How to set up
your business inExpo City Dubai

Version 03, August 2024

Expo City Dubai
Expo City Dubai is a sustainable,innovation-driven, people-centric city ofthe future. It is an integral part of the Dubai
2040 Urban Master Plan, which emphasises
the need for sustainable growth andgreener, healthier communities.
Expo City Dubai is an integrated community
to work, live and play. A city built on
sustainability and designed for wellbeing,
where all daily needs are within a 15-minute
walk or bike ride.

Expo City Dubai offers a wide range of smart
and flexible office space solutions. These
include multi-building campuses, shelland-core buildings with branding options,entire floors, private offices, shared desks
and coworking spaces, as well as a businesscentre with flexible workspace options.

› Grade A office space› Available from small sizes to large
bespoke requirements› LEED Platinum and Gold certifiedbuildings

As a blueprint for eco-conscious urban
planning, Expo City Dubai expects entities
operating within the city to align with its goals
in creating a balanced community that thrives
in harmony with the environment.
Expo City Dubai is a purpose-driven
community that comprises premium offices,
unique event venues, stunning green spaces,
exercise grounds, cultural and entertainment
attractions, hotels, restaurants and residential
units, all within a tech-enabled environment
fully focused on sustainability.

The future of business
Located at the centre of Dubai’s growth,
Expo City Dubai enables the future ofbusiness through its innovation-driven
ecosystem, bringing together multinational
companies, entrepreneurs, SMEs, startups,
government, academia, research anddevelopment institutions and more, tocollaborate and thrive in a vibrant setting.
Expo City Dubai enables sustainablebusiness growth through its dynamic
free zone and empowering regulatoryenvironment that enables entities to worksmarter and more sustainably. It offers avariety of flexible licence and visa options
that support diverse types of businesssetup, and provides fully integrated accessto all services, digitally and physically.

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How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai› Powered by a highly advanced digital
infrastructure› Connected to metro and major highways› Ample parking and sustainable mobilityoptions› Unique views of Expo City landmarks

Business setup in Expo City Dubai
Clients wishing to operate from and within
Expo City Dubai (hereinafter known asECD) must hold a valid Licence issued by
the Expo City Dubai Authority (hereinafterknown as ECDA). The ECD Licence is thefoundational document necessary tooperate within the ECD Free Zone.
The ECD Licence allows companies to enjoy
a number of exclusive benefits operating in
Expo City Dubai, these include:Benefits of operating in Expo City Dubai

An agile,
adaptive andresponsive freezone authority

100% Foreign
Ownershipwith tax
benefits

All legalframeworks
supported fordiverse business
entities setup

2000+
businessactivities

Long term setup
through multi-year
licence option

Dual licensing

Seamlessbusiness transferand businesshistory continuity
into ECD

Business Licence
combining ECD
free zone licenses
into a single
business licence

Figure 1   Benefits of operating in Expo City Dubai

ECDA offers clients a tailored and agile approach to setting up business within the City,
ensuring an enjoyable and seamless client experience. Once registered, clients will beprovided with fully integrated access to all ECDA services both virtually through theExpo City Dubai Authority Portal (hereinafter known as ECDA Portal) and physicallythrough the Client Relations Centre located in ECD on level 2 of the Women’s Pavilion inthe Sustainability District.

How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai

3

How to get started
Clients wishing to obtain an ECD Licence must identify the type of legal entity applicable for
their specific business.

Types of legal entities that can be formed under ECDA

Setup New Company

Setup Branch of a Company

A Free Zone Limited LiabilityCompany (FZ-LLC)
Setting up a new legal company
incorporated/ registered by a single
shareholder or multiple shareholders.
The shareholder can be either anindividual or a non-individual/corporate.

Free Zone Branch (FZB)
Setting up a branch of a company
currently registered outside of ECD (i.e.
a branch of an overseas company or abranch of a UAE-registered company).

Figure 2   Types of legal entities that can be formed under ECDA

Clients must also identify the licence type that is best suited to their planned business activities.
The ECDA team is available to provide the guidance required to help clients identify the mostsuitable licence type.

ECDA licence types on offer
Commercial Licence

To conduct trading activities including importation, exportation,buying and selling, and distribution of items as per the industry
groups selected on the licence.

