Abu Dhabi Virtual Licence

As a foreign investor, you can apply for Abu Dhabi Virtual Licence from any location outside the UAE, to obtain an economic licence for doing business in the emirate of Abu Dhabi before proceeding with your residency permits.

Scope of business

You can obtain a licence to conduct business in any of the following 13 economic sectors:

1. agriculture
2. manufacturing
3. repair
4. contracting
5. maintenance and installations
6. retail trade
7. transport
8. services
9. leasing services
10. health and entertainment events
11. management and provision of the supporting services
12. wholesale trade and
13. import and export.

Type of company

You can choose to set up either a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Sole Proprietorship LLC and own 100 per cent of your business.

Fees

Fees for applying is AED 850, in addition to federal fees which are determined according to the activity selected and the legal form.

How to apply?

To apply for your virtual licence, visit Abu Dhabi Service Portal (TAMM).

Dubai Virtual Commercial City

Department of Economy and Tourism- Dubai along with other Dubai government entities launched the Dubai Virtual Commercial City programme (VCC) which will enable entrepreneurs and freelancers across the world to start a virtual company in the UAE even if they do not live in the UAE. That means a person without a residence visa or permit can conduct a business in the UAE. He just needs to apply for the Virtual Company Licence.

Who can apply for the Virtual Company Licence?

Businesspersons and investors worldwide can apply for the Virtual Company Licence through the VCC website.

For an individual to get a virtual company licence, he must:

• not be residing in the UAE
• be a citizen tax residents of one of the approved countries
• conduct location-independent business activities globally in the pre-defined sectors which focus on creative industries, technology and services.

Find out more provisions relating to getting a virtual company licence.

Read how to register your company in Dubai’s Virtual Commercial City.

All virtual companies will automatically get access to DubaiStore.com, an online marketplace which caters to all companies registered with Dubai Economy.

The Virtual Company Licence is a joint initiative of:

• Department of  Economy & Tourism- Dubai
• Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
• General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
• Digital Dubai

Virtual Commercial City is in line with Article 3 of the 50 Year Charter declared in 2019 by H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.