Free business email in the UAE: set up name@yourbusiness.ae in 2026

You have the trade licence, the free zone package and the Emirates ID. What you probably do not have yet is name@yourbusiness.ae, because the licence bundle came with a domain and nothing usable for email. This guide sets up a domain address with free mailboxes and correct DNS, for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the rest of the UAE.

Quick answer

Register yourbusiness.ae with any accredited .ae registrar, create a free OquMail workspace, add the domain, paste four DNS records, create mailboxes. Up to 15 mailboxes are free with no card, which suits a new free zone company that wants to keep fixed costs low in year one.

Domain choice: .ae or .com

The .ae domain is administered by the .aeDA under the UAE telecom regulator and is open to anyone, local or foreign, with no documents. Registrars include AEserver, GoDaddy, Namecheap and the big local hosts. A .ae tells customers you are in the Emirates; a .com is equally common for trading companies and consultancies dealing with the wider Gulf, Asia and Europe.

• .ae: open to anyone; the recognised UAE ending for local clients and government dealings
• .co.ae: exists but is rarely used compared with direct .ae
• .com: standard for trading and consulting businesses with international clients
• Register the domain in the licensed company name so it matches your trade licence

Why UAE clients trust a domain address

Real estate brokers, free zone consultancies, trading companies, event agencies and e-commerce brands in the UAE deal with clients who expect the email address to match the licensed company. Banks opening corporate accounts, government portals, and procurement teams at larger firms all check it. A quote from sales@yourbusiness.ae is processed; the same quote from a Gmail invites a WhatsApp message asking for the licence copy. A domain address also keeps client history in the company when a sales agent moves on, which happens often.

Step by step

1. Register yourbusiness.ae with an accredited registrar, or take control of the domain your free zone package included by getting its DNS login.
2. Create a free OquMail workspace at oqumail.com. No card.
3. Add the domain in the dashboard and copy the four DNS records.
4. In the registrar’s DNS panel add the MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records.
5. Click Verify. The live check shows which record is still missing.
6. Create mailboxes: info@, sales@, accounts@ and one per person, up to 15.
7. Send a test from webmail, then add the account to Outlook, Apple Mail or the phone mail app with the settings below.

The four DNS records OquMail needs

Free zone website packages often pre-set an MX records (the settings that tell the internet where to deliver email for your domain) to the package's own webmail. Delete it before adding OquMail's, and keep only one TXT starting with v=spf1 on the root.

• MX — host @, value mail.oqumail.com, priority 10
• SPF (TXT at @) — v=spf1 MX (Mail Exchanger — where incoming email is delivered) a:mail.oqumail.com ~all
• DKIM (TXT at your selector ._domainkey) — v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=… (the exact key is shown in your OquMail dashboard)
• DMARC (TXT at _dmarc) — v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

OquMail connection settings

• Incoming (IMAP): mail.oqumail.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
• Outgoing (SMTP): mail.oqumail.com, port 587, STARTTLS
• Username: your full email address (you@yourdomain.com)
• Password: the same password you use for OquMail webmail

What it costs

The domain is a yearly fee at the registrar. The email is free: OquMail's free plan needs no card and includes 15 mailboxes, 3 domains, 5 GB per mailbox, webmail, IMAP/SMTP, delivery logs and a send API. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are priced per user per month, which adds up for a new company giving addresses to a partner, two sales staff and an accountant.

Pitfalls common in the UAE

• Using the email included with a free zone or licence package. It is usually basic webmail with no DKIM and a shared IP, and quotes land in junk.
• Choosing SSL on port 587 in Outlook. It must be STARTTLS.
• Etisalat and du residential and mobile connections block outbound port 25. Port 587 is all you need.
• Leaving a Gmail on Property Finder, Bayut or your Google Business Profile after the domain is live.
• Skipping DMARC. Invoice fraud that spoofs UAE company domains is common; publish p=none at minimum.

Common questions

Do I need a .ae or is .com fine?

A .com is fine for international trade. If your clients are in the UAE or you deal with government entities, .ae is worth having; many firms hold both on one OquMail workspace.

Does it work with Outlook and my iPhone?

Yes. Add an IMAP account with the settings above in Outlook, Apple Mail or the Gmail app.

What are the limits?

15 mailboxes, 3 domains, 5 GB per mailbox, no expiry.