The digital\nmarketing industry has seen growth unlike any other in recent years. Last year,\ndigital marketing spending in the US and Britain rose to USD 52bn. That put the\nglobal digital marketing spend at around USD 100bn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clearly this\nis a vast market. And it is only getting bigger. Here in the UAE, the pattern\nis much the same with the digital marketing industry seeing annual growth of\nanywhere between 25% and 40% according to estimates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such significant\ngrowth presents huge opportunities to those in the region with the marketing\nskill and much-needed determination to run a success business in this space. If\nthat sounds like you, there are several considerations to keep in mind when you\nstart your digital marketing agency in Dubai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why start\na digital marketing agency in Dubai?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course,\nthere are many pros to starting your own business and becoming your own boss \u2013\ngreater freedom, more control and potentially higher earnings, to name just a\nfew. But why specifically start a digital marketing agency? And why in Dubai?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps the\ndriving factor in starting your digital marketing agency should be that you\nknow the industry inside out. Perhaps you have been working at an agency and\nthinking, I could do this myself. In most cases, you probably could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have\na good understanding of digital marketing \u2013 from SEO to analytics and digital\nads \u2013 you need little else to get started in this industry, short of a laptop,\nthe internet and a killer web presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latter\nis incredibly important. Digital marketing is a competitive space and you\u2019ll\nneed to make sure you\u2019re easily found. If you\u2019re telling potential clients that\nyou\u2019ll make them stand out in the digital realm then it\u2019s vital that your business\ndoes too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And why\nDubai? Again, the reasons to set up here could fill an article all by\nthemselves. The 0% tax regime on personal and corporate income, advantageous\nfree trade zones, a strategic location to trade with huge markets around the\nworld and a straightforward company incorporation process \u2013 the list goes on\nand on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to\nstart your digital marketing agency in Dubai?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before\nmaking your application for a Dubai trade license, there are several things you\nneed to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the\nmost important is whether you wish to set up in the mainland or in a free zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are\nadvantages to each setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\nestablish your business in the mainland, you are free to trade directly with\nthe local market, without using the services of a local agent. You can also bid\nfor government contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you set\nup in a free zone, you can take advantage of 100% exemption from customs tax.\nUAE free zone business owners also have full freedom to repatriate all invested\ncapital and profits. There are also no foreign exchange controls and currency\nrestrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also\nneed to consider your company name. Image is understandably of huge importance\nin the world of digital marketing so it\u2019s vital that your company name makes an\nimpression, sticks in the mind of potential customers and accurately conveys\nthe essence of your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of\nthis your name must meet certain criteria. As a guide: Your company name should\nnot include any offensive or blasphemous language or make reference to known\norganisations and corporations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are\ngoing to include your personal name in your business name, it must be in full \u2013\nno abbreviations or initials. You must also check that your chosen business\nname is available to be registered. A company formation expert can do this for\nyou as part of the license application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With these\nimportant decisions made, you can now apply for your trade license. To start a\ndigital marketing company in Dubai, you\u2019ll require a professional services\nlicense. This license allows you to retain 100% ownership of your company as\nstandard with no need to work with a local sponsor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have\ndecided to start your business on the Dubai mainland, you\u2019ll need to make your\nlicense application to the Department of Economic Development. If you are\nsetting up in a free zone, then you should make your application to the\nrelevant managing authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In both\ncases, it is advisable to work with a company formation expert as, while\nstraightforward, the process is not without its idiosyncrasies. Whether making\nyour application yourself, or through a company formation agent, you are\nusually only required to provide a few details and some standard documentation,\nincluding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A company\nformation agent can also manage your visa application for you, as well as those\nneeded for your employees, family, or domestic staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is\nthe cost of starting a digital marketing agency in Dubai?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The cost of\nstarting a digital agency in Dubai will depend on whether you have opted for a\nmainland or free zone setup and the size of your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re\nlooking for an estimate, Fujairah Creative City is a good example. A marketing\nservices license here, with eligibility for one visa, costs just AED 22,000.\nAdd use of the on-site coworking facility and that figure rises to AED 24,775.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The digital marketing industry has seen growth unlike any other in recent years. Last year, digital marketing spending in the US and Britain rose to USD 52bn. That put the global digital marketing spend at around USD 100bn. Clearly this is a vast market. And it is only getting bigger. Here in the UAE, the pattern is much the same with the digital marketing industry seeing annual growth of anywhere between 25% and 40% according to estimates. Such significant growth presents huge opportunities to those in the region with the marketing skill and much-needed determination to run a success business […]<\/p>\n