Can Indian Citizens Do Business in Dubai?

For decades, Dubai has been home to a large, entrepreneurial Indian community who have played a pivotal role in the emirate’s dynamism and economic success. Many of the UAE’s most successful businesspeople are Indian citizens, with famous billionaires such Yusuf Ali (founder of Lulu Hypermarket) topping the country’s rich list. If you are an Indian citizen living in Dubai, setting up a company in the emirate can be a very lucrative opportunity. Here’s everything you need to know about doing business in Dubai as an Indian citizen.

Benefits of Starting a Business in Dubai

Indian entrepreneurs have shown incredibly resourceful when starting businesses in Dubai. Here are just some of the benefits of starting a business in Dubai for Indian citizens: No tax: Basing your business in a Dubai free zone will mean you pay a 0% tax rate – which means your company can retain more of its profits. 100% foreign ownership: If you are setting up a company in the United Arab Emirates, you will of course want to retain complete ownership of its operations. Basing your business in a Dubai free zone means that you can retain 100% ownership of your company. 100% repatriation of funds: Indian business owners can also repatriate all profits and income from Dubai free zones back to India (or elsewhere) whenever they please. Location: The United Arab Emirates is a very attractive location for Indian businesses. At the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, it gives you access to a huge global market. With many flights every day to cities across India – not to mention the rest of the world – you’ll be perfectly placed to meet your customers wherever they are. Business friendly: The Dubai government is well-known for its business-friendly attitude and the ease of setting up a company in the emirate. There are many tax incentives and support available to ensure your company can be as successful as possible. Local Indian community: With thousands of Indians settled in Dubai, you will have access to fantastic business networks with expats from back home.

Can Indian citizens do business in Dubai?

Yes, Indian citizens can do business in Dubai – many of the emirate’s most successful entrepreneurs are of Indian origin. If you would like to start your company in Dubai as an Indian citizen, you will need to complete the following steps: 1. Select your Business Activity The first step to opening a business in Dubai is to select your business activity. There are many different license types to choose from, meaning you can open practically any kind of business in the country. We can advise you on the most appropriate license for your planned activities at Meydan Free Zone. 2. Choose a Trade Name for your Dubai Company There are certain rules in Dubai around the naming of businesses that must be respected. You cannot use any terms that could be seen as offensive or blasphemous, and the trading name cannot utilise your initials. At Meydan Free Zone, we can advise you on all naming conventions in Dubai.

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3. Choose the Location of your Business in Dubai Selecting a business location is vital in launching your company in Dubai. Many Indian entrepreneurs choose to base themselves in Meydan Free Zone because it offers a 0% tax rate and 100% foreign ownership. Our location in central Dubai, close to the airport and the seaport, means you are perfectly positioned to begin trading fast and meet new customers. 4. Complete your Application and Pay the Fees To receive your business license, you will need to complete your application form and provide a range of documents and paperwork. Paying the associated fees as part of your company license application is also essential. 5. Receive your License and Open a Business Bank Account Getting your license to start a company in Dubai takes just a few days – so long as all your paperwork is in order and your application form and fees are all correct. At Meydan Free Zone, we can verify all your paperwork, obtain necessary approvals, and make the process fast and efficient. Once your license is approved, the final step is to open a business bank account, so you can make and receive payments within the UAE but also abroad. Meydan Pay is our powerful digital banking solution for businesses working in our free zone. It gives you an IBAN and digital wallet with all the necessary features to start making and receiving payments internationally. It is very popular with Indian entrepreneurs, allowing them to send and receive payments from customers and business partners back home in India.

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Which Business is Best In Dubai for Indians?

Indian businesspeople have thrived in almost every sector when they set up companies in the United Arab Emirates. Here are just some of the many opportunities that Indian citizens can explore when setting up a new business: Import/export: Thanks to its international seaports and geographic location, Dubai offers fantastic opportunities for import/export businesses. Logistics: Many Indian entrepreneurs launch logistics businesses from the UAE, capitalising on international connections with other transport companies worldwide. Software and technology: Indian citizens are renowned for their software business skills, and many take the opportunity to launch technology companies in Dubai. Education: Numerous Indian entrepreneurs have launched education businesses in the United Arab Emirates. Some focus on the mass market while others offer specialised training. Medical and Pharmaceuticals: Indian expats run numerous medical and pharmaceutical businesses in the United Arab Emirates.

Can Indians Settle in Dubai?

Yes, Indians can settle in Dubai, and many thousands call the emirate home. Indian citizens in Dubai find the business-friendly environment conducive to launching their own companies. It is no secret that many successful entrepreneurs from India have built business empires here for many decades.

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Why Meydan Free Zone?

Meydan Free Zone is located in central Dubai, close to your customers, the airport, seaport, and leisure facilities, and is the ideal location for Indian businesspeople to launch companies in the UAE. Many Indian entrepreneurs have already chosen to base themselves in our free zone, from Kerala to Mumbai, Bangalore to Hyderabad, Gujarat, and beyond; you’ll meet your compatriots at Meydan Free Zone! Our experienced consultants can support you with all aspects of business setup in Dubai, which means you can focus on launching your business, and leave the admin to us. We also provide several additional services to any company hoping to open a branch office in Dubai, UAE. For instance, Meydan Pay provides you with a digital wallet and an IBAN, which allows you to receive and send payments to and from India. Learn more about Meydan Pay here. Meanwhile, Meydan Commerce is a unique offering that supports companies hoping to enter the local e-commerce market – our teams help you set up on Amazon or Noon so you can begin selling products quickly. To make launching your company more cost-effective, we also provide Easy Payment Plans so you can spread the cost of business set up. Why not join the many Indian entrepreneurs at Meydan Free Zone, and launch your Dubai company today? To find out more, visit our website, or get in touch with us via setup@meydanfz.ae or 800FZ1.