1. Who we are
Business Setup AE operates an online marketplace that lets entrepreneurs compare business setup packages published by third-party company formation providers, consultancies and corporate service firms operating in the United Arab Emirates.
Business Setup AE is a comparison platform with internal enquiry support. We are not a licensing authority, and unless a specific service is expressly stated to be provided by Business Setup AE, we do not ourselves incorporate companies, issue trade licences, or process visas. Those services are delivered by the provider you choose.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, who we share it with and what choices you have.
2. Information we collect
We collect only what we need to operate the marketplace and handle your enquiry internally.
Information you give us
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number (including country code)
- Business requirements: intended activity, jurisdiction preference, emirate, budget range, visa count, office requirement and timeline
- Quote request details and any free-text notes or questions you submit
- Contact, callback and WhatsApp requests
- Information you submit through our planning, calculator and advisor tools
Information collected automatically
- Search, filter, comparison and page-view activity on the platform
- Which packages, providers and offers you view, save or compare
- Provider interaction data, such as which listing you requested a quote for and whether a provider link was followed
- Cookies and similar technologies (see section 9)
- Technical data such as IP address, approximate location derived from it, device type, browser, operating system, referring URL and timestamps, where applicable
- Aggregated analytics and performance data
Information from other sources
- Package, pricing and service information submitted by providers about their own offerings
- Publicly available business information about providers and jurisdictions used to structure comparisons
3. How we use your information
- To operate the marketplace and display package comparisons
- To match your stated requirements with relevant provider packages
- To review your enquiry internally and help you assess packages relevant to your business requirements
- To respond to your enquiries and provide customer support
- To improve search, filtering, tools, content and platform performance
- To detect, prevent and investigate misuse, fraud or security incidents
- To send service messages about a request you submitted
- To send marketing communications where you have opted in, or where otherwise permitted by applicable law
- To comply with legal, regulatory or record-keeping obligations, where applicable
4. Who receives your enquiry
When you request a setup breakdown, the Business Setup AE team receives and reviews your enquiry, then shares it with the provider you choose, or a provider matched to your business requirements, so it can prepare a personalised quote. We do not sell your enquiry.
Our team receives your name, email, phone number, any selected package or provider, and the business requirements and notes you enter. We use these details to review your setup options, contact you about next steps and pass the relevant details to your chosen or matched provider. That provider may contact you directly about its quotation.
Service providers supporting our operations may process data on our behalf as described in section 10; Once a provider receives your enquiry, or if you contact a provider independently, that provider's own privacy policy applies to its use of your details.
5. How provider and package information is displayed
Provider and package information shown on Business Setup AE may originate from provider submissions, provider websites or other publicly accessible sources. We may normalise, structure or summarise that information so packages can be compared side by side.
Prices, inclusions, availability and government fees can change and may depend on your activity, jurisdiction, visa requirements, office requirements, nationality and business structure. Please confirm the final quotation and inclusions directly with the provider before purchasing.
6. Legal basis and UAE data protection context
Where applicable, we process personal data on the basis of your consent, the performance of a service you have requested, our legitimate interest in operating and improving the marketplace, and compliance with legal obligations.
We aim to handle personal data in line with applicable United Arab Emirates privacy and data protection principles, including Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 regarding the Protection of Personal Data, as amended from time to time, and any implementing regulations or free zone data protection regimes that apply to our activities.
This page describes our practices in general terms and is not legal advice. If you have questions about how these principles apply to your data, contact us using the details in section 15.
7. Data retention
We keep personal data only for as long as needed for the purposes described above — for example, to handle and document your setup enquiry, to answer follow-up questions, to maintain security records and to meet any applicable legal or accounting requirements.
When data is no longer required, we delete it or aggregate it so it no longer identifies you. Retention periods may differ for records we are required to keep, where applicable.
8. Data security
We use technical and organisational measures appropriate to the nature of the data, including encrypted transport, access controls on administrative systems and restricted internal access to enquiry data.
No online platform can guarantee absolute security. Avoid sending sensitive documents through unsecured channels. Enquiry access is restricted to authorised internal staff and service providers processing data on our behalf. Providers receive only the enquiries shared with them for a quote.
10. Third-party services and external websites
We rely on third-party service providers for hosting, database and authentication infrastructure, analytics, communications and, where applicable, AI-assisted guidance features. These providers process data on our behalf under their own terms and security commitments.
The platform links to provider websites and other external sites. Those sites are outside our control and are governed by their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their content or data practices.
11. Marketing communications
Where you have opted in, or where otherwise permitted by applicable law, we may send you updates about packages, offers and setup guidance. Every marketing message includes a way to unsubscribe, and you can also ask us to stop at any time using the contact details below.
Service messages relating to a quote request you submitted are not marketing and may still be sent.
12. Your rights
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in section 15. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. If you independently supplied data to an external provider, contact that provider about its separate records.
- Request access to the personal data we hold about you
- Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Ask us to delete data where we no longer have a valid reason to keep it
- Object to or ask us to restrict certain processing
- Withdraw consent to marketing at any time
- Ask for a copy of data you provided in a portable format, where applicable
- Ask how your enquiry has been used and who has access to it
13. Children and minors
The platform is intended for business users aged 18 and above. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, contact us and we will delete it.
14. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology or applicable law. The revised version takes effect when published on this page, and the Last updated date above will change accordingly. Material changes will be highlighted on the platform where appropriate.
15. Contact us
Questions about this Privacy Policy or about how your data is handled can be sent to info@businesssetup.ae, or by post to Business Setup AE, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
