s important that you list every activity that applies to your business when making your application as failure to do so can lead to fines or even license revocation.

There are over 2,000 to choose from so no matter your industry or the type of business you undertake, you are sure to find an activity that fits the bill.

Step 2: Choosing your company name
A step of the business incorporation process that takes on more importance here in the UAE is the choosing of your company name. That’s because as well as the need for a name that’s catchy and captures the essence of your business, you’ll also need to stick to the UAE’s clearly defined naming conventions.

In short, UAE company names must not contain any blasphemous or offensive language, any references to well-known institutions or any abbreviations of your name – though your full name is acceptable.

Your name should also have a legal entity attached to it such as FZE or LLC. It must also relate to your business activity, not resemble the name of any other company and be available to register.

Step 3: Applying for your license
Now we come to the most important step – applying for your business license.

If you’re setting up in the mainland, you can make your license application directly to the Department of Economic Development or equivalent. If you’ve chosen a mainland setup, you should apply directly to the managing authority of your chosen free zone.

In both cases, you are usually required to submit several documents along with your application form, including:

• A copy of your passport – and that of any other shareholders
• Your business plan
• A copy of your signature
• A No Objection Certificate from your current employer (if applicable)

Step 4: Applying for your visa
Finally, you’ll need a residency visa to work in the UAE.

This process involves four stages including a medical fitness test and biometric capturing. In all, it usually takes less than a week.

As the holder of a UAE business license, you can also sponsor others such as children, a spouse or domestic staff for their visas too, providing you meet the eligibility criteria.

Understanding UAE free zone costs

The cost of setting up in the UAE will depend on location, business type, business size and much more. In most cases, setting up in a free zone is the most cost-effective approach.
Below are some examples of UAE free zones, to give an idea of the costs involved in forming your business.

FCC: Fujairah Creative City free zone is located in the emirate of Fujairah, just one and a half hours outside of Dubai. License packages start from AED 11,000.

RAKEZ: Setting it apart from many of its peers, RAKEZ offers an exclusive package aimed at women entrepreneurs. Prices start from AED 6,200 inclusive of workspace and support services.

Ajman Free Zone: Located in the emirate of Ajman, AFZ caters to a wide range of industries including health, retail, food and beverage, technology and education. Licenses start from AED 13,535.

UAQ FTZ: As well as providing trade licenses and support services, UAQ FTZ offers warehouses, office space and land for development in the emirate of Umm al Quwain. Prices start from AED 13,500.

SAIF ZONE: SAIF ZONE benefits from excellent sea, land and air access and is directly linked to Sharjah International Airport. Licenses start from AED 10,800.

KIKLABB: KIKLABB benefits from a unique location, just 15 minutes from downtown Dubai, aboard the QE2. Prices start from AED 17,750.

KIZAD: KIZAD offers business solutions for all types of business activities such as manufacturing, logistics, trade and distribution. License packages start from just AED 9,450.

Start your business in the UAE

By following the steps above, it is possible to obtain your trade license in the UAE with minimal fuss.  

However, it is always advisable to undertake the steps with the assistance of a registered company formations agent to eliminate any potential hassles that might arise.

With more than 15 years of experience in company incorporation, Charles Ntumwa Services can help you get your business up and running within a week or two. We’ll manage your license and visa application and correspond with all relevant authorities for you. All you need to do is wait for the green light to start trading.

The post Company Formation in the UAE: Costs and Benefits appeared first on WWF.