Guides
How (And Why) To Start A Tech Business In Dubai, UAE
Embark on your entrepreneurial journey in the UAE’s most thriving tech ecosystem with our introductory guide on how to start a tech business in Dubai.
Just like plants, great business ideas can only thrive in the right environment. And when it comes to tech businesses, no other place in the world offers more fertile ground than the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Dubai, a city known for its architectural wonders and bustling markets, recently topped the rankings as the world’s fastest-growing venture capital (VC) ecosystem. According to PitchBook’s analysis of data from the third quarter of 2017 to the second quarter of 2023, Dubai boasts a VC ecosystem growth score of 72.8.
This remarkable achievement places it ahead of renowned tech hubs in Europe and the United States. These figures are a testament to Dubai’s strategic initiatives and conducive business environment, which have collectively fostered an unprecedented growth trajectory in its tech sector.
If you’re among those who would like to leverage Dubai’s booming tech landscape, there’s never been a better time to start. In the following sections, we’ll provide you with the essential information you need to bring your tech business vision to life in the UAE.
Why Should I Base My Tech Business In Dubai?
Dubai hasn’t become the tech hub of the world for no reason. The government has made starting a business in the city remarkably straightforward and efficient by setting up over 40 Free-Trade Zones (FTZs).
These special business zones offer such highly attractive benefits as 100% foreign ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and profits, 100% exemption from corporate and income taxes, and 100% exemption from customs duty for goods and services moving in and out of the Free-Trade Zones.
Tech giants like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google have already taken advantage of the prime commercial office space available in Dubai Internet City (DIC) FTZ. In addition, businesses in Dubai’s free zones benefit from simplified accounting requirements, adding to the ease of doing business.
Enhanced privacy is another key feature of Dubai’s business landscape. The free zones do not maintain publicly visible company registers, so they provide an additional layer of privacy that many business owners value.
The city’s global appeal and diverse population ensure that businesses can easily find the right mix of skills and expertise to meet their objectives. At the same time, Dubai’s infrastructure, including reliable internet, telecommunications, and state-of-the-art office spaces and facilities, provides a solid foundation for tech companies to operate efficiently and effectively.
Last but not least, Dubai’s banking system is notably business-friendly. The presence of numerous international banks and a smooth process for financial transactions ensures that businesses can manage their financial operations with ease and assurance.
Who Can Start A Tech Business In Dubai?
Think Dubai’s tech scene is only for the big players? Think again. It’s a land of opportunity for anyone with a vision and the drive to see it through, including:
- Entrepreneurs: If you have a unique idea and the determination to make it a reality, Dubai’s tech ecosystem is the perfect place to start. The city provides not just the technological infrastructure but also a supportive community to guide and nurture new entrepreneurs.
- Startups: The city’s dynamic market and forward-thinking policies create an ideal environment for startups to grow and thrive. Plus, with numerous networking events and startup accelerators, young companies can find the support and resources they need to reach the next level.
- Established Companies: The city’s global business environment and access to a wider market can propel established companies into new realms of success without turning their accounting into a complex maze.
Regardless of which of these categories your tech business falls into, Dubai offers a conducive environment for growth and innovation.
What Do I Need To Start A Technology Business In Dubai?
The beauty of starting a technology business in the United Arab Emirates is that it doesn’t take much effort to complete the process. Here’s a quick overview to get you started:
- Identify your business activity: First, you need to decide on the nature of your tech business. The UAE free zones offer various types of business licenses based on your business activity, ranging from e-commerce to innovation, and including options like Commercial Trade, Consultancy Services, and more.
- Decide your company’s legal structure: Your business can take one of three legal forms in the UAE free zone: Free Zone Limited Liability Company (FZ LLC), Free Zone Company (FZ Co.), or Free Zone Establishment (FZE). This choice will depend on your business’s specific needs and the nature of your activities.
- Register your trade name: Choosing a unique trade name is crucial. It should not only be distinctive but also comply with certain terms and conditions, like not containing inappropriate words or the names of rulers or government agencies.
- Select your business location: With over 40 free zones in the UAE, pick one that aligns with your business activity. As we’ve already mentioned, most tech businesses are located in Dubai Internet City, so that’s probably the right choice for you as well.
- Obtain initial approval & pay fees: Getting initial approval involves fulfilling specific requirements and submitting necessary documents. Commonly required documents include:
- Completed application form: The official form for registering a new business.
- Business plan: A detailed document outlining the business’s goals, strategies, and operations.
- Passport copies of shareholders and appointed manager: Identification documents for the business’s key personnel.
- Notarized Registry Identification Code Form for the manager: An official, notarized document verifying the manager’s identity.
