Starting a facilities management company in Dubai makes sense as it is home to world-class infrastructure, skyscrapers, and outstanding residential and commercial buildings. Plus, a lot of construction projects are ongoing and many others are planned for the future. By 2030, the Emirates’ facility management market would increase up to 39, 680 million USD, as per the latest Facility Management Market Research Report of UAE.
Besides buildings and properties, There are more than 8.8 million ex-pats in the Emirates, which makes up more than 90% of the total population. These residents live and work in varied accommodations and structures. It is obvious that they need quality maintenance services throughout the year. Therefore, it is clear that the UAE offers you diverse and exciting opportunities in the form of managing these facilities.
Now, the question arises how to start a facilities management company in Dubai? This guide will answer your question and provide you with all the details of the complete process and essential information that you are looking for. So, let’s jump right into it and learn the whole process from planning till the submission of documentation and visa application.
Types of Facilities Management Companies in Dubai
Before planning on operating your company, you should be mindful of the types of facility management services that you can offer in the country. Facilities management companies are mainly divided into two categories depending on the business activities:
Soft Facilities Management Company
Soft Facilities Management Company is responsible for supporting the management of the main property. Maintaining the grounds, pest control, ensuring security, and cleaning the premises are included in these services.
Hard Facilities Management Company
Hard Facilities Management Company offers services to the building systems and structures ensuring they are kept in perfect shape and their facilities are functioning normally. These services include maintenance works such as elevators & corridors, plumbing, fire safety systems, and alarm systems.
Documents Required for Opening Facilities Management Company in Dubai
In order to open your facilities management company in Dubai, you need to obtain a facility management license. And for issuance of this business license, you are required to provide some basic documentation and a few details, including:
- Filled application form
- Primary approval by the competent authority, depending on the type of business activity
- Passport copies proposed business owner/s and partners
- Two-color passport size photos
- Rental contract
- If the expatriate is already on a work visa, a No Objection Certificate from international partners’ sponsors is needed. The UID number of the shareholder is required if they have a visit visa.
- Ejari registration
- Name registration certificate
- Copy of Jinsiya (Naturalization book of local partners)
- Other specific documents
Procedure to Set-up Facilities Management Company in Dubai, UAE
Before you can operate your facilities management company in Dubai, UAE, you need to get the management facility license. Follow the following steps and your license will be issued by the relevant authorities:
Choose Business Activity
First of all, you will choose the right business activity that aligns with the purpose and goals of your business. In order to avoid possible fines or even cancellation of your facility management license, make sure everything is compliant, error-free, and clear.
Choose Company Name
The next step is to decide on your business name. When it comes to choosing a name, things can get somewhat complicated in the UAE. The country has a few somewhat idiosyncratic naming conventions. If you wish to use your personal name in the business name, it must be in full instead of your initials or abbreviations. Furthermore, your selected name should not be already registered by some other company.
Also, your company name shouldn’t make reference to existing corporations and organizations. It also shouldn’t include any blasphemous or offensive language.
Choose Jurisdictions
Once you are done with the selection of the company name, you will move forward to choose a jurisdiction to establish your business. You have the option of opening your company in the Free zone or the Mainland. Both of the economic zones have their own set of specifications, benefits, rules, regulations, and laws. Choosing one of the two economic zones solely depends on your business requirements and personal preferences.
Currently, the following free zones are functional in the Emirates:
- Dubai Airport Free Zone
- Dubai CommerCity
- Dubai Silicon Oasis -IFZA
- Sharjah Airport International Free Zone
Free zones give you the advantage of 100% exemption from customs and personal income tax. There are also no currency restrictions and foreign exchange controls. In addition to that, You also have full freedom to repatriate all invested profits and capital in this zone.
Establishing your business in the mainland of Dubai also brings various benefits. In this jurisdiction, you can trade directly with the local market of the UAE. You are also free to bid for government contracts which is very profitable. But you will need a local sponsor to conduct business here. In this economic zone, the business is registered as a Civil Work Company.
Apply for Facility Management License
Visit the Department of Economic Development or relevant authorities of the free zone and mainland. For registering for the license, you need to begin with:
- Acquiring TRA, initial, and name approvals
- Attesting and notarizing Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)
- Paying pending dues such as non-Arabic name fee, DED fee, license fee, annual fee, Tasheel fee
- Preparing Ejari (If needed)
Complete Immigration-Related Formalities
Post that, you will be completing formalities related to immigration including, applying for an immigration card, clearing investor visa charges, and getting Emirates national ID after clearing a medical test.
Apply for Visa and Labor Card
Then, you need to apply for a visa, including those of your office staff and employees or family members that you want to sponsor. You also have to apply for a labor card. It is a requirement for the business establishment process to get the visa and labor card.
Apply for Corporate Bank
At last, you need to apply for any corporate bank to open your bank account in it.
Following a pilot scheme, the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) may also grade your facilities management company. The grading is done so that it can be indicated what level of expertise and what specialization the company owns. Specific projects and certain contracts are allotted to only companies of a specific grading.
Conclusion
UAE has a huge market offering various opportunities in the facilities management industry. Starting a facilities management company in the UAE is quite easy and simple for those who are armed with the required knowledge and essential skills. Still, you need some prior knowledge before conducting a facilities management business.
This guide will provide you with the required information on the whole process of establishing a facilities management company. If you need more information, you can get in touch with us anytime and get your queries solved.
If you want to start a new business in Dubai, acquire a free zone license, mainland license, business trading license, or open a small company in the UAE, we can help you. We are the best business setup consultants in Dubai UAE having years of experience. From visa applications to all the required application tasks, we have the expertise to handle everything. We will make sure the process is done in a professional way and your business is established smoothly in adequate time.
