With its outstanding glamour and limitless growth, Dubai is one of the best places where innovation meets opportunity. The event management industry here is no exception, offering opportunities to shape a path toward global success. From hosting global conferences to grand weddings, Dubai stands as the epicenter of events that attract millions across the globe.
World-class events like COP28 (the global climate conference), GITEX Global tech exhibition attracting international audiences and participants, and Dubai Design Week, have boosted the city’s event industry at a larger scale. Such events alongside corporate expos and cultural celebrations have added more colors to the market making it an eye-catching platform for beginners. Keep reading to learn how to start an event management company in Dubai with ease.
Event Management in Dubai
The realm of event management in Dubai includes a broad array of responsibilities in organizing different types of gatherings. This includes conferences, conventions, concerts, corporate events, festivals, and ceremonies. Event management demands clear coordination with the staff, handling logistics, and ensuring the smooth execution of the event.
It also involves overseeing all the operations of the event, budget management, and coordinating teams responsible for different tasks. The independent contractors and event planners who contribute to the successful execution of the event are coordinated and controlled by the event managers.
Steps to Set Up an Event Management Business in Dubai
Setting up an event management firm in Dubai is a big task. The application process is straightforward but it requires proper planning. Partnering with Xpert Advisory can streamline the process and make it even more efficient. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to start an event management company in Dubai:
1. Select Your Business Activity
Outlining your company’s business activities is important to get an event management license in Dubai. This license enables you to carry out different activities. Any failure to do improper enlisting may result in penalties. To avoid such mishaps, the best way is to partner with business setup consultants like Xpert Advisory to ensure alignment of your license application and business activities.
2. Choose the Right Business Structure and Jurisdiction
Dubai houses innovative business zones each with regulations to support specific industries. Mainland Companies and Free Zone Companies are two major types of business zones in Dubai.
In the case of the Mainland Company structure, it allows businesses to trade within the UAE. However, a foreign national is limited to only holding 49% of the business shares. A free zone company is 100% owned by the entrepreneurs or investors. Free Zone companies can be registered in one of over 40 special trade zones of Dubai.
3. Select a Company Name
Ensuring the UAE’s naming policies, decide a name for your event management company and get it registered with UAE’s Registry Office. Keep in mind that the name must not hold any offensive or blasphemous language, also it should not be related to Islam or Allah. You can also use your complete name, and not the surname or initials.
4. Prepare Your Documents
The required documents and information for your application include:
- A filled application form
- A copy of your passport, visa, and Emirates ID
- No Objection Certificate (NOC)
- Memorandum of Association (MOA)
- Board Resolution
- Certificate of Incumbency
5. Submit Your Application and Necessary Fee
Apply for the Event Management License in Dubai from the DED (Mainland) or the Free Zone authority along with a licensing fee to finalize your business in Dubai. In case, any third-party approval is required, you need to check that out too.
6. Proceed with the Visa Application
Once you are done with applying for the business license, you need to apply for visas as well. This also gives you the privilege to sponsor dependents for their visa applications, including your family.
7. File for opening a Corporate Bank Account
To manage your company’s finances, you need to open a bank account in an established bank. This ensures the safety of your company’s financial information.
8. Mark your online presence through marketing
Captivating branding catches potential customers’ interest that is found on the internet. Hence a major portion of potential clients could be reached through proper social media giving a boost to the company’s growth.
9. Grow your Network
A successful client never stops spreading the news to the crowd. Hence more satisfied clients bring more new clients as a result. Hence successful event planning depends a lot on customer satisfaction and feedback, chaining the network for better growth of the company.
Documents Required for Event Management License in Dubai
The following key documents are required to obtain an Event Management License in Dubai:
- Passport copies
- Valid UAE residency visas/ entry stamps
- Emirates ID copies
- No Objection Certificate (NOC), if applicable
- Trade name reservation certificate from the Department of Economic Development Dubai (DED)
- Memorandum of Association (MOA)
- A tenancy contract (Ejari)
It greatly depends on the type of event you plan to manage, as it may require extra approvals from Dubai Municipality or the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) department. For example, large public events encompassing special activities require the aforementioned approvals.
Activities Permitted under Event Management License in Dubai
The following are the authorized business activities that you can perform with an event management license in Dubai:
- Sell tickets for events.- subject to approval
- Integrate suppliers and dealers.
- Showcase products and services.
