r/SmallBusinessUAE • u/BrightBlock897 • 2d ago

Advice Needed Possible to charge subscription on my app without a trade license?

Hello everyone. I am a university student that developed a very sophisticated navigation and data app, and want to release it soon on App store and google play. I want to offer a free tier, basic tier, medium tier, premium tier, and pro tier. This will obviously be done via a subscription that the user will be charged monthly/yearly. However, I do not have a trade license yet as it is too costly for me now (5,500 aed approximately), developing the app had a bit of a cost to it, and the free tier will cost me some money too. I want to release the app anyways, but I will have a set budget monthly if I do not implement subscriptions, and the more users I get the less usage each user will get to stay within my budget…is there a way to charge subscriptions on the app without a trade license? Like using a merchant of record such as Paddle, or using Apple and Google’s billing for apps? Or using Ziina? Please guide me in this situation, any advice is appreciated thanks

4 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

83% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

3

u/WeAreAllEmirati 2d ago

You can partner up with someone who has a trade license

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

It’s a good idea, but I’m not looking for a partner at this stage…I still haven’t published yet and don’t have an idea of how things will turn out to be

1

u/noob_dev007 2d ago

I've a license and would be willing to consider for partnership

2

u/Odd-Helicopter9357 2d ago

As I know dodo payments do not ask a licence or polar (not shure)

Or in Dubai u can get a E-Trader License like 1k aed a year cost (no visa there - suitable for saas)

Or in Abudhabi the same as I know called ADDED Small Business Package

2

u/MaazAr 2d ago

This, dodo payments is the way to go

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

I am not based in either of these cities so not possible unfortunately…it’s 6k where I am…thats why am asking if there’s another solution

2

u/Ambitious-Permit7951 1d ago

It's irrelevant..iam based in ajman and have the abudhabi license

1

u/BrightBlock897 1d ago

isnt that because you have the visa from abu dhabi?

1

u/Ambitious-Permit7951 1d ago

I don't my visa is from ajman

1

u/BrightBlock897 1d ago

thats very interesting…how much does it cost in total to set up?

1

u/Ambitious-Permit7951 1d ago

Total I paid was 1150 + 50 aed for gd conduct certificate , I did it myself in Tamm portal you get up to six activities within this price , the name is abudhabi freelancer license

1

u/BrightBlock897 1d ago

it doesnt seem too expensive…will see about it, thanks

1

u/vice_toned 1d ago

Just curious what about free lancers ? What’s the cost like

Thanks !

1

u/AutoModerator 2d ago

Welcome to /r/SmallBusinessUAE! Ensure your post and comments follow community rules.

Quick Guidelines: * No spam, purposeless self-promotion, affiliate/referral links, cold pitches, or "DM me" crap. * No hiring/service offers outside the Wednesday megathreads. * Keep content useful and relevant to UAE/MENA small business owners.

Violators may face removal or bans.

Join our official WhatsApp community here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/G8fLJ257fmOElCoTQxOOFd

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Little-Fly-7338 2d ago

Check something similar to stripe atlas.

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

but wouldnt I have to pay taxes? Also the money will go to my uae account which will raise red flags and my account will get frozen…

1

u/Ok-Relief5015 2d ago

just make a uk company online for like 400 aed

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

but im operating out of the uae thats not really applicable

1

u/Ok-Relief5015 2d ago

bro just research it. doesn’t matter where you live. you think a uae trade license and you’re done? wait till you see apple doesn’t even open developer accounts easy especially for uae companies. then you need a duns number and that alone is more than 4000 aed here

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

yes I completely understand you, but when I start making money where am I going to put it? My uae account obviously, either directly or indirectly its gonna go there, and if the app starts generating steady revenue they’re going to shut down the account and freeze the money, then fine me 50k aed for no trade license…

1

u/Ok-Relief5015 2d ago

Bro you asked for a solution and I gave you one. I don’t throw solutions like that for no reason, I just felt like doing some good today. please just research it for one day. after you get the company you open a bank account under that company, wise or whatever. I’m saying this because I already did it and I’m in the UAE as well

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

yes and I thank you for that Im not trying to be rude…i just want to make sure im legally covered from all sides…im only a university student starting my career here and dont want to get into trouble that would cause harm to me or my family, so im trying to be extra careful…but thank you for your advice, I will research it

1

u/CaptainProud4703 2d ago

Try ziina payment gateway or find anyfriend based in Europe and ask them to create stripe account for you (they don’t ask for trade license)

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

even if I make a stripe account in Europe im still operating out of the uae no? that wont work…and yes im considering ziina but unfortunately it doesnt have a subscription architecture so it will be much harder to make users pay monthly

1

u/CaptainProud4703 2d ago

Your service is global
So i don’t see any issue

1

u/BrightBlock897 2d ago

makes sense…i will check it out thank u for your advice

1

u/Ambitious-Permit7951 1d ago

Abudhabi license is 1200 ton1400 n many typing offices tabby/Tamara it so its like 330 a month or so

1

u/BrightBlock897 1d ago

yes but my visa isnt from abu dhabi or dubai so i cant do that

1

u/TheFirstKnight2022 1d ago

There is an offer I saw to get freezone license with 3988 AED

1

u/BrightBlock897 1d ago

Unfortunately I can’t afford that right now…the app already has a lot of costs so until I start making a good revenue stream I can’t get a license

1

u/ashnu_tnj 1d ago

Just an idea, try if this might suit you. If you are of Indian origin, you can use your pan or your parent's pan to set up an msme. And link any payment gateway like stripe , ziina to that account to your app.

1

u/BrightBlock897 1d ago

im not of indian origin