Trade Licensing

Most Dubai businesses fall under one of four licence categories. A commercial licence covers trading and most buying-and-selling activities. A professional licence covers services that rely on individual expertise, such as consultancy, IT and design. An industrial licence covers manufacturing and processing. A tourism licence covers travel agencies, tour operators and related hospitality activities, and typically needs extra approvals from the relevant tourism authority.

Within each type you select specific business activities, each with its own official code. Your chosen activities decide which external approvals you need and how your company can legally trade, so we map them carefully before anything is filed. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism publishes the official activity list (det.gov.ae), and we help you read it against your actual plans. Whether you are leaning towards a mainland company or a free zone company, the licence type and activities carry across the whole setup. You can browse the free zones we work with, including IFZA and DMCC.

Since 2021, 100% foreign ownership has been available for most mainland activities under Federal Decree-Law 26/2020, but not all. Strategic or restricted sectors may still require an Emirati partner, and some professional licences or foreign branches need a Local Service Agent who holds 0% equity. We confirm exactly where your activity stands before you choose a structure, as explained by the UAE government (u.ae).

Jurisdiction matters too. A mainland licence lets you trade across the UAE and bid for government work; a free zone licence offers focused activity lists and full foreign ownership inside that zone. An offshore company is for holding and international use only and cannot trade inside the UAE. If you are unsure, our free zone vs mainland comparison and our cost estimator are good starting points, or simply message us and we will recommend a route that fits your activity and budget.

Your licence is the start, not the finish. UAE Corporate Tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it (Federal Decree-Law 47/2022, for financial years from 1 June 2023). CT registration is required, late registration carries a fixed AED 10,000 penalty, and you file and pay within nine months of your period end (tax.gov.ae). A qualifying free zone person can keep 0% on qualifying income (9% on non-qualifying, with no AED 375,000 band), and Small Business Relief is available where revenue is under AED 3,000,000 per period, until 31 December 2026. VAT is 5% standard, with mandatory registration at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and voluntary registration from AED 187,500. Our accounting, VAT and Corporate Tax team keeps these obligations on track.

Most licences come with visa eligibility. We handle your PRO and government services, investor and residence visas, and, where you qualify, the Golden Visa (5 or 10 years; routes include AED 2,000,000 in real estate or public investment, an entrepreneurial project valued at a minimum of AED 500,000, or a salary from AED 50,000 per month, with thresholds confirmed on icp.gov.ae). We can also support your corporate bank account and trademark and IP, though we never guarantee bank or visa approvals, which rest with the institutions and authorities.