With so many businesses vying for a competitive advantage, it is no surprise that marketing is such big business here in Dubai. And in our increasingly online world, it’s even less surprising that digital marketing accounts for the lion’s share of that business.
In fact, digital media accounted for 70% of MENA ad spend last year. Next year, social media alone are expected to secure 32% — – USD 7.5bn – of that spend.
Increasing the potential of the opportunity for entrepreneurs in this part of the world is the fact that there are minimal barriers to entry for digital marketing agencies. All that is required to get started is marketing knowhow and a trade license.
And with the help of Creative Zone, obtaining that trade license is easier than ever.
In this article, we dive into:
- The benefits of starting digital marketing agency in Dubai
- The steps to start a digital marketing agency in Dubai
- The cost of starting a digital marketing agency in Dubai
Benefits of starting a digital marketing agency in Dubai
We will start with one of the major pulls to the Emirates – it’s attractive tax regime. The UAE still levies 0% tax on both personal and corporate income. VAT remains at a flat 5%.
When you set up in a free zone like Creative Zone, you’ll also benefit from zero currency restrictions plus profit and capital repatriation freedoms.
Then there is the growing demand. Dubai is one of the world’s leading business hubs. Every year, more and more ambitious entrepreneurs head to our emirate, and they all want to stand out from the crowd. If you can help them, you won’t be short of business.
Steps to start a digital marketing agency in Dubai
Step 1 – Work with Creative Zone
Your first step when starting any business in Dubai should be to seek out the services of Creative Zone. After a short, no-obligation consultation, we can help you gain a full understanding of the company formation process, managing all applications on your behalf.
Step 2 – Choose your business structure
One of the first decisions we can assist you with is whether your business is best suited to a free zone or the UAE mainland. In most cases, free zones offer the best location for UAE businesses.
This needs to be decided upon early as it will have an impact on the license application process.
Step 3 – Choose and register trade name
Next, we will help you choose and register your trade name. There are a couple of additional factors to keep in mind here. Most importantly, your name cannot be similar to that of any other businesses, and it must not be offensive or blasphemous.
Step 4 – Submit license application
Now it is time to apply for your license. You will need a professional services license to run a digital marketing agency. When making your application, you will need to submit a completed form, an outline of your business activities, and some or all of the following documents:
- Proof of ID and address for directors and shareholders
- Passport copies for shareholders and directors
- Copy of trade name confirmation
- Memorandum of Association (MOA)
- Articles of Association (AOA)
What is the cost of starting a digital marketing agency in Dubai?
One of the key advantages of starting a digital marketing agency is that it is one of the easiest businesses to bootstrap. You can always start solo with some marketing nous and laptop. From here you can then build and grow your business, taking on premises and employees as required.
Due to this wide scope in scale, it is difficult to give a catch all figure for the cost of starting a digital marketing agency in Dubai, UAE. Many factors, including the size and location of your company, will impact the price that you will pay.
The best way to get a detailed quote is to get in touch with the expert team at Creative Zone to arrange a free consultation.
How to start your digital marketing agency in the UAE with Creative Zone
All businesses require a license to trade in the UAE. And while the steps required are not too complicated, a certain amount of prior knowledge is required. Specifically, it is vital to ensure that your applications for business license and visa are all completely free from mistakes.
This can be somewhat stressful, so as we have advised throughout this article, the fast-track to getting up and running is through working with a company formation specialist.
Here at Creative Zone, we offer you the best solutions to start your company in the UAE. You get fast, reliable and unbiased advice on your unique business setup requirements. We can help you choose the right kind of license for your business activity and take you through the entire process from start to finish.
You can let us deal with the hassle of registering a company while you focus on your business. And working with us means you get the best budget-friendly and cost-effective solution to help make your business dream a reality.
Over 10 years, Creative Zone has helped more than 36,000 entrepreneurs set up their businesses. Whether it be a mainland business setup, offshore company setup, free zone company setup, or issuing of trade licenses and any related activity for registering a company, Creative Zone is your one-stop-shop.
Our customer-first focus and our staff who speak 22 languages means you get a tailored package to suit your specific needs. We have worked with clients from around the world, setting them up in over 200 different business activities.
Let Creative Zone make your journey into business ownership quick and hassle-free.
