A couple of weeks ago, my mother asked me to speak to one of her friends, a budding Emirati entrepreneur who wanted to start her art business, and provide her with some guidance on business registration. We met over coffee, and she was overwhelmed with the many questions that fresh entrepreneurs often deal with: she didn’t know whether she should register for a trade license through Abu Dhabi’s free zones, or through Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development. She did not know whether she was obligated to rent an office space, or if there was an option where she could start without one? Her mind was in a whirlwind, and she felt that the process was extremely hard and time-consuming. I don’t blame her. I remember that when I wanted to apply for a trade license, I had no idea where to go. I didn’t know if an office space was mandatory to obtain a license- in fact, I thought it was pointless in my case as a branding and marketing consultant, especially when we live in an ov...