Business licences in Dubai by activity

Every sector has its own licence category, its own approvals and its own reasons for delay. These are the ones we are asked about most — what each covers, who regulates it, and what to plan for.

4 DET categories

Commercial, professional, industrial, tourism

Sector regulators

Health, education, RERA, municipality

2,000+ activities

Across mainland and free zones

By sector

Licences for specific sectors

General trading licence

Trade almost any permitted product under one licence, without amending every time your range changes.

E-commerce licence

Sell online legally, with the licence, banking and payment gateway pieces lined up before you launch.

Consultancy licence

The most common licence we issue — and the one where choosing the right zone matters most.

Restaurant & cafe licence

Food licensing, municipality permits, kitchen layout approval and food handler certification.

Real estate brokerage licence

RERA registration, broker cards, training and the office requirements that come with them.

Tourism & travel agency licence

DET tourism categories, bank guarantees and the difference between inbound and outbound.

Construction & contracting licence

Municipality classification grades, registered engineers and civil defence approvals.

Beauty salon & wellness licence

Municipality health permits, premises inspection and therapist certification.

By licence type

The four mainland DET categories

Questions

Licence questions

How do I know which licence I need?

Start with what you sell. Goods point to a commercial licence, expertise points to a professional licence, manufacturing points to an industrial licence. Then check whether your sector has a regulator — health, education, real estate, tourism, finance and food all do — because that adds a layer on top of the trade licence.

Can one company hold more than one licence?

Yes, and sometimes it must. If your activities span groups that cannot sit on one licence, you either hold two licences or restructure. It is also common to hold a mainland licence and a free zone licence for different parts of the business.

What happens if my business changes?

You amend the licence. Adding or removing activities, changing shareholders, changing the trade name or moving premises are all routine amendments with their own document sets. What you should not do is quietly trade outside your licence and hope nobody reconciles it — your bank will.

Free consultation

Tell us what your business does

One sentence is enough. We will come back with the licence type, the activity codes, every approval required and the total cost.

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