- Specimen signatures: Official signature samples of the company’s key personnel.
- Letter of Intent: A document outlining the intentions or plans of the potential investor or business owner.
- Financial reports or bank reference letters, if required: Documents showing the financial health or credibility of the business or owner.
- Registration application: The form used to apply for a freelancer or professional license.
- CV or profile: A resume or professional profile detailing experience and qualifications.
- Bank reference letter: A letter from a bank vouching for the individual’s financial reliability.
- Pay registration fees: Now you just need to pay the required fees to complete the registration. These fees vary depending on the type of business license and the specific free zone you choose for your company.
For more comprehensive information, check the website of the UAE Ministry of Economy.
Dubai Tech Success Stories To Inspire And Motivate You
The following success stories showcase the immense possibilities when entrepreneurs harness the power and potential of Dubai’s thriving business ecosystem.
Anastasia Denisova, a 23-year-old Russian expat, is a shining example of youthful ambition meeting opportunity. As the CEO of a Dubai-based AI property portal, she has steered her company to generate an impressive $1 million every month since 2022. Denisova’s journey is remarkable for her focus on personal well-being and work-life balance, proving that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of personal happiness.
The story of Rabih Bou Rached, a Lebanese expat, is an inspiring tale of evolution. From waiting tables as a teenager to running a drone company in the UAE, Bou Rached’s journey underscores the transformative power of perseverance and vision. His entrepreneurial path, which began in the food and beverage industry, took a pivotal turn with his introduction to drones, leading to the successful establishment of a commercial drone service provider in Dubai.
There’s also Charbel Nasr, who transitioned from a banker at age 21 to the head of a payment platform at 33. According to the Lebanese expat, his shift from a secure banking job to the world of FinTech in Dubai wouldn’t be possible without the city’s ability to foster innovation and encourage entrepreneurial ventures in diverse fields.
Conclusion
Dubai’s position as a global tech hub is firmly established, and there’s nothing stopping tech businesses from around the world from joining it and reaping the numerous financial, operational, and strategic benefits it offers. We hope that our concise guide has illuminated the path for your own entrepreneurial journey in this thriving city and the United Arab Emirates as a whole.
Bonus: Check out our comprehensive guide on how start an online tech business in Dubai.
Guides
Getting Started With Google Gemini: A Beginner’s Guide
Learn how to use Google’s powerful AI chatbot, Gemini. Explore its unique features, get tips for effective prompts, and see how it compares to ChatGPT.
Google Gemini, a large language model (LLM) that outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4 in many benchmarks, has been available in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region since February 2024. This guide is aimed at those who have yet to try it as well as those who are currently wondering whether they should cancel their ChatGPT subscription in its favor. We provide a comprehensive overview of its capabilities and a brief comparison with its biggest rival.
What Is Google Gemini?
Born from the evolution of Google’s AI initiatives, Gemini, formerly known as Bard, is a state-of-the-art chatbot developed by Google. This LLM initiative was Google’s answer to the fast-rising popularity of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Gemini brings to the table a suite of capabilities we’ve come to expect from large language models:
- Multi-Modal Understanding: Gemini is natively multi-modal, meaning it can understand, operate across, and combine different types of information including text, code, audio, image, and video.
- Sophisticated Reasoning: Gemini’s reasoning capabilities enable it to think more carefully before answering difficult questions, leading to significant improvements over just using its first impression. This is particularly useful in fields requiring complex problem-solving abilities.
- Advanced Coding: Gemini can understand, explain, and generate high-quality code in over 20 programming languages. It excels in coding benchmarks, making it a powerful tool for developers.
- Multi-Language Support: Gemini’s translation abilities and its support for numerous languages help break down communication barriers. This is especially valuable in a globalized world, making both work and personal interactions potentially smoother.
- State-Of-The-Art Performance: Gemini Ultra (used in Gemini Advanced) has outperformed human experts on the MMLU benchmark, a massive multitask language understanding test, scoring 90.0%. It exceeds current state-of-the-art results on 30 of the 32 widely-used academic benchmarks.
While Gemini was introduced with the ability to generate images through Google Brain’s Imagen 2 text-to-image model, these image generation capabilities are currently disabled because the feature created a controversy after flooding the internet with historically inaccurate, racially-biased images.
Google Gemini Availability
Currently, Gemini supports more than 40 languages, including Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish, among others, and extends its reach to over 230 countries and territories, with Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Tunisia all being on the list.
Besides the standard version of Gemini, which uses Google’s Pro 1.0 model, there’s also Gemini Advanced, which is based on the Ultra 1.0 model. This more sophisticated version of the LLM is available in more than 150 countries and territories in English. Again, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Tunisia are all supported. Unfortunately, Gemini Advanced is optimized only for English, so its responses in other languages can be a hit or miss.