General TradingLicence

To conduct trading activities including importation, exportation,buying and selling, and distribution of items in all categories ofindustries in line with the applied regulations.

Service Licence

To conduct service-oriented activities including but not limited
to consultancy, hospitality, event management and training.

E-Commerce Licence

To conduct the trade of products and services online

Logistics Licence

To conduct services including but not limited to storage,transportation, distribution, sorting, forwarding and clearing
activities, order management & inventory management.

Holding Licence

Provided to companies that hold assets and subsidiaries
without running their day-to-day operations.

Industrial Licence

To conduct light manufacturing activities, packaging, andassembly.
Figure 3   ECDA licence types on offer

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How to set up your business in Expo City DubaiTo obtain an ECD Licence, the client must submit the mandated legal documents andcomplete the steps below. ECD will assign each client an Account Manager to support andmanage their business set up journey.

Business Set up Journey

STEP 1ECDA reviews the applicationand issues Initial Approval

Upon confirmation of an ECD leased
space, client signs and submits theOffer Letter, ECDA Business Setup
application form and supporting
documents (Table 1) through the ECDA
Portal for Initial Approval

STEP 2
3 working days*

STEP 3

ECDA reviews submission
and registers the entity

Client submits legal documents
for ECDA Final Approval including
government authority approvals (ifapplicable) and completes paymentof registration and licensing fees

STEP 4
1 working day**

STEP 5ECDA issues Licence,Registration Certificate andCompany Card

Final Lease Agreement issigned by ECD and the client

STEP 6
1 working day****Subject to third party approvals.
**Upon successful submission of all documents and completion of licence registration payment.
***Subject to availability of signed ECD Lease Agreement and successful final compliance check.

Figure 4   Business Set up JourneyHow to set up your business in Expo City Dubai

5STEP 1 – New application submission for
Initial Approval
Upon identification and confirmation of an
ECD leased space, the client will sign the Offer
Letter with their designated Account Manager.
The Account Manager will then proceed withproviding the client with login credentials tothe ECDA Portal. The client must then submit
the ECDA Business Setup application formand supporting documentation (listed below)
through the ECDA Portal and complete a nonrefundable AED 500 application fee.

Documents required for ECDA Initial Approval

If the ECDA Business Setup application form
submission is completed by a legal entity,
agency or representative on behalf of theshareholder(s) then an attested copy of thePower of Attorney stipulating the authority
to complete submissions on behalf of theshareholder(s) must be provided at the timeof application.

FZ-LLCFZ-LLC

Individual
Shareholders

Non-IndividualShareholders

FZB

ECDA Business Setup application form (refer toAppendix 1)
Signed copy of the ECD lease offer letter (optional)
Passport copies of all licensed parties (e.g.
shareholders, directors, company managers,secretary)
United Arab Emirates visa copies of all licensed
parties (if applicable)
Emirates ID copies of all licensed parties (ifapplicable)
Additional documents for entities undertaking
controlled business activities (if applicable)*
A copy of the Parent Company Licence
Brand Ownership Document or Franchise
Agreement (If applicable)
Specimen signature of shareholders of all licensed
parties (adhering to the ECDA templates provided)
Specimen signature of the Company Manager(adhering to the ECDA templates provided)*Please refer to the 'Expo City Dubai controlled business activities - food and beverage, shisha and alcohol' guide for details.
Table 1   Documents required for ECDA Initial Approval

6How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai

STEP 2 – Initial review and approval
Once all documents are received, ECDA will
review to ensure all requirements are met
and necessary approvals obtained. TheInitial Approval will include confirmation of
the availability of the trade name as well as
validation of the business activities planned.
Upon completion of Initial Approval, theclient will be notified along with any lettersaddressed to the relevant authorities toobtain approval for any controlled businessactivities. If clients are unable to provide therequired information and documents forcontrolled business activities at the InitialApproval or Final Approval stage, they can beprovided later to ECDA. However, clients arereminded they will not be able to operate any
controlled activities within ECD without therelevant approvals. Additionally, any relevant
document templates required for Final
Approval will also be provided to the client.
Initial Approval is valid for 30 (thirty) daysand submission of legal documents must
be completed within this period.
STEP 3 – Legal document submission
for entity registration
Once Initial Approval is obtained, the client
can submit their final documents directly
and be invoiced immediately. However, it
is recommended that a draft of the legal
documents and relevant external authority
approvals for controlled business activities
be shared with the ECD Account Manager for
validation ahead of the official signing.

