The business activity you choose fixes the licence wording, and the approvals follow from it.
In the list of business activities in Dubai, the one you choose tells you which regulator you answer to and whether a free zone can license it. It also fixes which approvals come first, and banks compare it with the invoices you raise. Related activities can usually share one licence, while a food or health activity brings Dubai Municipality or DHA in before it.
| What you do | Main test | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| You sell advice or servicesConsulting, agencies, professional work | The exact wording on the licenceStrategy and business advisory stay on a standard licence; financial, legal or tax wording needs separate approval. | How to start a consultancy business |
| You buy and sell goodsOne product line or many | Where your buyers sitA free zone fits re-export; selling to UAE buyers needs a mainland licence or channel. | General trading company setup |
| You sell onlineYour own store or marketplaces | Where the stock sitsHow orders are fulfilled changes the activity and the jurisdiction. | E-commerce licence in Dubai |
| Your activity has a regulatorFood, health, property, crypto, education | Approval before the licenceThe regulator approves first, and its rules cover the premises and the timeline. | Business setup by industry |
| You want several activitiesOn one licence | Related or notSeveral related activities can sit on one licence; a regulated one brings its own approval. | Multiple activities, one licence |
Some activities have no page yet. Tell us what you do, Monday to Saturday, and we check it against the DET or free zone list.
CafeDrinks and light food for walk-in customers, from a Dubai Municipality approved unit.MainlandDubai Municipality
Cloud kitchenDelivery-only food from a Dubai Municipality approved kitchen, your own or shared.MainlandDubai Municipality
Foodstuff tradingImporting and wholesaling food, with each item registered before it ships.EitherDubai Municipality
Grocery and supermarketWalk-in food retail on the mainland, with tobacco and delivery permits where needed.MainlandDubai Municipality
Food truckEvent or fixed-site permits from Dubai Municipality, with a licensed kitchen behind.MainlandMunicipality permit
CateringCentral kitchen approval and vehicle permits from Dubai Municipality, then the contracts.Usually mainlandMunicipality kitchen
BakeryBaking and selling, with municipality steps set by who buys your bread.Usually mainlandMunicipality kitchen
Spices, coffee and tea tradingWholesale or shop activity for spices, coffee and tea, each product registered first.EitherDubai Municipality
Coffee roasteryDubai Municipality approval of the roasting unit, plus activities for drinks and wholesale.Usually mainlandMunicipality food
Fruit and vegetable tradingFresh produce import, wholesale and retail, with a Dubai Municipality approved cold store.Either routeCold store
RestaurantThe DET licence and the Dubai Municipality food permit for the unit.Sector guide
Gold and jewellery tradingGold, jewellery and stones, with goAML registration and AML duties from day one.EitherMoET (AML)
Used car tradingBuying and selling used cars locally or for export, with RTA transfers per car.EitherRTA transfers
DropshippingOnline stores without stock, and what changes once stock sits here.Either routeProduct approvals
Building materials tradingWholesale or showroom supply of building materials, with certificates by product line.Usually mainlandProduct certificates
Scrap metal tradingBuying and selling metal scrap under a municipality permit, with VAT reverse charge.EitherDubai Municipality
Perfume tradingSealed fragrance trading, with Dubai Municipality registration for every product.EitherProduct registration
Petroleum products tradingFuel, lubricants and bitumen, with SCE permits once product enters Dubai.EitherSCE permits
Cosmetics tradingSkincare and make-up trading, with every product registered with Dubai Municipality.EitherProduct registration
Medical equipment tradingAn EDE-licensed medical warehouse, then a registration for every device you sell.EitherEDE warehouse
TailoringMade-to-measure clothing and embroidery, with each garment group listed on the licence.Usually mainlandLicence only
Textile tradingFabric and garments bought and resold, with customs registration and a careful bank file.EitherCustoms only
Auto spare partsNew and used car parts, with MoIAT conformity for regulated safety parts.Either routeMoIAT conformity
Diamond tradingLoose diamonds, coloured stones and pearls, with goAML and Kimberley Process duties.Either routeAML and SIRA
Tyre tradingNew tyres imported and sold, with GSO conformity and MoIAT label cards.Either routeGSO conformity
Furniture tradingHome, office and trade furniture, each with its own activity on one licence.Usually mainlandLicence only
Commercial brokerageCommission on goods deals you never own; property, insurance and shares sit elsewhere.Either routeNone for goods
Mobile phone shopPhone sales, accessories and repairs at one counter, with TDRA rules for SIMs.Mainland DETTDRA for SIMs
