TGFKASE

Denizens of this illustrious board, I seek your guidance.

Mrs TGFKASE has been rather successfully turning a hobby into a little bit of an earner here in Abu Dhabi. Photography, I hasten to add, before you all stoop to gutter talk..

To appease my concerns regards requesting funds in exchange for family portraits, I'm trying to find out the most cost-effective way of getting her 'legal' and allowing her creative flair to blossom.

I believe I need trade licence, visa change etc. Anyone here able to point me in the right direction? We are not talking turnover in the millions of AED, so I'm wary of 'agents'...

TGFKASE

Bump....

Anyone?

Meow

Most of the photographers I know (and I know a lot) are registered via Fujairah so I'd suggest checking out the free zone there. She'll still be looking at some Dhs 20k to set up and as an annual fee though.


Edit. I think it may be a bit less actually. http://www.fujairahfreezone.com/packages.htm#ID1

TGFKASE

Thanks for the info, Meow...

Brains1983

These guys are advertising a lot on Dubai 92.

Business Set up Dubai | Company Setup in UAE - CREATIVE ZONE

jam25mack

Think its around 10-12K in RAK

Meow

Not for RAK Media Zone. It's more like 20k.

jam25mack

Does it need to be in the Media zone? Is that different to the Freezone.... Kinda waaay out of my depth in this convo! Ha ha!

Meow

Different free zones offer licences to different occupations. Photography usually comes under media. Fact is that most licences to operate a company as a one man band are going to cost in the region of 20k, no matter where located.

Autonomy

I'm set up with Creative City in Fujeirah

Fujairah Free Zone License - CREATIVE ZONE

My original package was 3 visas, 17,500 AED per year, approx 5,000 AED per medical for the visas (3 year visas as freezone) and I think a one time set up fee of approx 5,000 AED.

I did it all myself with no agents involved.

A bit time consuming but they did help. Needed to go to Fujeriah once I think.

They now have an office in Dubai which is helpful.

Not sure of the package rates - they've been ok I guess - I have little to do with them, but it provides the license.

Setting up a business bank account was a bigger headache...

TGFKASE

Thanks Auto.. Was hoping you'd pop up....

shiva

on a similar train of thought to the original question.

Does anyone know how to go about getting a new category of business license created or listed as a license category with the DED?

The mrs wants to start her own thing and the category or even close to the category doesnt exist within the DED database and as such it is causing the kind of blank looks and responses you'd expect.

archie159

My wife went through various discussions with 2-4-54 in Abu Dhabi about setting up a "creative" company, though she has not yet done this. One thing which really surprised both of us was that 2-4-54 were willing to haggle over their costs. Originally they handed out a list of costs, but when my wife said that it was too expensive in relation to turnover, they starting dropping the prices by quite a significant %. Maybe worth trying with others...

Meow

Good luck with that! Is there not another category that is vaguely linked? When Mr Meow set up his design business in 2009 he has to go under the heading of "advertising agency". The free zones don't seem to care provided that have a vague link.

TGFKASE

As an update, I today spoke with Creative Zone and they are willing to issue a Trade Licence etc.. with no visa's, for 17,500AED. Think Ill haggle...