This is to avoid any additional costs as aresult of resubmission or re-attestation oflegal documents that are not accepted byECDA. Once draft legal documents havebeen validated by ECDA, an invoice will be
issued to the client to complete payment ofregistration fees for the Entity Registration,Licence, Company Card and Lease Security
Deposit. Payment of the invoice must becompleted within 7 (seven) days from thedate of issuance. The ECD Account Manager
will then schedule an appointment with theclient to proceed with the signing of theoriginal legal documents.
The signing of legal documents must becompleted by a legal representative of theentity either in person or virtually, adhering to
ECDA templates.
If the Entity's shareholder(s) is/are to be
represented by a legal entity or agency tocomplete the physical signing, then an original
Power of Attorney stipulating the authority tosign on behalf of the shareholder(s) must bepresented at the time of signing.
For virtual signing through video call, photo
identification in the form of an original
Passport or Emirates ID or National ID must
be presented by the Entity's shareholder(s) orlegal representative at the time of signing.

How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai

7FZ-LLC

FZ-LLC
Individual
Non-Individual
Shareholders Shareholders

Documents required for ECDA Final Approval

FZB

Articles of Association (adhering to the ECDAtemplates provided)
Shareholder Resolution/Declaration to set up a newcompany (adhering to the ECDA templates provided)
Approvals from government authorities for any
controlled business activities (if applicable)
ECDA Ultimate Beneficial Owner Declaration(adhering to the ECDA templates provided)
A copy of the Parent Company Licence with aminimum validity period of 6 (six) months
Good Legal Standing, issued no later than 3 (three)months from date of application (optional)
Incorporation Certificates
Shareholder Resolution/Declaration to set up a newbranch in ECD and appointment of the Company
Manager (must clearly stipulate the Delegation ofAuthority of the appointed Company Manager)
Parent Company approvals from government authorities
for any controlled business activities (if applicable)
Articles of Association of the parent company
Table 2   Documents required for ECDA Final Approval

STEP 4 – Final review and approval
When signed legal documents and payment
for the registration fees have been received,ECDA will carry out the Final Review andcomplete registration of the Entity.
STEP 5 – Signing of final Expo City Dubai
Lease Agreement
Once the Entity is registered, ECD will
generate a final Lease Agreement which mustbe signed by both ECD and the client or anauthorised representative. The registration ofthe Entity and signing of the Lease Agreement
will take place either physically or virtually asrequested by the client.
STEP 6 – Issue of Licence, Registration
Certificate and Company Card
Once the final Lease Agreement has beensigned, a final compliance check of all
documentation will then be carried out

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How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai

by ECDA. The ECD Licence, Registration
Certificate and Company Card will thenbe issued and provided to the client by
the ECD Account Manager as part of thewelcome pack.
The Company Card is an essential tool tobusiness operations that serves as theofficial identification card of the company
and a confirmation of its legal existence.
The card specifies information about thecompany name, card number, expiration
date, and ECDA as the authorised signatory.
Along with the Company Card, the clientwill be issued with their ECD employee
allocation. Please refer to Appendix 1for details on employee allocations asregulated by ECDA.

Congratulations
You are now licensed within Expo City Dubai
For any further queries or clarifications pleasecontact the Expo City Dubai Authority Client
Relations Centre at CRC@expocitydubai.ae
or contact your ECD Account Manager.

ECDA licensing requirements are subject tochange and the client may be required toprovide additional documentation to complete
the licensing process. Please refer to the latest
requirements as set out in the ‘How to set up
your business in Expo City Dubai’ guidelines.

How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai

9Appendix 1
Employee Allocation
Office SpaceShowroom

Shared Desk

1 employee per 9 sqm*

1 employee per 15 sqm*

2 employees per desk

1 employee per 96 sqft*

1 employee per 162 sqft*

Food and Beverage and RetailWarehouse

1 employee per 15 sqm*

1 employee per 12 sqm*

1 employee per 162 sqft*

1 employee per 129 sqft**May vary depending on business activity, layout of the premises, and considerations related to health and safety.

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How to set up your business in Expo City Dubai