Consultancy is a multibillion-dollar industry. The worldwide consultant market is approx USD 250 billion. The industry is equally as healthy in this area of the world. The GCC management consultancy business alone is around USD 2.8 billion.
The need for consulting services in the UAE has never been more vital. There are various industries on the rise, ranging from food, hospitality, and healthcare to technology, tourism, and retail, all of which need the services of expert consultants.
The best thing for individuals starting in this area of the world is that obtaining a trade license for a consulting firm is very simple.
What is a Consulting Firm?
The consulting business is a type of activity whose primary goal is to provide consulting services to private individuals and companies in various fields. It might be a solution to any financial, legal, commercial, technological, or other issues.
All consulting firms (or people operating as freelance consultants) that join the market are, in general, highly specialized. Because mastering all levels of operations is difficult, there are usually specialties in corporate consulting, management consulting, IT consulting, industrial consulting, logistics consulting, shipping consulting, and so on.
Role Of Consulting Firms in UAE
Consulting Business Setup in Dubai assists in determining the best location for business formation, providing information on the various types of companies, the advantages and disadvantages of offshore, onshore. Local companies, the necessary documentation, and company incorporation procedure, licenses, permitted areas of activity, rental issues, and assistance in opening a bank account, instant visas, and so on.
Steps to Open Consulting Firms in UAE
There are three typical ways to establish a consultant firm in the UAE:
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Creating a company on the mainland
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Doing the same in a free zone
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Working as a freelancer in either
If you intend to establish a business on the mainland, you should apply to the local municipality or the Department of Economic Development (DED). When trading on the continent, you may set up shop wherever you choose and take on government jobs.
Alternatively, if you start your firm in a free zone, you can apply to the relevant authorities directly.
Choose Business Activity
While consulting will be your overall activity, you must specify exactly the field you plan to trade-in. In the UAE, everyday consultant activities include corporate management consulting, human resource consulting, information technology consulting, risk management, strategy consulting, project management consulting, and sales consulting.
The DED publishes a complete list of approved activities. A company formation specialist can assist you in selecting the one that is most closely related to your business.
Choose Company Name
The selection of your company name is a crucial stage in the business incorporation procedure in Dubai. In addition to having a memorable name and reflecting the spirit of your firm, you will also need to adhere to the UAE’s well-established naming rules.
In brief, blasphemous or insulting words, allusions to well-known organizations, or abbreviations of your name – while your complete name is allowed – are not permitted in UAE company names.
Apply For License
The following, and most crucial, step is to apply for a trade license for your consulting firm. If you are establishing a business on the mainland, you may apply for a license directly via the Department of Economic Development. If you’ve decided to open up shop on the continent, you should apply directly to the managing authority of your preferred free zone.
Apply For Visa
The last step is to get your visa. This procedure consists of four steps, including a medical fitness exam and biometric data collection.
If you have a UAE trade license, you can also sponsor individuals for visas, such as your children, spouse, or domestic staff, as long as you fulfill the qualifying requirements.
How Much Does It Take To Become Consultant?
The registration duration and cost of the procedures may vary considerably depending on the form in which you establish your business (as a private freelancer, a corporation in a free zone, or on the mainland of the United Arab Emirates). As a result, obtaining a personal business consultant license and a freelancing visa is faster and less expensive. It will just take a few days, but you will get restrictions on your performance, which means you will not create business accounts or recruit other individuals. You will be unable to deliver your services outside of your jurisdiction unless remotely.
How much Does it Cost To Start a Consulting Company?
Without understanding the firm’s facts, there is no easy way to estimate a price for launching a consulting business in the UAE.
The typical cost of a consultant license is between AED 15,000 and AED 25,000, depending on a variety of criteria such as whether you set up as a freelancer or create a firm on the mainland or in a free zone if you take on office space, and whether you intend to hire staff.
In most situations, establishing a business in a free zone with a licensing package covering the cost of your visa application and the usage of business facilities and co-working space is the most cost-effective option.
Related: How to become a UX consultant.
Conclusion
Getting the appropriate advice before beginning a UAE consultancy firm is critical. That is why it is usually preferable to carry out the processes with the aid of a licensed company formation agent to avoid any potential complications. There is no better place to establish a consulting firm or register as a freelance consultant than the UAE – a country where business is thriving and a country that gives an excellent foundation for international trade.
