In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, companies must innovate to stay ahead. Virtual Offices have emerged as a solution, offering the flexibility to operate from anywhere, significantly benefiting Dubai’s entrepreneurs. This approach not only cuts down on overheads but also leverages Dubai’s world-class infrastructure and resources, aligning perfectly with the city’s status as a global commerce centre.
So, what is a Virtual Office in Dubai, and why might your company benefit from one? Today, we will tell you everything you need to know about Virtual Offices in Dubai, from what they are and their services to the best ones available.
What is a Virtual Office in Dubai?
A Virtual Office is essentially a service that allows business owners and employees to work remotely by providing a range of business functions accessible through the Internet. It enables companies to maintain a presence in a desirable location without paying rent for a physical space. This concept includes services like phone answering, mail handling, and access to physical office space and meeting rooms when necessary.
Let’s now find out what services you will get from a Virtual Office.
Dubai Virtual Office Services
A Virtual Office service in Dubai provides the following services:
- A corporate address for your business
- Mail handling, including receipt and forwarding of mail items to you wherever you are located
- Access to a dedicated telephone number with optional call-answering services
- Meeting rooms as well as serviced offices when needed
- Office administration services, including managing bookings, arranging appointments and providing secretarial support
- Virtual customer support through remote call centres
In addition, Virtual Offices often come with coworking spaces suitable for small teams who want to get together and work in a collaborative environment. Now that you are familiar with the services a Virtual Office offers let’s learn some of the benefits of having a Virtual Office in Dubai.
Source: Pexels
Why Have a Virtual Office in Dubai?
As many businesses globally are moving toward a culture of operations without offices, Dubai and the UAE are no exception. Having a Virtual Office in Dubai can offer numerous benefits, including:
Reduced costs
A Dubai Virtual Office will allow you to operate in one of Dubai’s prime locations, like the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) or Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), at a fraction of the cost of having a full-fledged UAE office space or corporate office in Dubai.
Companies can save money on overhead expenses without renting or owning physical premises.
Flexibility
A Virtual Office allows businesses to scale up or down as needed quickly. This is especially beneficial for companies with seasonal sales, which can reduce their overhead expenses in off-seasons while still keeping a presence in Dubai.
You can easily upgrade your Virtual Office package whenever you need more business facilities, such as meeting rooms or additional office space.
Access to Resources
Having a Virtual Office in Dubai also provides access to the city’s excellent infrastructure and resources, such as its world-class economy with low taxation rates, reliable communication systems, top-notch transport networks, and more.
This makes it an ideal location for entrepreneurs who want access to global markets while keeping costs down.
Professional Image
Your business may have a great website or thousands of social media followers, but having a Virtual Office in Dubai will give your business added credibility and legitimacy.
A physical presence through your Virtual Office will also improve your visibility with potential clients or investors, as they’ll know that you have an actual location in the city. In addition, for many official documentation purposes, you will need to provide a mailing address in the UAE that you can quickly obtain from your virtual office provider.
Legal Compliance
Finally, a Virtual Office in Dubai is also essential for legal compliance, as all businesses must adhere to specific laws and regulations depending on their size and activities. This includes registering with the relevant authorities, such as the free zone or local municipality.
Dubai business licencing authorities often require you to provide a local mailing address for your commercial licence application in Dubai. Having one provided by your Virtual Office provider can help you meet this regulatory requirement.
When we discuss Virtual Offices in Dubai, you may sometimes confuse a virtual licence with a Virtual Office. Many business users use these two interchangeably, but they are pretty different. Let’s see how they differ.
Source: Pexels
What is a Virtual Licence in Dubai?
A virtual licence is a legal permit issued by the Department of Economy & Tourism in Dubai (DED) in Dubai to companies that do not have physical premises in the city or state. It offers entrepreneurs access to all the same benefits as traditional business owners, such as visa and residency services, banking services, trade licence registrations, etc., without having to set up an office in Dubai.
With a virtual licence in Dubai, entrepreneurs can establish their business presence in the city without being physically present. This is particularly beneficial for startups or small businesses that wish to expand into new markets but lack the resources to do so.
