All UAE business names need Arabic translation. Both English and Arabic versions must be approved.
Mainland vs Free Zone
Mainland (DED): Full UAE market access. Needs local agent. AED 15,000-30,000.
Free Zone: 100% foreign ownership, faster setup. Export-only. AED 12,000-25,000.
Choose mainland if you're selling to UAE customers. Choose free zone if you're exporting or don't need mainland market access.
Free Zone Trade-Off
Free zones save AED 3,000-8,000 on setup costs.
But you'll lose direct access to 85% of UAE market (mainland). You'll need a distributor for mainland sales - adds 20-30% to your costs.
DED Name Approval (Dubai Mainland)
Submit via DED portal or Tas-heel center. Needs English name and Arabic translation.
Name must reflect your business activity.
Prohibited Words
Can't use: Royal, Emirates, Dubai (without Ministry approval).
Bank, Insurance, Finance need regulatory approval. Islamic, Halal need specific licenses.
Arabic Translation
Two types: phonetic or semantic.
Phonetic: "TechStart" → "تيك ستارت" (Tek Start). Semantic: "Bright Solutions" → "الحلول المشرقة" (Al Holol Al Mushr).
Arabic mistakes to avoid: Word-for-word translation without cultural context. Arabic words with negative connotations. Gender-inappropriate terms. Religious terms needing special approval.
Use certified translator (AED 200-500) to avoid rejection. DED rejects poorly translated names.
Free Zone Name Rules
DMCC: 1-2 days approval, AED 2,500.
JAFZA: 2-3 days, AED 3,000.
Dubai Airport Free Zone: 1-2 days, AED 2,750.
Same Arabic translation requirements as mainland. Generally faster than DED.
Trademark via Ministry of Economy
AED 1,000 per class for 10 years (one-time fee). Takes 8-12 months.
Opposition period: 30 days after publication. Protection covers all seven Emirates.
GCC Trademark Option
UAE only: AED 1,000 via MoE. Protects 7 Emirates.
GCC trademark: AED 3,500 via GCC Patent Office (Riyadh). Protects all 6 GCC countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar.
Regional business? GCC trademark costs 3.5x more but covers 6 countries in one filing. Saves you from filing 6 separate applications.
Timeline for Setup + Trademark
Days 1-3: Name search and approval.
Days 4-7: Prepare documents.
Days 8-14: Submit license application.
Days 15-21: License approval (mainland slower than free zone).
Day 22: Company operational. File trademark application.
Months 8-12: Trademark granted (if no objections).
Trademark search first: DED/free zone approves names that may conflict with existing trademarks. Then you're stuck with approved but unprotectable name. Check ip.gov.ae before filing.
Domain Strategy
.ae domain: Restricted to UAE-registered businesses. Needs trade license copy. AED 120-200/year. Takes 3-7 days.
.com domain: No restrictions. AED 50-80/year.
Get both - .ae for local credibility, .com for international presence.
Emirate Naming Differences
Dubai (DED): Most liberal rules.
Sharjah: More conservative - restricts some Western names.
Ajman: Fastest approvals but limited market access.
Abu Dhabi: Similar to Dubai but stricter on financial terms.
Costs Breakdown
Name approval (DED): AED 620.
Business license (mainland): AED 15,000-30,000.
Local service agent: AED 2,000-5,000/year.
Office space (ejari): AED 15,000-50,000/year.
Trademark filing: AED 1,000-3,000.
Arabic translation: AED 200-500.
Domain (.ae): AED 120-200/year.
Name Changes Cost You
Mainland name change: AED 3,000-5,000. Needs new trade license. Takes 2-4 weeks.
Free zone name change: AED 2,500-4,000. Takes 1-2 weeks.
Get it right first time with thorough trademark search upfront. Name changes mean updating all contracts and bank accounts.
Trademark Lens helps verify business name availability - essential before spending AED 35,000+ on UAE company formation and trade license.