Karl Hougaard

Karl Hougaard

Karl, Founder & Managing Partner of Trade License Zone, ensures exceptional customer experience, distinguishing the company in the business setup sector. His career began with Primovie in South Africa, leading to his move to Dubai in 2001. Over two decades, he has owned multiple businesses and played key roles in major firms, including IFZA, Virtuzone, ITP Media Group, and Dubizzle.com.

booming trade is reshaping digital freight

How booming trade is reshaping digital freight and smart ports in the UAE

For decades, the UAE has been described as a bridge between continents, and that still holds true. What feels different today is the pace and complexity of what’s moving across that bridge. Trade volumes continue to rise, but the nature of that trade is shifting. Shipments are more complex, timelines are tighter, and data requirements […]

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part-time work Dubai

Can you work part-time in the UAE? [2026 Guide]

Across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), working hours no longer follow a single pattern. Shorter shifts, reduced-hour contracts, and project-based roles now appear across retail, hospitality, education, and digital services. Businesses often expand teams temporarily during busy periods or bring in specialists for defined pieces of work. For many residents exploring additional income or considering […]

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refrigerator truck rental business in Dubai

How to start a refrigerator trucks rental business in Dubai

You can start a refrigerator trucks rental business in Dubai by first clarifying how you intend to operate, then selecting the right jurisdiction, registering the company and trade name, securing the appropriate transport or rental license, sourcing compliant refrigerated vehicles with reliable monitoring systems, opening a corporate bank account, and finally beginning operations with food, […]

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property management business in Dubai

How to start a property management business in Dubai

Starting a property management business in Dubai is mostly about getting the sequence right. The process begins with defining the company’s services, choosing a jurisdiction, obtaining DET and RERA licenses, setting up operational infrastructure, and opening a corporate bank account. The opportunity exists because of how Dubai’s property market behaves away from the headlines. Much […]

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Security robots in the Gulf

Security robots in the Gulf – growth and opportunities for entrepreneurs

In the Gulf, security robots are more than just tools – they are essential to national digital transformation strategies. This strategic positioning has created a high-growth market where established firms and ambitious startups coexist, offering significant room for new ventures to disrupt the status quo. The recent CES 2026 conference made one thing clear – […]

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how to start a holding company in Dubai

How to start a holding company in Dubai, UAE

Starting a holding company in Dubai, UAE, involves a series of straightforward steps. Choose the right jurisdiction, define the holding activity, reserve a compliant name, secure approvals, complete incorporation and licensing, and open a corporate bank account. Once those pieces are in place, the company can begin holding shares, assets, or investments in a clean, […]

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global is your e-commerce strategy

How global is your e-commerce strategy? Here’s how to make it work

E-commerce is a giant market. It may once have been a kind of secondary sales channel, but today it’s nothing less than a defining force in global trade. Consumers expect to browse and purchase products from anywhere in the world with the same ease they experience locally. The roadblocks that many businesses encounter while trying […]

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The Gulf’s logistics sector revolution – and what it means for startups

The GCC has some of the most strategically placed and busiest ports and airports in the world. So, it’s no surprise that logistics is a key sector in the region, whether that’s moving massive amounts of cargo or ensuring that a small item a customer ordered at 3 am is delivered within the hour.

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payments company in Dubai

How to start a payments company in Dubai

Starting a payments company in Dubai is a straightforward process. Getting your business up and running involves just eight steps: research your market and build a business plan; choose your jurisdiction; select a legal structure; register your trade name and company; apply for a payments or fintech license; secure approval from the Central Bank of […]

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How the Gulf region has redefined the business of indoor entertainment

For a number of years, the GCC region has been actively reimagining the potential of indoor entertainment. There are several factors behind this, not least the extreme summer heat that makes year-round outdoor entertainment difficult, the increasing demand from young populations for tech-enhanced experiences, and the broader economic diversification initiatives that many GCC countries have […]

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