Simplify Business Operations: Dubai Establishment Card Application 2024

What is Dubai Establishment Card?

First, let's know what a Dubai establishment card is and why we have to apply for one. The establishment is not the only name for it; it is also known as the company establishment card (CEC) and the company immigration card (CIC). It is almost like your bank debit or credit card, where on the establishment card you will have your company's name, expiration date, and card number. This card is issued by the immigration authority where you have registered your company. You must know that it isn't issued by the registration authority but by the immigration authority. For example, if you register your company with the Ajman Free Zone, then it is not the Ajman Free Zone that will issue it; the registration authorities will ask the Ajman Immigration Authority to issue it. 

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Registration of Dubai Establishment Card

The company owners manage to register with the authorities in a day or so but the card is released only after 8–10 days, after which the company has to wait to get it. There are some delays in the card releases, which is why it is important for the company to be prepared for such delays and accordingly arrange all of them in a systematic manner rather than getting into panic mode. If one has a small company in Dubai and you want the company establishment card, the company has to independently visit the Al Manara Centre in Dubai by themselves. When you visit by yourself and register for the establishment card, you will be issued the card immediately after you have signed the required forms and submitted the documents for proof. To conclude the process, if your company is hugely set up in Dubai, it will be established automatically after you hand over the required documents to the immigration authorities and you get the establishment card. If you have a local or small business, you will have to go individually, therefore registering and signing the papers to get your card in hand from the immigration authorities.

When your company is issued an establishment card, it is always linked to a certain payment that your company will have to make as a government fee. You wouldn't be aware of the charges as your company has been registered in a free zone and all charges are included while the company is being established and all the renewal and other charges are mentioned in the package costs. Whereas some free zones do mention the charges separately,. For local companies, the charges are paid separately, as the issuance is done independently by the immigration authority. The charges differ from free zones to free zones and can range from approximately 176 USD to 408 USD a year, whereas the local companies will be charged 1344 USD  to 1360 USD approximately. For free zones, the card is issued for 1 year by itself but for local companies, the establishment cards are issued for 3 years. 

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Why does a company have to apply for the establishment?

The answer is very obvious: one cannot apply for a resident visa for them or the company's employees without an establishment card. The passport authorities require the company's establishment card with the application document while you are applying for a resident visa. An individual applying for a resident visa will have to be patient with the issuance of the establishment card of their company, as it takes 8–12 days to issue, so he or she will have to be prepared accordingly. 

The companies registered through a free zone will receive the establishment card as an original or you will get a soft copy of it at the email address at which you have registered. Once you are handed over all the documents and the establishment, you will have to ensure that you file it in a safer place so that you do not lose them in the first place, because then making a new one or requesting a replacement will be another hassle for the company. If you lose your establishment card provided to your company, you will have to apply for a new one or pay the charges for the replacement of your company card. Likewise, if your company has been registered in one of the free zones, your card has already been charged for the renewal charges in the package costs and your card will be renewed by the immigration authorities by itself. 

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What Happens If You Lose the Dubai Establishment Card in 2024?

Whereas when it comes to the local companies, if they lose their card, they will have to visit the registration authorities to apply for the establishment card or pay separately for the replacement of the card. To avoid extra charges and visits to the authorities for requesting a new card or a replacement, the local companies should be cautious and keep the card and paperwork in place. The local companies mentioned above will have to apply for renewal by themselves; they have to maintain a separate file to track the renewal and expiration dates in line. The local companies should apply for renewal weeks before their cards expire.

If the company fails to apply for the renewal in advance of the expiry, they will have to bear the penalties charged for the late renewal of the Dubai Establishment Card.
This is all about the Dubai establishment card you need to know about. If you require a Dubai visa, then you can apply for one Dubai E Visa Online.