General tradingMany product lines on one licence, and the customs code.Sector guide
Import and exportGoods crossing the border, the customs code and where buyers sit.Sector guide
E-commerceSelling online, where the stock sits and the fulfilment model.Sector guide
PharmacyA walk-in pharmacy with a DHA facility licence, activated after inspection.MainlandDHA
Spa and massage centreMassage, sauna and hammam for walk-in clients, with the DHA line marked.MainlandDubai Municipality
Gym and fitness centreGyms and fitness centres, authorised by Dubai Sports Council before the licence.EitherSports Council
Barber shopGents salon licence, with Dubai Municipality's plan approval and salon hygiene rules.Usually mainlandMunicipality salon
Elderly careDay centres and care homes under CDA, nursing homes under DHA.MainlandCDA or DHA
Physiotherapy centreOutpatient physio centres with a DHA facility licence and licensed therapists.Usually mainlandDHA facility
Aesthetic clinicInjectables and medical lasers in a DHA clinic with a supervising specialist.Usually mainlandDHA facility
Home healthcareNursing, therapy and doctor visits at home under a DHA licence.Usually mainlandDHA facility
Medical laboratoryClinical labs with a DHA licence, a pathologist director and accreditation due.Usually mainlandDHA facility
Dental clinicDHA clinic and dentist licences, plus a FANR licence for X-ray units.Usually mainlandDHA facility
Veterinary clinicA Dubai Municipality clinic licence by category, with MOCCAE-licensed vets.Usually mainlandMunicipality clinic
Optical shopDHA optical centre licence, a licensed optician, and an exam room to DHA rules.Usually mainlandDHA optical
Pet groomingDubai Municipality veterinary approval of the salon or van, with set specifications.Usually mainlandMunicipality veterinary
SalonThe line between cosmetic treatments and clinical ones that need DHA.Sector guide
ClinicThe facility licence, each clinician's licence and the company behind them.Sector guide
Construction contractingBuilding and civil works on a DET licence plus the Dubai Municipality register.MainlandMunicipality register
Interior design and fit-outDesign studio on one licence; fit-out works need contractor registration and permits.EitherBy service
Holiday homesShort-stay letting of owners' units, on a DET licence with a permit per unit.MainlandDET unit permits
Real estate developerBuilding and selling property projects, licensed by DET and registered with DLD.Usually mainlandDLD registration
Property managementLetting and running landlords' units, licensed by DET with DLD approval.Usually mainlandDLD approval
Engineering consultancyDesign and supervision offices, licensed by DET and registered with Dubai Municipality.Either routeMunicipality register
Solar energy companyTrading or installing solar panels, with DEWA enrolment for rooftop work.MainlandDEWA enrolment
Business centreFurnished offices for other companies, with DLD's Ejari conditions on space and lease.MainlandDLD Ejari
Electromechanical contractingMEP installation with Municipality registration, DEWA enrolment and Civil Defence approvals.Usually mainlandRegister and DEWA
Carpentry and joineryJoinery made to order in your workshop, with fire approval and site-fitting registration.Usually mainlandCivil Defence
Oil and gas servicesConsultancy, testing and equipment supply for oil and gas operators, with ICV.Usually mainlandVendor and ICV
Aluminium and glassWindows, glass and facades installed under Dubai Municipality contractor registration.Usually mainlandDM register
Real estate brokerageThe brokerage licence and the broker registration each agent holds.Sector guide
Technical servicesMaintenance and repair trades, with DEWA, Civil Defence or SIRA added by trade.MainlandBy trade
Cleaning companyContract cleaning by your own staff; pest control and maid supply licensed separately.MainlandWording only
LaundryShops, dry cleaners, plants and pickup apps, each with its own municipality approvals.MainlandDubai Municipality
Car washBays, car park and mobile washes, set by Dubai Municipality's wash-water rules.Usually mainlandMunicipality rules
Pest controlPublic health pest control, cleared by Dubai Municipality before DET licenses it.Either routeMunicipality NOC
Waste managementWaste collection, hazardous streams and recycling, each under a municipality permit.EitherDubai Municipality
Landscaping companyGarden planting and upkeep, a light file with municipality approval built in.MainlandDubai Municipality
Facility managementRunning buildings for owners, with each in-house service adding its own approval.Usually mainlandPer service
Swimming pool maintenancePool cleaning and dosing on a DET licence, with Dubai Municipality's shared-pool rules.Usually mainlandPool rules
Maid servicesHome cleaning on a DET licence; placing maids needs a MOHRE recruitment office.Mainland onlyMOHRE office
Recruitment agencyPlacing candidates or supplying workers, with the MOHRE agency licence and guarantee.MainlandMOHRE
Legal consultancyLegal advice firms, approved by the Legal Affairs Department before DET licenses them.Either routeLegal Affairs
