Home-based working, whether as an employee or self-employed, has been steadily gaining popularity for many years now. However, with the pandemic forcing workers around the world out of offices and into remote working, this approach has seen a rapid increase.
With the pandemic now slowly subsiding, home working is one practice that is unlikely to return to previous levels. Working from home offers many benefits to workers and their clients or employers. It has been shown to improve work-life balance and wellness, as well as helping to reduce overheads and other costs.
Here in the UAE, there are a wide array of home-based businesses seeing success, in fields as diverse as arts, education, and finance. When you work with an expert such as Set Hub, forming a business from your own home is both fast and straightforward – and in most cases requires very little in the way of startup capital.
To pique your interest, here are five potentially fruitful business ideas for ladies or men in the UAE that allow you to work from home.
Benefits of starting a home-based online business in Dubai, UAE
Let’s start with the many incredible benefits of doing business in Dubai. Of course, there is the UAE’s incredible tax rate of 0% on both corporate and personal income. Then there is its incredible location at the heart of the Middle East, perfectly placed to trade with every corner of the globe.
When you obtain your trade license in a free zone, you can also benefit from zero currency restrictions, 100% customs tax exemption and the ability to repatriate capital and profit.
Working from home offers many more benefits such as reduced overheads, with no office costs to account for. You can also save time on the commute, avoid the distractions of the traditional office, and work more flexibly around your home life and domestic duties.
5 great ideas for a home online business in Dubai
Social media consultancy
Social media is now an incredibly important link between businesses and their audience. Large corporations spend millions on social media teams to perfect their voice and target prospects through social selling.
Those on the smaller end tend to outsource their social function. By working with social media experts, they can access knowledge and experience in the most cost-effective way possible.
If you have that knowledge and experience, your services are likely to be high in demand in the UAE where thousands of new businesses look to gain an online presence.
Bookkeeping business
Dubai is one of the world’s most vibrant business hubs, with enterprises large and small operating in all imaginable industries from aviation to zoology – and everything in between.
All of these businesses must keep and, in some cases, submit financial records. While larger companies may keep this function in house, many use accountants and bookkeeping firms to ensure all records are kept in order and filed as they should be.
If you hold the relevant qualifications, you will find a large and welcoming potential client base in the UAE, where a large expat community is on the lookout for expert local knowledge.
Interior design consultant
The residents of Dubai have an eye for style, whether in modern apartments, futuristic offices, or malls, exhibition centers, restaurants and more. For this reason, interior design skills are always in demand.
There are many inviting niches within this industry. You could work with developers on new builds and refurbishments, consult with companies on office fit outs, or work with design agencies to allow them to outsource a new skillset.
Freelance writer
Everything you read has been written. It sounds simple but it is often overlooked. When many think of a writer they have visions of a novelist banging away on a typewriter, waiting for a big break.
In reality, writers are in high demand. Businesses in the UAE and beyond want to communicate with their customers and prospects via their websites, email, social posts, flyers and much more. So, if you’ve got a way with words, you’ll find many businesses in Dubai in need of your services.
Online tutoring
Work is not the only thing that has largely moved online in recent years. Many are also learning online too. This could be structured learning on classic subjects such as Maths, Science or languages, or learning a new skill like cooking or public speaking.
There is plenty of scope in this space. If you have any notable skills and have the passion and charisma required to pass them on to others, online tutoring is a fast and simple business to get up and running.
What is the cost of starting a home-based online business in Dubai, UAE?
With minimal overheads to consider, the only notable costs when starting a home-based business are your visa and trade license.
At Fujairah Creative City Free Zone, you can get a business license for just AED 22,000 – this price includes eligibility for one visa. If you wish to add use of the free zone’s co-working facilities, the total cost rises to just AED 24,775.
How to start a home-based business in the UAE
Before applying for your trade license, you’ll need to decide on your business activities. The important thing here is that your chosen activities are in line with those on the official Department of Economic Development (DED) list.
Next, you should choose your company name. Be aware that you must abide by a strict set of naming conventions here in the UAE.
In short, you should avoid any offensive or blasphemous language. Avoid names of well-known organisations and avoid abbreviations if naming your company after yourself – i.e., Dave Mann Consulting, rather than D Mann Consulting. You must also check that your chosen name is available to register.
With these key decisions made, you can apply for your trade license. At this stage, you’ll be required to provide a few details and some basic documentation, including:
- Completed application form
- Passport copy of the proposed owner or owners
- Two colour passport size photos.
Are you ready to start a new business in Dubai?
If you’re intrigued by our suggested home business ideas – or have another idea of your own, it’s easy to get started.
However, forming a business in the UAE does requires a level of prior knowledge of the process. What’s more, the process is only straightforward if your license application is complete at the time of submission and free from errors.
To help you ensure that this is the case, it’s a good idea to work with a business setup specialist in Dubai such as Set Hub when establishing a new company in the UAE.
We are a team of company registration professionals who are passionate about bringing the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to life.
As well as handling your license application, Set Hub can also assist with the opening of corporate bank accounts and advise on the most appropriate financial institution to suit your specific needs.
We also offer visa and immigration services and can handle all government formalities, permissions, work permits and visa applications that are required to trade in the UAE.
In short, our experts can establish your company on your behalf, make your license and visa applications, and take care of all the necessary admin – leaving you free to get on with running your business.
