The Worst Business Setup In Dubai (Free Zone)
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At GenZone, we’ve helped over 700 companies successfully set up in Dubai—and in doing so, we’ve heard it all. From smooth sailings to complete disasters.
Today, we’re diving into one of the worst stories we’ve come across. Not to scare you, but to show you what can happen when you don’t work with the right people. Because in Dubai, doing it wrong can cost you thousands, months of wasted time, and even your visa.
Let’s talk about this client. For privacy, we’ll call him Jared.
Jared’s Journey: From Bad to Worse
Jared reached out to us months ago. He was planning to move to Dubai, set up his business, and take advantage of the tax benefits.
We got on a free consultation call and went over everything—step-by-step process, government timelines, costs, and how GenZone could handle it all transparently.
But in the end, Jared decided to go with a different agency.
And honestly? That’s okay. People shop around. We respect that.
What we didn’t expect was what happened next…
Step One: The Scam
So, Jared paid the other agency their initial fee. The agency collected all his documents, started the “application,” and then… radio silence.
For weeks.
No responses. No license. No updates.
Eventually, Jared realized: he got scammed.
The company was never registered. The agency ghosted him. His documents were in someone else’s hands, and he had nothing to show for it.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a rare case. In fact, several clients who end up working with us have similar stories—they tried to cut corners, went with a cheaper agency, and got burned.
Step Two: Trying Again (But Still With the Wrong People)
Now, you’d think after losing thousands, someone would be extra cautious the second time around.
But Jared wasn’t done making mistakes.
Instead of returning to GenZone, he decided to try another agency. We didn’t even know—he never updated us. He just went quiet.
A few weeks later, he comes back and tells us the next part of the story.
The second agency did register the company. They even started the visa process. Things seemed to be moving.
But then his visa got rejected.
Why Was the Visa Rejected?
Simple: The company was registered in the wrong free zone for the type of business and visa Jared needed.
Some free zones are more flexible than others. Some are super strict. And when you’re working with someone who doesn’t take the time to understand your case, this kind of thing can happen.
Now Jared’s license is technically active, but his visa is useless. And that’s not even the worst part.
Now What? The Hidden Costs of Starting Over
You’d think Jared could just cancel that company and start over, right?
Not so fast.
In Dubai, if you want to shut down a company, you don’t just let it expire. That’s not how it works. You have to formally dissolve it, which is a whole other process.
And it costs money—anywhere between $3,500 to $4,000, depending on the case.
So now Jared has:
Lost money to a scammer
Paid for a license and visa that’s unusable
Now needs to pay thousands just to dissolve the company
Still hasn’t moved to Dubai
Still hasn’t saved anything in taxes
All this could have been avoided.
The Most Frustrating Part?
Jared wasn’t someone who needed to save money.
He had capital. He had income. He just had the “best deal” mindset and went with the lowest price, thinking it would all work out.
But by chasing savings upfront, he ended up wasting:
4+ months
Thousands of dollars
The opportunity to save even more money in taxes during that time
If you’re an entrepreneur with six-figure income, every month you delay setting up in Dubai can cost you thousands in taxes back home. So Jared’s “savings” cost him way more than if he just chose the right agency on Day 1.
This Happens More Often Than You Think
Sadly, Jared’s story isn’t unique.
We get emails and DMs every single day from people who:
Can’t get their license issued
Got their visa rejected
Can’t open a bank account
Have no idea what to do next
Why? Because they didn’t work with professionals.
They chose someone based on price. No research. No checking Google Reviews. No looking up the agency’s reputation or real client results.
And that brings us to something important…
Don’t Just Take Our Word for It—Do Your Research
At GenZone, we’re fully transparent. We encourage people to look at our reviews—on Google, on TrustPilot, wherever. Go check them. You’ll see what real clients are saying.
We even had one client come to us who was so close to getting scammed—he only dodged it because he checked the reviews last minute and realized something was off.
It’s like buying furniture online. I recently bought a couch without checking reviews—it was too big, didn’t fit the elevator, and the dimensions were completely off. Guess what? The company had 1.2 stars on Google. Totally my fault.
Same thing applies to company setup in Dubai.
If you work with a 1.2-star agency, expect a 1.2-star experience.
So, Why Work With GenZone?
Here’s what makes us different:
Transparent pricing
Our $2,500 service fee is fixed and fair. Everything else—government fees, visa costs—is passed to you without markup.Real people, real support
You’re not chatting with a bot or chasing WhatsApp messages. You’re getting real consultations with real advisors who actually care.Timeline clarity
We tell you upfront what to expect—step-by-step. No surprises. No delays. No excuses.Support even when things go sideways
We had one client whose bank account got delayed (not our fault—it was the bank). We literally paid out of pocket to help them open a second account before they left Dubai. Now they have two accounts. That’s how much we care.
So What Should You Do?
It’s simple:
If you’re serious about moving to Dubai and want to do it the right way the first time, then book a free consultation call.
No pressure. No obligation.
We’ll get on a call with you—either me or someone from our team—and break down:
What free zone is best for your business
What the costs look like
What timeline to expect
How to avoid the mistakes that people like Jared made
And if we’re not the right fit? No worries. At least you’ll leave the call with full clarity.
Let’s Recap Jared’s Story
Here’s how it unfolded:
Reached out to GenZone
Chose a cheaper agency
Got scammed
Tried a second agency
Got a useless visa
Stuck with a company he can’t use
Now has to pay to dissolve it
Delayed his Dubai move by 4–6 months
Lost money in taxes he could’ve saved
Came back to us anyway
This is why we tell every client the same thing:
Do it once. Do it right.
Final Thoughts
Dubai is an incredible place to set up your business. It offers:
0% income tax
Fast company formation
Access to international markets
A premium lifestyle
But you need the right setup to take advantage of that. The right license, in the right free zone, with the right visa, and the right bank.
If even one piece is off, it can mess up the entire process.
That’s what happened to Jared.
Let that be a lesson—not just for entrepreneurs looking to save a few bucks, but for anyone who wants to avoid stress, wasted money, and painful delays.
If you’re thinking about setting up in Dubai and want to do it with real experts, here’s what to do:
Book your free consultation. It takes 2 minutes!
