How these three UAE-based women – Keertana Neeraj (left), Sapphire Fernandes (center) and Dhan Tope (right) – started their online businesses from home.
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Highlights
From getting a license to setting up a bank account, creating a website to buying raw materials, there are different costs to factor in before starting a home-based business in the UAE.
Dubai: The high cost of starting a business may have deterred many skilled and talented entrepreneurs from taking off. However, over the past three-four years a lot of initiatives have been rolled out to encourage and support the UAE’s entrepreneurial community.
With the rise of e-commerce, Dubai Economy launched the ‘DED Trader’ license in 2017 to support business activities online and through social media. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UAE and consumers turned online, many entrepreneurs saw this as an opportune moment to launch their long-dreamt of business endeavours from home. As such, almost 10,000 DED Trader licenses was issued until the end of 2020, of which more than 50 per cent went to women.
Several other free zones in the UAE, including Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, Creative City Fujairah, and Sharjah Media City Free Zone (Shams), also offered flexible packages to enable home-based start-ups. Today’s article is about three such home-based online businesses started by women.
Several other free zones in the UAE, including Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone, Creative City Fujairah, and Sharjah Media City Free Zone (Shams), also offered flexible packages to enable home-based start-ups.
How I started my own bespoke art business from home?
Dhan Creatives is an online home-based business selling bespoke, handmade art products. It was launched in the beginning of 2020 by a survivor of domestic violence and single mother Dhan Tope at an initial investment of roughly Dh2,000. While the DED Trader license cost Dh1,300, Tope spent Dh300 to register the website on GoDaddy and sought help from a family member to create the website design. She spent approximately Dh500 to buy the initial supplies and on day-to-day operating costs including client meetings, transportation and phone calls.
“Earlier a trade license would cost roughly Dh12,000-15,000 making it almost impossible for individuals like me with meagre savings to even think of starting a home-based business. But the affordably priced DED Trader license was very encouraging, which allows me to sell products online.”
Tope is an artist who turned her passion into a home-based business. Since she always pursued art and painting, while starting the business Tope did not have to spend a lot of money to buy the initial supplies. Now she spends roughly Dh1,000 per quarter to …….