- Book hotels for event attendees.- subject to approvals
- Organize events including seminars, gala events, product launches, weddings, conferences, award ceremonies, and more.
However, certain activities are not permitted holding just the event management license in Dubai. For example: import or export, civil works, construction work, etc.
Cost of Starting an Event Management Company in Dubai
The cost of opening an event management company in Dubai varies depending on the business location, business activities, and company structure, as it greatly influences the cost of the management license there. With the expert guidance of Xpert Advisory, you can simplify the procedure and ensure a cost-effective approach tailored to your business goals.
With precise cost differences, opening an event company in a Free Zone and a Mainland location is affordable in Dubai. The legal category of license application determines the cost of the mainland business license. For a Free Zone business license, the business activities and the required number of visas determine the cost. The cost of obtaining an event management license ranges between AED 15,000* to AED 30,000*.
Types of Event Management Services
Before event management company formation in Dubai, explore the types of event management services you can offer in this business hub. Here are the key service categories:
Event Management
Professional event managers have a key role in pivoting the event and carrying out all the technicalities and beauty elements. By comprehending the client’s brand and budget, they put all their efforts into shaping the success of the event, no matter trade show, a wedding dinner, an award ceremony, or a cocktail party, the manager knows how to start and run the event inside the client’s budget.
Event Coordination
Lighting, decor, catering, theming, style, sound, vision, and entertainment are some of the important aspects of event production, through which event planners never fail to amuse with innovative and fresh methods.
Conferences and Venue Sourcing Services
Event management firms in collaboration with clients bring out different conference identities using meticulous content programming and thorough logistic preparation. It may include:
- Ground Transportation
- Delegation of accommodation booking and venue sourcing
- Social and partner activities
- Involvement of guest speakers and facilitators
- Management of all audiovisual needs
Event Planning Services
Event coordinators remain at the top of the competition, never missing a chance to make the event a memorable one by including fascinating floral arrangements, warm bedding, and other innovative entertainment options.
Benefits of Starting an Event Management Business in Dubai
Here are some benefits of setting up your event management in Dubai:
1. Vibrant Tourism Industry
Dubai being no less a marvel to visitors marks it a highly demanding platform for events and celebrations annually. The country houses a wide variety of events from conferences to corporate gatherings throughout the year.
2. Tax-free Haven
For any business to grow fast, one of the biggest financial advantages is the tax-free setup that Dubai facilitates. There is no income or limited corporate tax in Dubai that allows the investors to retain the maximum financial profits enabling them to reinvest into profitable businesses.
3. Strong Infrastructure
The glorious infrastructure of Dubai like cutting-edge venues, astonishing hotels, and quick transportation, makes it among the best places in the world to plan and execute high-quality events.
4. Smooth Business Setup Process
Dubai’s Company registration and setup process is easy, making it an uncomplicated one for beginners to understand and establish their businesses efficiently.
5. Hub of Networking
Dubai being the global hub of networking offers enormous options for networking on an international level. High-profile clients, industry experts, business owners, and entrepreneurs, all meet and greet here. It provides an ideal platform to grow a business network through trade shows like the Arabian Travel Market and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Conclusion
Event management, be it of any kind, demands a collaborative team, and a check on logistics. For establishing an event management firm in Dubai there is a streamlined process that enables entrepreneurs to avail the chance of becoming a part of a global networking hub without any tax deductions, enhancing the chances of flourishing business of beginners and also the established ones, alongside the uncountable perks that Dubai offers for the investors, business holders and establishers.
FAQs
1. What is the cost of an event management license in Dubai?
The cost of obtaining an event management license in Dubai ranges from AED 15,000* to AED 30,000*. However, it varies based on your business location, business activities, and company structure.
What licenses are required to run an event management business in Dubai?
To operate an event management company in Dubai’s booming market, you will need a business license from the Department of Economic Development (DED), as well as additional permits depending on the scale of your events.
2. Is it necessary to have prior experience in event planning to start a business in Dubai?
While prior experience in event planning is helpful, it’s not a mandatory requirement. With the right guidance from professional business setup consultants like Xpert Advisory, a strong business plan, and the right team, you can successfully start an event management company in Dubai.
3. What are the activities permitted under an event management license in Dubai?
With an event management license in Dubai, you are permitted to engage in various business activities. These include selling tickets for events, showcasing products and services, booking accommodations for attendees, and organizing a wide range of events such as seminars, gala events, conferences, award ceremonies, and more.
