Similar to some of the content in the Wamda Country Info Center for the UAE, this series of articles by Kia Davis offers an up-to-date, comprehensive list of resources for entrepreneurs looking to get set up or expand in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any part of the UAE. (Also, all companies with an asterisk were founded by entrepreneurs in the UAE). The series includes the following resources:

• Community & Media
• Funding & Support
• Registration
• Workspaces
• Services

MAKE Business Hub: a café workspace in the Jumeirah Beach Residence area, located in the Al-Fattan Office Towers, behind Al Fattan towers, and above Eurostar Grocery. The space is available for events via rental, special catering can be provided, and it’s launching events called MAKE Ignition, for tech and creative entrepreneurs.

The Pavilion Downtown Dubai: An open workspace, with two art galleries a restaurant/café, an outdoor lounge, cinema, library, and espresso bar. Spacious and high-end, with a diverse but affordable menu.

Shelter: A free workspace located at Warehouse 30 in Al Quoz, area, Al Serkal avenue (take Manara Road exit from Sheikh Zayed Road). Regular community events are held, and the space can be used for educational and community events for free. It’s usually a much quieter option than the other business hubs. At the time of writing the coffee bar was closed. Can be reached at +971 (0) 43809040.

The Hub: A planned workspace and incubator designed especially to support social ventures, using a membership model and offering a range of services like trade licenses and business support services as well as a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.  Location: TBD.

CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS 

Elements Café: a café located in Wafi, Oud Metha, with free WiFi, sports screens and a shisha terrace. Food includes sushi, tapas, sandwiches, pasta and pizza. Phone: +971 4 324 4252.

Kino Café (inside Bookworld): A café inside the Japanese bookstore Bookworld Kinokuniya, on the 2nd floor of Dubai Mall, overlooking the Dubai Fountains. Phone: +971 4 434 0111

La Mode: A French café attached to the Golden Tulip Hotel near Mall of the Emirates (Barsha). Open 24 hours with unlimited free WiFi. Phone: +971 43417750.

Java U: A casual café located steps from the Metro station by Jumeirah Lakes Towers, located in the Dubai Marina Cascade Building. 1 hour of WiFi is given with each purchase of minimum AED 10.

Pascal Tepper: A French bakery café in Dubai Media City, next to the Radisson Blue Media City, with free WiFi and plenty of outlets, open from 7am-9pm. Good food (light French fare). Good setting and good for meetings. Gets very busy around lunchtime.

Caffe Nero: A coffeehouse chain. Provides 1 hour of free WiFi with every purchase. Has locations in Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Mall, the World Trade Center (near the Metro), DIFC, and others.

Caribou Coffee: Coffeehouse chain. Purchase required. Locations in Academic City, Al Ghurair City, DIFC, Festival City, Garhoud Views, JBR, Marina Mall, Mirdif, Souk Al Bahar, The Dubai Mall, The Greens/The Views, Times Square Centre, and Wafi.

The Address: A trio of luxury hotels in Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai, two of which are connected to Dubai Mall and one of which is connected to Dubai Marina Mall.

Media One: A hotel in Media City, with a dining area on ground floor has outlets; the whole hotel has free WiFi.

Pullman Hotel: A luxury hotel with a lots of terrace space on a 5th floor terrace bar and great views from its 24th floor indoor and outdoor bar. Located by the north end of Mall of the Emirates.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel: a luxury hotel in Jumeirah, across from Burj al Arab. WiFi is available across the entire hotel, including the Dhow & Anchor pub and Uptown Bar. Phone: +971 04 348 0000

Shangri-La: A hotel with locations in Deira and downtown Dubai that has 24-hour WiFi. Phone: + 971 4343 8888.

MyOffice: A serviced office space, with phone answering service and mail service, based on a monthly service agreement. Website is under construction but it can be reached via email at melissa@myoffice.ae. It may offer trade license services in the future.