Accounting firmBookkeeping, tax agency and audit practices, with the FTA or Ministry where needed.Either routeFTA or MoET
HR consultancyHR advice to employers on a light licence; placements bring in MOHRE.EitherNone if advisory
Insurance brokerCentral Bank broker licence, majority UAE shareholding, guarantee and indemnity cover.Mainland (CBUAE)CBUAE licence
Management consultancyUsually no external regulator, so the choice is mainland or free zone.Sector guide
Holding companyA company that owns shares and assets, and what banks ask of it.Sector guide
Financial consultancyFinancial advice and the regulator it needs, from the CMA to the DFSA or FSRA.Sector guide
NurseryKHDA's early childhood permit, plus the building approvals that set the pace.Usually mainlandKHDA permit
Tutoring centreKHDA's centre permit, or a personal permit for one tutor teaching at home.Either routeKHDA permit
Language centreLanguage courses under a KHDA permit, finished inside its six-month approval window.Either routeKHDA permit
Online educationOnline courses and platforms, with KHDA's permit where live teaching or certificates apply.Usually free zoneKHDA sometimes
Training instituteWhen teaching the public or issuing certificates brings in KHDA.Sector guide
Media productionFilm, video and content for clients, with media approval and shoot permits.EitherMedia approval
Event managementOrganising events for clients, with a DET permit for each event you run.EitherDET permits
Social media influencerCreators earning from brands: the licence plus a personal Advertiser Permit.Either routeAdvertiser Permit
PhotographyStudios and freelancers: a light licence, with permits that come per shoot.Either routePer-shoot permits
PR agencyPress and reputation work on a light licence; ad buying and creators need more.Either routeNone for PR
Wedding plannerWedding planning on a light licence; food, photos and company events sit beside it.Either routeNone upfront
Publishing houseBooks under your own imprint, with an NMA licence and a permit per title.Either routeNMA licence
Marketing and advertisingAgencies, the advertiser permit and where your clients are billed.Sector guide
Car rentalCars hired out without a driver, with an RTA permit after the trade licence.EitherRTA permit
LimousineChauffeur-driven luxury cars, licensed by DET and franchised by the RTA.Usually mainlandRTA franchise
Courier companyLetters and parcels for others, with a federal postal licence and RTA permits.EitherPostal licence
Desert safariDesert tours under a DET safari permit, with trained drivers and company vehicles.Mainland (DET)Safari permit
Moving companyHome and office moves under an RTA transport permit, with each truck approved.Usually mainlandRTA permit
Shipping agencyActing for shipping lines and ship owners, with maritime permits for every call.EitherMaritime Authority
EV charging companySelling, installing or running chargers, with DEWA licensing for public charging.MainlandDEWA licence
Warehousing and storageStoring other companies' goods, with food, cold and bonded approvals by stock.EitherBuilding and stock
Yacht charterLeisure charters with DMA-licensed yachts and captains, a marina berth and a permit.Usually mainlandDMA permits
Auto garageVehicle repair workshop with Civil Defence approval; RTA permit for mobile mechanics.Usually mainlandCivil Defence
Travel agencySelling travel and tours, and the DET tourism approvals around it.Sector guide
Freight forwardingWhich roles your licence lets you sign for, from forwarder to warehouse.Sector guide
Data centreColocation and hosting, with power, building and DESC cloud rules.EitherDEWA power
IT consultancyAdvice, design and integration on a light licence, with the route set by clients.EitherNone extra
Software and ITSoftware and IT services, and where mainland revenue meets QFZP.Sector guide
Crypto and virtual assetsWhen an activity needs VARA, and the bank appetite that follows.Sector guideNo page for that activity yet. Tell us what your business does on WhatsApp or send the details, and we will tell you what it requires.
Detailed licensing pages for the most requested activities.
E-commerce licence in DubaiRoutes and approvals for online sellers, by fulfilment model.General trading company setup in DubaiMany product lines on one licence, and the customs code.How to start a consultancy business in DubaiUsually no external regulator, so the choice is mainland or free zone.What to check before the activity goes on the application.
Types of trade licence in DubaiCommercial, professional or industrial, and what each implies.
How a consultancy is licensed in the UAEThe words that keep a consultancy unregulated, and those that do not.
Company formation in the UAEOur setup service, with the activity confirmed against the official list.Not on the list? Tell us what your business does, and an advisor checks it against the authority's list.
Ask on WhatsAppDescribe the work you invoice, even if your activity has no page here yet. Once the activity is worded, we set up the company around it through our company setup service.
On the call
