Dubai offers best opportunity to start your own clothing business because of its strategic location, ease of doing business and more. It is home to people from over 200 nationalities, making it a hotspot for the clothing industry. Whether you want to target specific ethnic groups or focus on Western clothing, there’s a huge market here. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to start a clothing business, whether online or in a retail shop. We’ll cover everything from licensing cost, setting up your online store, leasing a retail shop, and the necessary approvals. Ready? Let’s dive in!
Starting a clothing brand can be very profitable in Dubai. It’s a good idea to start with an online store while you’re setting up your retail shop because leasing a store can be expensive. With a smart online strategy and social media marketing, you can start selling immediately!
License Required for Clothing Business
You have two main options when it comes to licensing: Freezone or Mainland. For a clothing business dealing with physical products and possible imports, it’s better to go with a Dubai Mainland License. A Mainland license will allow you to import fabrics and materials more easily from countries like China.
If you’re unfamiliar with the business registration process, don’t worry! It’s similar for all businesses. Here’s a simplified guide for registering a clothing business in Dubai Mainland:
- Apply for trade name approval.
- Choose the business activity.
- Get initial approval from the Department of Economic Development (DED).
- Prepare the Memorandum of Association (MoA) or Articles of Association (AoA).
- Get an eCommerce license (if selling online).
- Lease your retail shop.
- Pay the fees and get your trade license.
We have also a detailed information on how to register a business in Dubai. You can read it here.
Dubai Municipality Approval
If you’re opening a retail shop, you’ll need approval from Dubai Municipality. You’ll need your lease agreement, interior layout plan, and initial DED approval to proceed with this step.
Trademark Registration
Here’s something important: you should register your trademark. Protecting your brand name and logo is crucial, especially when selling online. This ensures that no one else can copy your brand and gives you legal rights over your clothing business identity.
License Cost for Clothing Business
A clothing business license in Dubai Mainland will cost approximately AED 20,000. Keep in mind, this is just the cost of the license and doesn’t include the retail shop rental or setting up an online store. The good news? This includes one visa for the business owner or partner. If you don't want to setup your own online store then there is an option to sell on Amazon in UAE. You can get started in 2 - 3 working days and start selling your product on Amazon.
Online Store Setup for Clothing Business
Setting up an online store is easy, but you need to choose the right platform. Shopify or WooCommerce are good options. You could also have a custom-built website depending on your budget. Just make sure your website looks professional and loads quickly!
Product Photoshoot
For product photoshoots, you can either do it yourself or hire a professional studio. In Dubai, you’ll find plenty of studios that provide models and photographers for hourly rates. Just bring your clothing products, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Legal Requirement for Importing Materials
To import fabrics or other materials, you’ll need an import code from the authorities. This code allows you to import products from anywhere in the world. If your supplier is in China, having this code will make the process smooth. You’ll also need a custom clearing agent to handle the logistics.
At CSPzone, we’ve helped hundreds of businesses set up in Dubai. With 15 years of experience, we can handle all the paperwork and formalities so you can focus on growing your clothing brand. Let us take care of the hard work—reach out to us today!
