The UAE population has a fondness for fitness. The market size, measured by revenue, of the Gym, Health & Fitness Clubs industry is $32.0bn in 2022.
There are more than 1,400 fitness outlets spread right across the country.
Supporting that network is a fitness services market that is predicted to be worth more than AED 3bn by this year. A market that includes everything from gyms, fitness equipment, and personal training services. The latter of which could be a great opportunity for the UAE’s health- and fitness-minded entrepreneurs.
If you have a passion for exercise and the skills needed to train others, it’s easy to get started as a personal trainer in the UAE.
How to set up as a personal trainer in the UAE
As with starting any business in the UAE, there are a few steps you need to take before you can apply for your business license.
Step one is to establish your business activity. This activity must align with one of the thousands permitted within the UAE. To ensure your license covers you for your chosen business activity, it is a good idea to work with a business formation company at this stage that can suggest those that align best with your business.
The next step is to choose a company name. This takes a little more thought in the UAE than in other parts of the world. Why? Because the UAE has a strict, yet easy-to-follow, set of naming conventions. Once again, an expert in company formation can help you make sure you adhere to them.
In short, you should avoid any offensive or blasphemous language. Avoid names of well-known organizations and avoid abbreviations if naming your company after yourself – i.e. John Akbar Consulting, rather than J Akbar Consulting. You must also check that your chosen name is available to register.
Applying for a personal trainer license in Dubai
There are two stages to applying for a personal trainer license in Dubai. The first step is to apply for your business license.
The easiest way to do this is to apply to a UAE free zone, such as Fujairah Creative City. You can apply directly to the free zone or work with a company formation expert who can manage the entire application process on your behalf.
There are plenty of great reasons to set up in this particular free zone. As well as the free zone advantages listed above, businesses setting up in Fujairah Creative City also benefit from no paid-up share capital requirement, no annual audit, and an easy incorporation process. There is also no need to be present in the UAE to establish your new company.
We also offer freelance licenses, allowing you to set up alone and be your own boss. Freelancer packages come with all the key advantages of a regular company setup including the use of all free zone facilities on an ad-hoc basis as well as visa eligibility.
You’ll also need to apply for a work permit in order to trade throughout the UAE mainland. Work permits are issued by the General Authority of Youth & Sports Welfare in Dubai. A company formation expert can manage both license applications on your behalf.
Whether making your application yourself or through a company formation agent, you are usually only required to provide a few details and some basic documentation, including:
- Completed application form
- Passport copy of the proposed owner or owners
- Two coloured photos
- LOE
- KYC
- Application form
- Proof of address
- Business activity questionnaire
The application process is also fast, with all company documentation usually issued within a week.
Applying for your personal trainer visa in Dubai
As well as your licenses, you’ll also require a visa to work in the UAE. Most free zone packages come with visa eligibility. The freelancer package comes with eligibility for up to four visas, for example.
Obtaining a visa for a personal trainer or a freelance visa for a personal trainer follows the same process from application through to passport stamping.
You may also be able to sponsor your dependants for their visas too. Again, this follows the same process whether you wish to sponsor domestic staff or a child or spouse.
If you are looking to get your company license in the UAE, free zone, or mainland, or even in Qatar and Saudi Arabia – then our team can help.
Ready to set up as a personal trainer in the UAE?
While the process of setting up as a personal trainer in the UAE is not overly complex, it does require a level of prior knowledge of the process. What’s more, it is important to note that the application process is only straightforward if your license application is complete at the time of submission and free from errors.
To help you to ensure that this is the case, it’s a good idea to work with a company formation specialist when establishing a new company in the UAE.
We exist to help entrepreneurs save their resources when bringing their businesses to the region. We enable you to focus on what really matters – growing your enterprise and your bottom line, all while knowing that your business is being set up legally and compliant with the UAE government laws.
We are a team of company registration professionals who are passionate about bringing the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to life.
We are the team of Set Hub your best business setup advisor across the Gulf Region. If you are looking to open your company in Dubai, across the UAE, in KSA or Qatar, get a free zone license, or start a business in the mainland, then we can help. From visa applications to all the necessary admin tasks, we handle it all – leaving you free to get on with your business.
