Business success stems from strategic planning and in-depth market analysis. Dubai is a global business centre, and research consultants play a key role in shaping it. Data-driven insights, analysis, and consulting empower business leaders to shape their companies’ futures and evolve into industry titans. With a diverse market, Dubai offers a fertile ground for research professionals.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to start a research consultancy in Dubai – step-by-step. You’ll discover what a research consultancy does, the key benefits of establishing your business in Dubai, and powerful tips for scaling your research consultancy. Let’s get started.
What does a research consultancy do?
A research consultancy provides research in specialised fields, data analysis, and research reports to businesses and organisations across various industries, helping them make better-informed decisions.
For businesses, a research consultant typically performs market research, data analysis, strategic planning, and other related tasks.
This work usually entails researching market viability, consumer behaviour, product feasibility studies, data-driven insights and analysis, goal setting and roadmaps, go-to-market strategies, brand positioning, product registration, and more.
How to start a research consultancy in Dubai: Step-by-step
Step 1: Partner with Trade License Zone
Your smartest step is to partner with Trade License Zone. Our business setup specialists guide you through the entire process, from choosing your business activities, to various approvals, trade license application, and more. We tailor our services and solutions to your goals, budget, and business strategy.
Step 2: Choose between a mainland setup or a free zone
Next, you must decide which business jurisdiction will provide your research consultancy with the best advantages. The two business setup options are mainland or free zone:
- A mainland setup allows you to work directly with clients anywhere in Dubai and across the UAE, including government agencies.
- A free zone setup offers 100% foreign ownership, tax incentives, streamlined business setup – and even built-in flexi-desk or coworking spaces – ideal if your consultancy will primarily serve international clients or operate remotely.
Trade License Zone will help you select the most suitable business jurisdiction setup for what works best for your research consultancy business.
Step 3: Select your business activities
In applying for your trade license, you’ll need to define your research consultancy’s business activities. With over 2,000 to choose from, getting this right ensures you comply with UAE business regulations and avoid delays or restrictions on what services you can perform. When applying for your trade license, you must clearly define your consultancy’s business activities.
Each business jurisdiction type has specific business activity codes for research consultancies. We will help you select the correct ones to avoid rejections or limitations on your trade license.
Step 4: Register your trade name and apply for initial approval
The next step is registering your business name. It should reflect your brand and comply with UAE’s strict naming regulations: for example, avoiding offensive or blasphemous language and no references to religion or government. Once approved, you’ll receive a trade name reservation certificate.
Along with your trade name registration certificate, you can now submit your initial approval to the Department of Economic Development (for mainland business setups) or relevant free zone authority. This is to confirm that the Dubai government has no objections to your business.
Step 5: Apply for your trade license
Now, you can submit your trade license application for a research consultancy. This step includes submitting various documentation, typically:
- Initial approval certificate
- Business plan
- Trade name reservation certificate
- Passport copies of shareholders
- Various external approvals (if applicable)
Step 6: Secure your workspace
Depending on your trade license and business jurisdiction requirements, you may need to secure an office space. Your options include flexi-desks, private offices, shared coworking spaces, or a home office setup.
Trade License Zone will help you find a workspace that aligns with your trade license requirement and your budget.
Step 7: Apply for your Dubai residence visa
Once your research consultancy trade license has been granted, you can apply for your residence visa for Dubai. We’ll guide you through this process, from medical tests to Emirates ID issuance, and granting of your establishment and labour cards.
Step 8: Open your corporate bank account
The final step is opening a corporate bank account. Trade License Zone will introduce you to trusted banking partners who understand the specific needs of a research consultancy. And once your corporate bank account is active, you’re ready to launch.
Benefits of starting a research consultancy in Dubai
- Strategic location: Dubai’s position makes it a natural launchpad for businesses looking to expand into the UAE, the wider Gulf region, and key markets across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Diverse market: Dubai is home to tens of thousands of businesses across every industry and business sector.
- Access to experts: Dubai attracts highly skilled professionals from around the globe, providing businesses with the advantage of tapping into a deep pool of industry experts across every sector.
- Business-friendly government policies: Dubai’s government actively supports business growth through streamlined regulations, tax incentives, and world-class infrastructure, making it easier for businesses to launch, grow, and thrive.
- High demand for research consultancy services: With its strategic location and diverse economy, Dubai has become a hotspot for global companies seeking expert guidance to uncover new growth opportunities – both within the Gulf region and internationally.
Tips for growing a research consultancy in Dubai
1. Build strong relationships
Success in Dubai often comes down to who you know. Trust-based relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders are crucial to this success. Attend industry events, become involved in business councils and chambers, and network.
2. Leverage multilingual and multicultural talent
Dubai’s global nature demands a research consultancy team that can navigate different languages and cultural norms, whether that is Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin, or French – it is about more than just language proficiency but regional fluency. This can set your research consultancy apart.
3. Specialise in your niche
Focus on niche areas where you can offer your specialised insights. This will demonstrate to your clients that you understand the region, not just the research data.
Why work with Trade License Zone
Setting up a research consultancy in Dubai requires navigating a complex array of licenses, visas, approvals, and extensive paperwork, as well as understanding the associated legal requirements. That’s precisely what Trade License Zone specialises in.
We are highly experienced in helping entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals such as yourself launch their consultancy in Dubai – quickly, affordably, and accurately.
Our team handles the entire process on your behalf, from the first step to the approvals – and beyond. So, don’t waste your time and money trying to figure it out on your own. We tailor every solution to your specific needs.