The virtual licence permit requires that the licenced entity must not do the following activities:
- Occupy or own physical premises in the UAE
- Have employees living and working in the UAE, except for administrative and clerical staff
- Conduct activities that require a physical presence
However, companies with a virtual licence can open corporate bank accounts, register trademarks and patents, and apply for visas and residency permits through the designated registered agent of the virtual licence.
Who is Eligible to Obtain a Virtual Licence Dubai
DED has established an independent regulatory body, the Dubai Virtual Commercial City (VCC), to regulate and approve virtual licences in Dubai. VCC accepts and processes virtual licence applications based on specific criteria:
- Applicants must not reside or open a physical office in the UAE
- The applicant’s business must have a valid business and tax registration in one of the approved list of countries. Currently, VCC has a list of 101 approved countries, including most European and North American Countries, and many countries from the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia.
Source: Dubai Virtual Commercial City (Dubai VCC)
- The business must belong to the approved list of sectors. The list includes computer programming, printing, advertising, design, and various consultancies in specific fields.
As you can see, Virtual Offices in Dubai are inherently different from those operating with a virtual licence.
What are The Best Virtual Offices in Dubai?
When choosing the best Virtual Office in Dubai, you should consider the services offered, location, and cost. As Dubai is one of the busiest and most emerging business hubs, there are numerous Virtual Office providers in the city.
Here is a list of some of the best ones:
Servcorp
Source: Servcorp Website
Servcorp is one of the best Virtual Offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that also gives you access to over 150 locations globally in Japan, the UK, the US, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and several other countries. Servcorp currently has five locations in Dubai and three in Abu Dhabi.
Top Features
- Prime locations to use as your business address
- Virtual and dedicated receptionist
- Local phone number
- Administrative support
- Access to fully equipped meeting rooms on-demand
- Up to 60 hours of use of the shared coworking space every month
- Full waiver of security deposits if you pay with a credit card
- Mail handling and forwarding services
Pricing
Source: Servcorp Website
Servcorp packages are competitive and flexible. They offer
- Communication services with the virtual receptionist: AED 392/month (for twelve months)
- Address package: AED 392/month (for twelve months) – Mail and courier management and access to shared workspaces
- Full Virtual Office package: AED 600/month (for twelve months) – Combined benefits of communication and Virtual Office management services
Additionally, Servcorp also offers a premium Virtual Office package at AED 1,200 per month that lets you use a private office room outside your home location for free for up to three days every month.
Regus
Source: Regus UAE Website
Regus is one of Dubai’s top and most reputed Virtual Office providers. Like Servcorp, Regus also has an extensive global presence and a Regus Virtual Office subscription in Dubai will also allow you to access Regus’s various global facilities and coworking spaces. Currently, Regus has 13 Virtual Offices in Dubai.
Top Features
- Highly accessible business locations and business addresses
- On-demand meeting rooms with necessary office amenities
- On-demand shared working spaces and hotdesks
- Call answering and minor issue handling
- Daily, weekly, or monthly mail forwarding through postal services, scanned copies, or in-person collection
- Local phone number
- Unlimited entry to Regus business lounges in the UAE and abroad
- No requirement for a long-term commitment
- Free address update to another Regus location
Pricing
Source: Regus Website
Similar to its global locations, Regus pricing packages are competitive. They have three packages for a Virtual Office in Dubai:
- Business Address: From AED 329/month
- Virtual Office: From AED 715/month – Call handling and business lounge access
- Virtual Office Plus: From AED 1,155/month – Both Virtual Office and shared working space
OBK Business Centre
Source: OBK Website
Located at 48 Burj Gate, Dubai, OBK Business Centre has two office spaces in the same location. OBK offers coworking and Virtual Office spaces at one of the lowest prices in Dubai. You can quickly get to their office location in Downtown Dubai from Dubai Mall or Burj Khalifa.
