Before starting business in Dubai mainland, getting appropriate license is mandatory for businesses. There are three types of business licenses provided by the government of Dubai. Commercial license (for trading activities) and industrial license (for manufacturing activities) are generally for companies. Apart from that, Dubai also allows professionals to start a business here through professional license.
Professional license is different from other types of licenses. The holders of professional license can only do business in selective types of industries. These professionals are not required to take services of local sponsors. Instead, they will hire local service agent to assist their business.
Business activities under Professional license
- Medical services
- Beauty salons
- Printing & publishing
- Document clearing
- Computer graphic design
- Consultancy
- Artisanship
- Security services
- Other noncommercial activities
- Businesses under professional license have 100% ownership. They don’t need services of local sponsors (with 51% shares) that are required by other license holders in Dubai mainland.
- Professional license holders will require local service agents. They have no percentage in business and will only assist in handling administrative issues related to business.
- More than one owner can also apply for professional license. In this case, the business will be treated as civil company.
Documents required for Professional license
- Passport copies of owners and partners
- Copy of (visit, transit or tourist) visa of foreign partners
- UID number of shareholder if he/she is on visit visa. In case of employment visa, an NOC (no objection certificate) from sponsors of foreign partners
- Naturalization book’s (Jinsiya) copy of local partner
- Initial approval from relevant authorities (DED, DM, RTA and others)
- Ejari registration
- Rental contract
- Name reservation certificate
Total cost of acquiring professional license depends on different types of fee required to be paid by license holder. These are following:
- Professional license fee
- Trade name fees
- Service agent fee
- Market fee (according to tenancy amount)
- Security deposit (different for individual license holder and civil company)
- Others
We manage the whole process of establishing your professional firms. It includes strategic inputs and consolidate business plan:
- Getting approvals and permissions from concern departments
- Preparing Partnership agreements and MOA
- Identify a trusted and qualified local service agent
- Assistance in opening the bank accounts
- Assisting to find suitable office premises
- Handle other documentation formalities