How To Use Google Gemini?
Getting started with Google Gemini, whether on desktop or mobile, is a straightforward process:
On Desktop:
1- Visit The Gemini Website: You can find it at gemini.google.com.
2- Sign In: Click on the Sign in If you have an existing Google account and are older than 18 years, then you can simply use it to sign in. If you don’t have one already, this is the time to create it.
3- Accept The Terms Of Service: Read and accept Google Gemini’s Terms of Service by clicking more, followed by I agree on the subsequent page.
4- Start Using Gemini: After clicking Continue, you will be directed to the Gemini page.
5- Message Gemini: Type your question or search term into the search box and press enter. Await Gemini’s response, which will be generated based on the input provided.
On Mobile:
- Android: As an Android user, you can download the Google Gemini app from the Play Store, or you can use the mobile version of the gemini.google.com website.
- iOS: Unfortunately, there’s currently no dedicated Google Gemini app for iOS, but there’s a Gemini tab will appear at the top of the Google app.
Top Tips For Google Gemini Beginners
One of the biggest advantages of conversational AI systems like Gemini is their intuitiveness. You can literally just start asking questions and issuing commands, and Gemini will do its best to understand and respond appropriately. However, to truly harness the power of Google Gemini, especially if you’re just starting out, it’s important to keep a few key tips in mind:
- Double-Check Information: Click the Google icon below any response from Gemini. This feature allows you to quickly verify the accuracy of the information provided using Google Search.
- Provide Feedback: Use the thumbs up or down icons to give feedback on Gemini’s responses. This simple action helps Gemini learn from your preferences, continually improving the accuracy and relevance of its future replies.
- Listen To Responses: For those who prefer auditory learning or simply wish to hear the information, click the speaker icon at the top of a response. This feature converts text to speech, allowing you to listen to Gemini’s replies.
- Leverage Multi-Modality: If you’re stuck explaining something in words, try supplementing your query with an image or reference a piece of code. Gemini’s understanding of different input types can lead to more nuanced assistance.
- Break Down Complex Tasks If you have a complicated problem, try breaking it into smaller, sequential steps. Gemini can assist with each stage, making the whole process more manageable.
- Experiment With Prompts: Don’t be afraid to rephrase questions or provide additional context to guide Gemini in different directions. You may be surprised by the insights you uncover through a slight change in wording.
ChatGPT vs Google Gemini: Which Is Better For MENA Users?
With both Google Gemini and ChatGPT being available in the MENA region, users have unprecedented access to some of the most advanced AI chatbot technologies. Deciding which platform best suits your needs depends on various factors, including pricing, features, and how well each integrates into your daily digital routine. Here’s a breakdown to help you make an informed decision:
| Service: | Model: | Pricing: | Features: |
| Gemini Free | Gemini Pro 1.0 | Free | Access to Gemini Pro within supported countries with a Google account. |
| Gemini Advanced | Gemini Ultra 1.0 | $19.99/Month | Access to Ultra 1.0 LLM and all Google One subscription benefits, including 2 TB of cloud storage. |
| ChatGPT Free | GPT-3.5 | Free | Access to GPT-3.5 with basic OpenAI account registration. |
| ChatGPT Plus | GPT-4 | $20/Month | GPT-4 access with browsing and analysis features, and DALL-E capabilities for image generation. |
Gemini presents a compelling option for users deeply embedded in Google’s ecosystem or those looking for a value-packed subscription. With the Google One AI Premium plan, you can enjoy access to Gemini Advanced and 2 TB of cloud storage space for use across Google’s suite of products, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, and more. Best of all, you can currently get two months of the Google One AI Premium plan for free, so there’s no reason to not give it a try.
On the other hand, ChatGPT shines with its extensive feature set, especially with DALL-E for image generation and the ability to create and train custom GPTs. Despite what artificial LLM performance benchmarks say, ChatGPT’s answers are typically more accurate and relevant than Gemini’s, but they do take longer to generate, and there’s a fairly strict usage limit (40 messages every 3 hours). Unfortunately, OpenAI doesn’t offer a free trial version of its ChatGPT Plus plan, but you can play with the free version of ChatGPT without any limitations.
Conclusion
Google Gemini is a fascinating addition to the world of conversational AI, and it’s already available to users across the MENA region. With its advanced capabilities — from multi-modal understanding to sophisticated reasoning and multi-language support — it presents a good alternative to ChatGPT for those in the Google ecosystem as well as those who have a need for another AI companion in their.
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