Look up images of Dubai, and the first thing you’ll see is the emirate’s imposing skyline. A sprawling metropolis of commercial buildings bursting through the desert surroundings.

Dubai is built on business. Thousands of organisations have offices out here, including some of the world’s most prestigious brands. And whether a startup, SME, or multinational, they all want to work in a clean office – now more than ever.

There has never been a greater demand for cleaning services as many of us return to work after the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

And a demanding market is far from the only reason to set up a building cleaning business in Dubai. There’s also the emirate’s fast and straightforward formation process that, with the right support, takes only a matter of days.

How to start an office cleaning company in Dubai

The first step to take when starting any business in Dubai is to instruct a company formation expert to manage the process on your behalf.

While it is certainly possible to set up a UAE business on your own, it can be a complicated process to the untrained eye. When you work with a local expert, you can be safe in the knowledge that your application is complete and compliant.

One of the first decisions your setup partner will help you make is choosing a company name. Keep in mind when doing this that the UAE has a somewhat idiosyncratic set of naming conventions that you’ll need to adhere to. For example, your company name should not include any offensive or blasphemous language or make reference to known organisations and corporations.

If you are going to include your personal name in your business name, it must be in full – no abbreviations or initials. You must also check that your chosen business name is available to be registered. A company formation expert can do this for you as part of the license application process.

Types of cleaning services in Dubai

Next, your setup partner will help to outline your business activities. You will need to be very specific here as to the kind of services you intend to carry out. Your exact business activities will have a bearing on the type of setup and license that you require, so it’s best to make this decision early.

Common types of cleaning companies in Dubai include:

Industrial cleaning: These companies usually clean large office blocks and other corporate buildings. This is usually not a one-person job and requires a team of cleaners.

Commercial cleaning: Commercial cleaning companies tend to be specialised and highly skilled. As such, commercial cleaning contracts can be hard to secure.

Residential cleaning: Residential cleaning focuses on households. Starting a residential cleaning business Dubai is a popular choice as it can be taken on by an individual or small team.

You can start any of the above businesses in the UAE mainland or in a free zone. Here we are going to look at the process for a mainland setup.

Cleaning service license requirements

To operate a building cleaning business in Dubai, you’ll need to apply for a mainland trade license. Depending on the structure of your business, this can be either a professional services license or a commercial license. The application process is similar for both.

Once again, a company formation expert such as Set Hub can help you with this step, even going so far as to manage the entire application process on your behalf.

Whether making your application yourself or with Set Hub, 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 colour passport size photos.

 

Additional steps to register your cleaning services company with DED

When setting up in the mainland, there are a few additional steps required to register your business with the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). You’ll need to rent a physical office space and submit your tenancy contract for approval and, if setting up with a commercial license, you’ll need to draft and sign a Memorandum of Association.

You will also require a visa. You are responsible for your visa as well as those of your employees. It’s also possible to sponsor the visa applications of your dependent family or any domestic staff that you may have.

Finally, you’ll need a corporate bank account to start trading. Again, Set Hub can help you with this step, putting you in touch with the most suitable financial institution for your business needs.

Are you ready to start your building cleaning company in Dubai

Hopefully, this guide has made clear that if you’re armed with the right knowledge, setting up a mainland business in Dubai doesn’t have to be overly complex.

That being said, 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 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 visas 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.