Home Β» Blog Β» HOW TO OPEN A PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS IN DUBAI, UAE πŸ“ΈπŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺ

HOW TO OPEN A PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS IN DUBAI, UAE πŸ“ΈπŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺ

Living in the United Arab Emirates is an amazing and rewarding experience.

However, setting up a photography business in Dubai can feel overwhelming.

There are several ways to go about it, from hiring a paid consultancy to navigate the system, or doing it all by your lonesome.

To understand my business inside and out, I chose to go through the process alone. This proved incredibly beneficial and cost friendly. Especially because once I chose SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) as my trade license provider, I had the 24/7 support of their Business Development and Customer Care Team.

For those interested in taking the steps to register a photography business, I have put together a general path to follow.

Below are the initial steps to creating a company formation in the UAE:

REGISTERING YOUR BUSINESS

1. Choose your company name
2. Choose your business activities
3. Choose your trade license – Free Zone vs. Mainland
4. Choose your trade license provider (in my case SHAMS)
5. Select the number of years for your trade license
6. Decide if you would like your trade license with or without visas
7. Complete the application providing copies of Passport, Residency Visa & Emirates ID

Once you’ve registered your business successfully, you can expect to receive the following:

BUSINESS DOCUMENTATION

1. Certificate of Formation
2. Business License
3. Business Activities Descriptions
4. Share Register
5. Memorandum of Association (if requested)
6. Occupancy Agreement (if requested)
7. A Welcome Letter
8. General Policies Guidebook

These papers are critical to the next step of opening a corporate bank account. Each bank will have different requirements, from minimum balances to fees, so be diligent in your research:

CORPORATE BANK ACCOUNTS

1. Choose a bank that has branches close to your home and/or business
2. Research all monthly and transaction banking fees
3. Create a company stamp for your business
4. Gather 6 months of previous bank statements (requirement for every bank)
5. Provide a tenancy agreement (home or office) depending on your license
6. Apply for your corporate bank account, debit and/or credit cards
7. Get to know your banker (better than your best friend)

Now that your business is setup and running, it’s time for GMB (Google My Business). Before any verification will take place, you must prep the following:

GOOGLE MY BUSINESS

1. Company Logo
2. Company Signs
3. Company Address
4. Company Phone Number(s)
5. GPS Location
6. Working Hours
7. Photographs of building, signs and inside office
8. Request verification

You can expect the entire process from start to finish to take up to 3-4 months, with the main delay being opening the corporate bank account. But, doing business in the United Arab Emirates is a must for those that want to thrive in the GCC region, and I couldn’t be happier with choosing SHAMS as my free zone license provider.

Any questions about opening up a photography business in UAE, please contact me or leave your feedback in the comments section below.

Shea Winter Roggio
Latest posts by Shea Winter Roggio (see all)

4 thoughts on “HOW TO OPEN A PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS IN DUBAI, UAE πŸ“ΈπŸ‡¦πŸ‡ͺ”

  1. Thanks for sharing your insight.
    I found this post very helpful as I’d like to start a makeup artist company in Dubai. May I ask, who do you recommend I contact at SHAMS to discuss possibilities?

    1. Hi Abeer! Appreciate you leaving the comment. Absolutely, at the time I set up my business I worked with Nabil Arnous from SHAMS. He truly was an incredible help, answering telephone calls and WhatsApp messages throughout the entire day and evening (not kidding, even past 11pm). He’s a great guy, super knowledgeable, who can steer you in the right direction. His contact details: nabil.a@shams.ae or 800-74267. Good luck with your future endeavors.

  2. I’ve been interested in starting my own business in Dubai for years, but never knew the exact steps to take. This has proven very helpful and informative. Appreciate you openly sharing the clear and exact steps that one needs to take to open a company in UAE.

    1. Absolutely happy to share this information on how to open a photography company in the United Arab Emirates. And glad you found it helpful! Wishing you all the best with your new business, whatever it may be…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *