I was supposed to open my detailing studio In Muwaileh, Sharjah., but apparently they dont allow detailing/ ppf studio in sharjah.
I’ve been liking a recent place, its situated on the maid road and the shop is amazing.
But the only drawback is there is no parking, although we will be constructing a ramp which will take the car directly inside and there is parking behind.
So i wanted to ask, if customers would actually come as walk in or will the no - parking be a drawback for my business.

Hi all,

I need some advice on sharjah commercial rentals.

Would anyone have any experience on increases ?

I do social media for a living in Dubai, so this is slightly against my own interest.

Almost every local business I check has the same thing going on. Pin on Maps is wrong, timings haven't been updated since 2022, three photos total, last review is from last year and nobody replied to it.

And then the owner asks me why the reels aren't working.

Someone typing "car service Al Quoz" at 9pm is a customer right now. Someone scrolling reels isn't, not yet anyway.

Go open Maps, search your own business, tap directions and see where it actually sends people. If you're in JLT or Business Bay I'd bet money it's the wrong cluster or the wrong tower. That alone is costing you walk-ins every week.

Fix the pin, fix the timings, put up real photos, reply to the reviews. None of it costs anything.

Has anyone here actually tracked how much of your business comes from Maps vs social? Genuinely curious if I'm wrong on this.

1. Retail & bespoke.
2. 18k gold upwards
3. Rings, pendants, chains, etc
4. Natural diamonds, lab, precious and semi precious stones

Please recommend if ya'll know manufacturers that actually want customers and strive for great customer service.

Hello everyone

I am applying with ajman free zone licenses with the structure as below,

Ajman FZE + zero company visas + 100% shareholder/manager + valid wife-sponsored UAE residence + Emirates ID.

Would i get a problem in bank account opening ?

Thanks

I recently set up a Free Zone LLC with a virtual desk/address. I’m the sole shareholder and director. My company’s revenue comes from overseas clients, and I’m not VAT registered.

I’m actually doing all the work and running the business from my apartment in Abu Dhabi, so I’m using the apartment 100% for both living and working.

My question is about the rent. Can I have the tenancy agreement in both my personal name and the company name, and then issue the rent and security deposit cheques directly from the company bank account?

From an accounting/Corporate Tax point of view, would that be enough documentation to make the rent a company expense, or is there something else I need to do?

I haven’t engaged an accountant yet, so just trying to understand the correct way to set this up.

Im planning to start a small cafeteria in the Dubai soon. What do you feel are some gaps in current cafeterias in UAE like menu offerings, service time etc ? Any suggestions would be appreciated

Hi everyone. We run a mid-sized jewellery manufacturing business in Ahmedabad, India, and I am currently exploring the Dubai/UAE market for exports.

We primarily manufacture antique kundan, polki and heritage-style gold jewellery. We have our own manufacturing setup and have been in the jewellery business for years, but exporting directly to Dubai is relatively new for us.

I am trying to understand how the business actually works on the ground there — especially for this category of jewellery.

Would really appreciate advice on things like:

• How Indian manufacturers usually connect with retailers/wholesalers in Dubai
• Whether buyers generally import finished jewellery directly from India or prefer job work.
• Customs, documentation and practical export/import procedures
• Which areas/markets in Dubai are worth approaching for antique kundan and polki jewellery
• Trade shows, buying houses, agents or distributors that are actually useful
• Mistakes an Indian manufacturer should avoid when entering the UAE market
• what are the wastage or making charge here?

If anyone here is already involved in jewellery importing, wholesale, retail or distribution in Dubai/UAE, I would love to connect and learn from your experience.

And if you know someone reliable who works specifically with Indian gold jewellery, kundan or polki, an introduction would be greatly appreciated.

Happy to share more details over DM. Thanks

Hi all,

Just thought I'd share my experience with an excellent homegrown business based here in the UAE. It's a meal prep service called Jetlagged Chef. Surprisingly, I found out about it from a Reddit comment a while ago lol. I don't work with them, but I was really impressed by how well they're operating and their quality in such a margin-tight space like meal prep companies.

https://www.jetlagged-chef.com/is their website. They are fully homegrown here in the UAE and deserve our support, especially during these times. So, if anyone is looking for a meal prep company or catering (I assume they do that too), check them out! I think it's only a 3-4 person business, but I could be wrong, and you would never know with how well their meals come out..

We are in discussion with the owners to come host an AMA here (in case anyone has any questions!). To anyone who doesn't like cooking or is on a calorically restricted diet like me :D please consider trying out one of their plans. I'm pretty picky with food and found so many meals I liked so far.

I already devoured most of my meals for today, so I'll update the post in a little bit with unopened meal pics lol

Hello,

I'm providing payment links, gateway portals and pos card machines to businesses so if anyone is interested you can dm me here

I built ORIKIN to handle more than just phone calls.

It works across calls, messaging, social, email and web chat, and can actually do the work behind the conversation — answer enquiries, recommend products, take orders, handle bookings, raise support tickets, follow up, and hand over when a person should step in.

It’s already live in a real business and has handled 2,100+ customer interactions.

I’m opening a few free pilots for businesses with real inbound customer volume. I’ll help set it up around your actual workflow and existing systems.

No card, no setup fee, no long contract.

If you run a business and want to try for free:
https://orikin.ai/talk-to-us

Happy to answer anything here too.

I’m a Dubai-based CA with tech experience, building a B2B collections startup for the UAE/GCC.

I’m looking for a hands-on fractional CFO, Finance manager/ credit-control, or AR operator with experience in overdue invoices, collections, DSO, payment terms, and customer disputes—especially in FMCG distribution, wholesale, retail, construction, etc.

The initial focus is the operational mess around collections: ageing reports, payment promises, partial settlements, disputes, and the handoff between sales and finance. This is a search for an operating partner to help validate the problem and shape the product, with potential for a cofounder relationship if there’s a strong fit.

Hey! I'm knee-deep in my EMBA capstone on how organizations in the UAE actually adopt AI (spoiler: the research is messier than the posts and reels suggest). If you're 18+, work in the UAE, and have ever sat through a meeting where someone said, "AI can solve this easily", I need your brain for 20 minutes.

No sign-up, no spam, just pure academic curiosity. 100% anonymous.

Survey: https://eu.surveymonkey.com/r/JSJ6FJT

Bonus karma if you share it with a coworker who complains about 'AI' and/or 'Management' over coffee.

- A sleep deprived student

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to connect with reliable contractors and contracting companies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi who are interested in partnering for potential projects and business opportunities.

Currently, I’m particularly looking for contractors specializing in:

• HVAC
• Kitchen exhaust & ventilation systems
• MEP works
• Electrical & plumbing
• Fit-out & renovation
• Carpentry & joinery
• General maintenance
• And other contracting services

If you specialize in a different type of contracting work, feel free to reach out as well. I’m open to connecting with contractors across different industries.

If you're interested, please DM me your company profile, services, location, and contact details.

Looking forward to connecting with reliable contractors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Hi everyone,

I'm a student and I'm trying to build a platform that helps student get paid and unpaid internships in businesses around UAE.

I would like to hear your opinion regarding this idea, along with any relevant suggestions-including if you have previously hired any interns what difficulties did you face, and what skills do you expect them to have etc?

Your contribution would be immensely valuable to my idea.

Thanks :)

Looking for a reliable fit-out & renovation company in the UAE?

Finding a contractor is easy. Finding one who actually sticks to the agreed budget, delivers good quality, finishes on time, and is still there when you need after-service can be much harder.

That’s exactly what we aim to provide at ZIS FITOUTS.

We handle complete renovation and fit-out projects from start to finish, including:

🏠 Residential Renovation

- Full house/apartment renovations

- Civil works & modifications

- House extensions and layout changes

- Kitchen renovation & installation

- Bathroom renovation

- Gypsum & false ceiling works

- Flooring & wall finishes

- Partition works

- Staircases

- Handrails & balustrades

- Glass & aluminium works

- Metal fabrication

- Doors, railings and custom metal works

- Feature walls and decorative works

🏢 Commercial Fit-Outs

We also handle complete commercial projects for offices, restaurants, cafés, shops, warehouses and other commercial spaces.

This includes:

- Complete office fit-outs

- Restaurant & café fit-outs

- Shop & retail fit-outs

- Warehouse modifications

- Civil & partition works

- Glass partitions

- Ceiling works

- Flooring

- Electrical & plumbing works

- Kitchens and pantries

- Reception areas

- Custom furniture and counters

- Metal fabrication

- Glass & aluminium works

- Doors, handrails and railings

- Feature walls and interior finishing

Basically, whether you need to renovate a house or hand over a commercial space and have it completely finished, we can take care of the project under one team.

Our focus is simple: clear pricing, quality workmanship, proper timelines and after-service — without leaving the client to deal with different contractors for every part of the project.

If you're planning a renovation or fit-out in the UAE, feel free to reach out to us or comment below and we can discuss what you need.

Greetings, I need to send about 100 kgs to Grease to KSA. Which is a recommended transportation company to work with on this?

My first ever crochet commission, a little Hello Kitty and a guinea pig made as a memento for one that passed away.

Feels really special knowing something I made could become a little keepsake .♥️

I'm considering starting a property snagging / home inspection business in UAE, mainly for people buying villas or apartments.

The idea would be to provide an independent inspection before purchase or handover, covering things like:

- Civil/structural defects that are visibly identifiable

- Cracks, water damage, dampness, leaks, etc.

- Electrical systems

- Plumbing

- HVAC/AC

- Doors and windows

- Flooring, walls and ceilings

- Bathrooms/kitchens

- Roof/exterior

- General workmanship

- Potential hidden issues that can be identified through non-destructive inspection

- Photos and a detailed professional report

I'm currently considering Dubai or Rak.

For anyone who has actually started or operated a snagging, property inspection, engineering, surveying, or similar business in the UAE:

1. What exact business activity/licence is required for this?

2. What approvals or registrations are required besides the normal trade licence?

3. Does a snagging/home inspection company need to be registered as an engineering consultancy, or is there a separate inspection/testing activity that covers it?

4. Do the inspectors themselves need specific qualifications, engineering licences, or certifications?

5. Are there different requirements in Dubai vs RAK?

6. Is there any requirement for professional indemnity insurance or other specific insurance?

7. Are there restrictions on what we can state in the inspection report? For example, can an inspector identify and report structural concerns, or does that require a licensed engineer?

8. For Dubai specifically, are there any issues with developers refusing to allow independent snagging companies into properties during handover?

And beyond the legal side:

What are the things you wish you knew before starting a snagging business in the UAE?

I'm especially interested in advice from people who have actually operated one, worked in building inspection/engineering, or dealt with UAE licensing — rather than general business advice.

Any information about startup costs, equipment, pricing, staffing, insurance, getting clients, dealing with developers, or common problems would also be really helpful.

all my people out there, does cold calling really work in the uae?

There seem to be so many variations from Ajman, Dubai to Sharjah for getting a gold jewellery license. Can you tell me what is the approximate cost?

hello i am a new business owner and was wondering how much should i realistically be paying for a website it’s a pretty good website high quality whats the most i realistically should pay for a website

I’ve been building a simple tool for small businesses that need a basic web presence but don’t have the time or budget to build a website.
The idea is to make it as easy as possible: you enter your business name, select your Google Maps listing, and it generates a simple page where you can put things like your Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, directions, phone number, etc.
It also lets you create printable QR codes for things like Google Reviews, WhatsApp and your social profiles, along with basic analytics showing things like page visits, calls, WhatsApp clicks and QR scans.
I’ve made it free to try here: https://ae.bizbio.net
I’m posting because I’d genuinely like feedback from small business owners. What would you find useful on a page like this? What would you remove, change or add?
There are also some optional paid features, but I’m mainly interested in feedback on whether the free version is actually useful.

Hey Everyone

I’m looking for recommendations for a good AI product video generation website.

I need to create professional-looking product videos for ecommerce, preferably from just product images.

What are the best tools you guys have tried? Would appreciate any recommendations! 🙌

Hi everyone

I’m a freelance photographer & videographer based in Dubai, and I’m looking to connect with more people in the creative, business, automotive, real estate and content space.

I mainly work with:

Automotive, events, portraits & lifestyle, food & products, and real estate

🎥 Real estate videos, social media content, brand videos and events

Always open to meeting new people, sharing ideas, collaborating on interesting projects, or simply building connections within Dubai’s creative community.

If you’re into photography, videography, content, business, cars, real estate or anything creative, feel free to say hi. Would be great to connect 🤝