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Global Hub

UAE business, in one place.

Business news from across the Emirates, free zone updates, the conferences worth attending and the organisations that matter. And when you're ready, International Trade Solutions helps you set up in the UAE, build your systems and trade with the world.

Read today's news How to set up in the UAE
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Live news

Collected automatically from news sources every hour.

UAE business and trade

Free zones

Events and conferences

Headlines link to the original publishers. ITS Global Hub is an independent site and is not affiliated with any government or free zone authority. For the yacht and marina industry, see Marine sector news.

Why the UAE

0%

personal income tax on salaries and wages. u.ae

9%

federal corporate tax, charged only on taxable profit above AED 375,000. Qualifying free zone income can be taxed at 0%. u.ae

100%

foreign ownership allowed for most mainland business activities since 2021, as well as in the free zones. Invest UAE

40+

free zones across the seven emirates, each with its own licences, facilities and sector focus. u.ae

The UAE sits between Europe, Asia and Africa, with world-class ports at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port and Saqr Port, Dubai International, one of the world's busiest airports, and economic partnership agreements with a growing list of countries. Companies can choose the mainland, to trade anywhere in the country, or a free zone built around their sector, from finance in ADGM and DIFC to commodities in DMCC and industry in KEZAD and RAKEZ.

Spotlight on Ras Al Khaimah, our home base. RAKEZ is home to more than 50,000 companies from over 100 countries, Fitch rates the emirate A+, and new destinations such as Wynn Al Marjan Island are drawing hospitality and property investment. rakez.com

The UAE business community

The authorities, chambers, free zones and venues investors and business owners deal with most, across the Emirates.

Setting up a business in the UAE

The usual path, whether you choose a free zone or the mainland. Each emirate and free zone has its own rules and fees, so the details vary.

  1. Choose your activity and where you'll trade

    Pick your business activities, then decide between the mainland, to trade anywhere in the UAE, or a free zone suited to your sector. Some zones offer licences that cover both.

  2. Choose your emirate and company type

    Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah or another emirate, then a limited liability company, branch, free zone company or sole establishment. The choice affects ownership, liability and visas.

  3. Choose a facility

    A flexi-desk or co-working seat for small teams, an office, a warehouse, or industrial land for manufacturers.

  4. Apply and get your licence

    Reserve a trade name, submit the application with passport copies and any approvals, and pay. You receive your licence and registration documents.

  5. Get visas and Emirates ID

    Apply for investor and employee residence visas, medical tests and Emirates ID.

  6. Open your bank account and register for tax

    Open a corporate account, then register for corporate tax and, if needed, VAT with the Federal Tax Authority.

We build the software your business runs on

Apps, portals and business systems, designed and built with you. We ship real products, like the All in Family app on the App Store.

Mobile and web apps
iPhone, Android and web apps, from first sketch to App Store launch.
Member and client portals
Secure logins for members, clients and partners, with documents, payments and news, like Guildhall, our member portal for associations, chambers and companies.
CRM and sales systems
Leads, customers and follow-ups in one place, connected to your email and WhatsApp.
Finance and operations tools
Invoicing, budgets, approvals and dashboards that show your numbers live.
Websites and automation
Fast websites, automatic news and reports, and AI assistants that save your team hours.
Talk about your projectSee our products

Our products

Software we designed, built and run ourselves, available to families, associations and companies.

Family app for iPhone and iPad All in Family Safety, money, chores, medical records and the family calendar in one private app. Live on the App Store. See the app Member and client portal for any organisation Guildhall Membership, renewals, events, newsletters, board meetings and finance in one system. Available to license. See the portal

Trade from the UAE to the world

ITS is a licensed general trading and commercial brokerage company. We source, negotiate and move goods between the UAE and markets in Europe, North Africa and the Americas, and act as a trusted go-between for producers, suppliers and buyers.

  • Raw materials
  • Metal and steel
  • Automotive parts
  • Marine hardware and software
  • Building materials
  • Food commodities
  • Green and sustainable products
  • B2B wholesale
Request a sourcing quote
Spain Cyprus Greece Italy Canada France Germany Turkey Morocco UAE
Our trade lanes from the UAE

Cross-border platforms and partners

The companies and associations we work with across marine, technology, logistics, trade and travel, from the UAE to Europe, the Americas and Oceania.

The owners of ITS

More than 35 years of combined experience in UAE marinas, yacht charter and brokerage, hospitality and commercial management.

Eslam Rezk

Eslam Rezk

Co-Founder and Owner, International Trade Solutions

Eslam brings over 17 years in business development and marine operations across the UAE, GCC and Egypt. As Assistant Marina Manager at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, part of Emaar Hospitality, he drove revenues above AED 30 million a year, and as Commercial Area Manager at VIC Holding Group he managed multimillion-dollar budgets and new business.

At ITS he leads yacht brokerage, project management consultancy and global trading. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics from Alexandria University, is a graduate of British Marine's Intermediate Marina Management programme, and is an active member of the Leisure Marine Association MENA.

Marie Charlene Michel

Marie Charlene Michel

Co-Founder and Owner, International Trade Solutions

Charlene has more than 20 years in marina, charter and hospitality in the UAE and beyond. She spent 11 years with Emaar Hospitality leading marine relations across 800 berths at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, Dubai Creek Marina Yacht Club and Marassi Marina in Egypt. She founded Royal Yachts Charter in 2008 and later headed charter and brokerage at Art Marine.

She is Executive Manager of the Leisure Marine Association MENA, working with ministries and authorities on standards and regulation. A British Marine Certified Marina Manager completing her MBA with Cardiff University, she leads brokerage, yacht acquisitions and marina development strategy at ITS.

Set up your company in the UAE with ITS

International Trade Solutions is a UAE company licensed in Ras Al Khaimah. We help investors and companies from around the world set up anywhere in the UAE, on the mainland or in the free zone that fits them best, and then grow from here.

  • Choosing the right emirate, free zone or mainland licence, and company type
  • Preparing and following up your application, visas and bank account
  • Finding offices, warehouses, property and partners
  • Project management and consultancy after you launch
  • Trade, marine and property brokerage
WhatsApp +971 58 842 4909 [email protected]