Top Features
- Business address in a premium location
- Mail receiving and forwarding
- Lounge access with high-speed internet
- Access to OBK client community
- On-demand access to the meeting room, board rooms, and various office amenities
- Call handling services
- Dedicated receptionist
- Fax to email forwarding
Pricing
Source: OBK Website
OBK pricing packages are straightforward and one of the most affordable packages in Dubai. You will get
- Business Address: From AED 200/month
- Telephone Answering: From AED 300/month
- Business Address and Telephone Handling: From AED 400/month, also includes access to private office space
OBK also ensures 24/7 security and office assistance services with all three of its Virtual Office packages.
The Co-Spaces Dubai
Source: Co-Spaces Dubai
Co-Space Dubai aims to provide you with a premium Virtual Office management experience in Downtown Dubai. The company also operates in downtown London. Co-Space Virtual Offices come with highly-decorated and well-equipped shared working spaces.
Top Features
- Access to the professional community
- Adjacent location to the Burj Khalifa
- Excellent infrastructure and administrative support
- Support for business licencing
- Access to on-demand business tools like printers, fax machines, document scanners, and high-speed internet
- 1-year tenancy certificate that you can use for licence application
- On-demand and inclusive meeting room support
Pricing
Source: Co-Spaces Dubai
Co-Space Dubai packages include free usage of the meeting room. They have two packages:
- Virtual Office Basic: AED 7,500/year – 5 hours of meeting room use every month
- Virtual Office Plus: AED 10,000/year – 30 hours of office space use every month, tenancy certificate within four hours.
Spider BC
Source: Spider BC Website
Located across the 17th through 21st floors of the Conrad Business Centre at Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Spider BC offers some of the most comprehensive Virtual Office services in Dubai. Spider has also partnered with several free zones of Dubai, including IFZA Free Zone, RAKEZ Free Zone, and Fujairah Creative City, to support you with free zone business formation.
Top Features
- Mail handling and forwarding, including dedicated PO Box number
- Dedicated local phone number
- Meeting room and shared coworking desks up to eight hours per month
- Phone handling services
- Copy printing and postal mail scanning
- Business address
- Virtual receptionist
- Voicemail
- Administrative support
Pricing
Source: Spider BC Website
Spider BC provides you with a customised pricing quote upon request considering your plans, preferences, and business needs. Typically their plans range from AED 5,000 per year to AED 15,000 per year, depending on what services you will use.
Virtual Office in Dubai
Subscribing to a Virtual Office in Dubai is a great way to save money on overhead costs while still having access to the city’s excellent business resources and infrastructure. It’s an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish a strong city footprint without committing to costly office space or physical premises.
Whether looking for the best resources and support to kickstart your business venture in Dubai, Virtuzone has you covered with end-to-end consultation and assistance. Contact Virtuzone today to get started.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a Virtual Office and a Flexi Desk?
A Virtual Office provides a business address, mail handling, and telephone services without dedicated physical office space, allowing businesses to work remotely. A Flexi Desk, on the other hand, offers physical desk space in a shared office environment, along with access to office facilities such as meeting rooms and internet, on a flexible basis. While both options support cost-effective operations and flexibility, a Flexi Desk caters to those needing occasional physical workspace within a collaborative setting.
How can I sign up for a Virtual Office?
To sign up for a Virtual Office, research and select a Virtual Office provider that meets your needs. Visit their website or contact them directly to understand their packages and services. Submit the required documents, which typically include identification and business information, and choose your preferred package. Once your application is approved and payment is processed, you’ll receive details on how to start using your Virtual Office services, such as your business address and contact details.
What documents are required to set up a Virtual Office in Dubai?
To set up a Virtual Office in Dubai, you typically need to provide a copy of your passport, visa (if applicable), and a business plan or description of your business activities. Additional documents might be required based on the provider’s policies or specific business licencing requirements.
Can I use a Virtual Office address to register for business licencing in Dubai?
Yes, you can register for business licences in Dubai using a Virtual Office address. However, it’s important to ensure that the Virtual Office provider is recognised and the address is acceptable for the type of business activity and licencing authority requirements.
