Licence activities
Pick the activity your licence actually needs
Your licence must cover what you invoice for. Here are the 111 activities we license most, grouped the way the authorities think about them.
Consulting & Professional Services
- Management consultancy
- Business development consultancy
- IT consultancy
- HR consultancy and recruitment
- Financial consultancy (non-regulated)
- Legal consultancy
- Engineering consultancy
- Project management
- Training and coaching
- Accounting and bookkeeping
Trading & Import-Export
- General trading
- Foodstuff trading
- Electronics trading
- Building materials trading
- Textiles and garments trading
- Auto parts trading
- Cosmetics and perfumes trading
- Gold and precious metals trading
- Furniture trading
- Medical equipment trading
E-commerce & Online Retail
- E-commerce (online store)
- Marketplace operations
- Dropshipping
- Subscription box retail
- Online grocery and delivery
- Print-on-demand retail
- Digital products and downloads
Technology & Software
- Software development
- SaaS platform operation
- Mobile app development
- AI and data analytics
- Cybersecurity services
- Web development and hosting
- IT infrastructure services
- Game development
Media, Marketing & Creative
- Digital marketing agency
- Social media management
- Content creation and influencing
- Advertising agency
- PR and communications
- Film and video production
- Photography services
- Publishing
- Event management
Design, Fashion & Architecture
- Fashion design and label
- Interior design
- Architecture practice
- Graphic and brand design
- Furniture and product design
- Jewellery design
Finance & Investment (regulated)
- Fund management
- Investment advisory
- Payments and fintech
- Insurance brokerage
- Wealth management
- Money services
Crypto & Web3
- Proprietary crypto trading
- Blockchain development
- Web3 platform operation
- NFT marketplace services
- Virtual asset services (VARA regulated)
Logistics & Freight
- Freight forwarding
- Cargo handling and clearing
- Courier and last-mile delivery
- Warehousing and storage
- Shipping line agency
- Supply chain management
Manufacturing & Industrial
- Food processing
- Garment manufacturing
- Furniture manufacturing
- Packaging production
- Electronics assembly
- Printing services
- Jewellery manufacturing
Real Estate & Property
- Real estate brokerage (RERA registered)
- Property management
- Holiday homes operation
- Real estate consultancy
- Facilities management
Health, Wellness & Beauty
- Medical clinic (regulated)
- Wellness and spa services
- Fitness and personal training
- Nutrition consultancy
- Salon and beauty services
- Medical tourism facilitation
Education & Training
- Corporate training institute
- Tutoring services
- EdTech platform
- Language school
- Professional certification body
- Student placement consultancy
Food & Hospitality
- Restaurant and cafe management
- Catering services
- Cloud kitchen operation
- Food and beverage trading
- Hospitality consultancy
Events & Entertainment
- Event planning and production
- Exhibition stand contracting
- Wedding planning
- Artist and talent management
- Tourism and travel services
Holding & Investment Vehicles
- Holding company
- Special purpose vehicle
- Intellectual property holding
- Family office structure
- Yacht or asset ownership vehicle
Maritime & Marine
- Ship management
- Yacht brokerage and charter
- Marine equipment trading
- Marine surveying
- Crew management
Cannot see yours? The registries hold 3,000+ coded activities. Describe it in the wizard and a specialist will map it to the right code.
Questions
Activity rules, asked and answered
How many activities can one licence hold?
Most free zones allow three or more related activities on a single licence at no extra cost, and some permit ten or more within one group. Mixing unrelated groups, say industrial with consultancy, can require a second licence, and we structure that before filing rather than after a rejection.
What happens if I do work outside my licensed activity?
Invoicing outside your activity risks fines, bank account friction and insurance gaps. Adding an activity is a routine amendment, typically AED 1,500 to 3,000, and far cheaper than the alternative.
Which activities need extra approvals?
Financial services (DFSA, SCA or Central Bank), healthcare (DHA or DHCC), education (KHDA), real estate brokerage (RERA), legal consultancy, food and some transport activities all carry an approval layer beyond the licence. Timelines and capital requirements vary widely, and we scope them per case.
Is there really a list of 3,000+ activities?
Yes, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism maintains over 3,000 coded activities, and free zones run their own lists mapped to similar codes. The categories below cover what founders actually license week to week; if yours is unusual, the wizard notes field reaches us directly.
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