Every 5 minutes, a new company is registered in the United Arab Emirates.
Whether you already have an idea for a project, or want to internationalize your company, it’s hard to know whether it will be lucrative.
That’s why we have put together a non-exhaustive list of business ideas that can be profitable in Dubai.
But first, let’s take a look at why Dubai is such a good place to set up a company.
An ideal location for setting up a profitable business in Dubai.
Dubai is an Eldorado that thousands of expats are already taking advantage of. Year-round sunshine, an idyllic living environment and constantly growing economic activity. In addition, the significant tax advantages and ease of procedures are driving a good number of entrepreneurs to set up their business in the Emirates.
In today’s complex international financial climate, the Emirates are considered a stable and favorable business location.
Here are some of the most profitable business ideas to set up in Dubai in 2024.
Opening a profitable business in Dubai in 2024
Food service: A competitive and exponential market
The food service sector in Dubai is constantly growing. To explain this exponential growth, we need to understand the population’s consumption habits.
The change in people’s lifestyles is conducive to the out-of-home catering market, particularly in major cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Dubai’s fast-paced lifestyle means that people don’t have the time to cook. People go to restaurants to eat, to network, to get together with their families.
Please note, however, that this is a highly competitive market.
Opening a restaurant in Dubai also means opening a concept. It’s also in the evolution of social behaviors that the “meal prep” concept is booming.
Real estate: A booming market
The Dubai real estate market has been growing steadily since the SARS Covid 19 health crisis. The war between Ukraine and Russia has only intensified this exponential growth. So why are people moving to Dubai?
According to Euronews, “More than 97,000 real estate transactions (were) recorded in Dubai last year (2022), worth 67.38 billion euros”.
More generally, the Emirates remain a top choice for capital gains and profitable business in Dubai.
Coaching and consulting
Dubai is an Eldorado for digital professions and coaches. Here are just a few examples:
Sports coaches
Athletes from all over the world come to Dubai to develop their client portfolios. The healthy lifestyle that the city aims to offer expatriates continues to benefit them. In Dubai, most buildings have their own gym. As a result, coaches can come directly to their customers’ homes to provide ultra-personalized coaching.
It’s a win-win combo: coachees don’t have to travel to a gym, and coaches aren’t dependent on an exclusive contract with a gym.
Digital coaching
Social media professions are the most sought-after and best-paid in 2024. Companies have understood the challenges of digital communication. This is where the social media coach comes in.
Digital and sports coaches aren’t the only profitable businesses. Lifestyle coaches, sophrologists, corporate coaches and nutritionists are also profitable businesses in Dubai.
Import Export
It’s well known that the Emirates is a country that imports a huge number of products from all over the world. Its strategic geographic position makes importing products a breeze.
What’s more, Dubai is a very cosmopolitan emirate. Fond of mixing cultures, in Dubai you’ll find specialties from all over the world. Many entrepreneurs have made their fortune by bringing their countries’ specialties to Dubai.
The speed and quality of the Emirates’ supply chain services are also an added bonus. Import-export is also easy to set up.
Car rental
In Dubai, due to the heat and also the structure of the city, it’s not easy to walk for hours on end. Here, everyone uses the car. Although relatively well served, Dubai only has two metro lines on the main routes (Dubai Marina and Downtown).
If you want to move to more residential areas, a car is a must. Inexpensive petrol is also a factor in favor of the car business.
However, the large number of tourists who visit the Emirate remains what makes the car rental market in Dubai so profitable. A major tourist destination, the Emirate announced that it welcomed 14.36 million foreign visitors “for one night or more” between January and December 2022. So, to be able to visit the city, most tourists opt to rent a vehicle.