You probably do not have the funds to hire full-fledged office space in the UAE if you are a small-team entrepreneur just starting out in business. What are the less expensive or temporary options that you have? And may you submit an application for a business license without a real office? Here is everything you require to know.
Virtual offices
With the help of Dubai Economy and Tourism’s (DET) Estidama service, small firms can conduct business without having to lease a physical location. With this virtual office, start-ups and business owners may enjoy all the luxuries and administrative services of a physical office without having to pay expensive rent or other office-related costs. With a real address, reception services, email forwarding, and courier for their company, business owners or freelancers can work from anywhere in the world.
A Sustainability Contract, also known as an Estidama, is a type of virtual lease that enables smaller businesses with fewer employees to get a business license without having to pay for an actual office space.
Limitations
Estidama enables startups to reduce overhead costs and secure a trade license for their firm, but it is not a viable solution if you plan to grow your company and add new staff.
Contrary to an Ejari contract, where the quota is unlimited, Estidama has a cap on the number of visas that a company can receive, with a maximum of four. As a result, this is not particularly appropriate for businesses with more than four employees. In this situation, an Ejari could be more suited if the company is bigger or planning an expansion.
Flexi desk
A Flexi desk is a co-working area that is made available to clients for a set number of hours each week. The flex desk is not associated with any one particular client and can be used by various clients at various times. It is sometimes referred to as a shared desk, hot desk, or smart desk.
A Flexi desk is not assigned to a specific customer, it is frequently less expensive than a permanent desk, and it is typically included in the basic start-up package for a lease when a client establishes their business in a free zone.
Also Read: Do you want to avoid paying rent for your UAE business office? Consider a flex desk
Limitations
When applying for a company bank account or UAE resident visas for their employees without an actual physical address, organizations using Flexi desks may encounter challenges.
Fixed desk
A fixed desk, as opposed to a Flexi desk, is owned by one company alone and is not shared with other business owners or businesses.
Dedicated desks are typically found in a shared office or a more private open area within the business center, depending on the particular business center.
Even while this option is slightly more expensive than a Flexi desk, it is still less expensive than a regular office because you wouldn’t have to pay for utilities and other amenities separately.
Traditional office
A traditional office is an alternative that you might take into consideration if your firm is too large to use a virtual office or hot desk or if it began out small and now wants to grow. Even though it would cost more, this is the best alternative for small firms that need shared office space for people to work. It is also a longer-term solution for your company.