Professional Licence in Dubai and the UAE
What a UAE professional licence covers, who needs one, cost components, documents, the sole establishment vs LLC choice and how it differs from a commercial licence.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-09
Quick answer
A professional licence authorises services based on skill, expertise or intellectual output — consultancy, IT, marketing, design, engineering, education and similar activities. In Dubai it is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism, allows 100% foreign ownership, and can be held as a sole establishment with a Local Service Agent or through an LLC. Licence fees commonly start around AED 12,000 to AED 15,000.
- Covers
- Skill and service-based activities
- Ownership
- 100% foreign ownership
- Structures
- Sole establishment, civil company or LLC
- Licence from
- About AED 12,000 – 15,000
- Premises
- Ejari office for mainland
- Goods trading
- Not permitted — needs a commercial licence
A professional licence is the UAE licence category for businesses that sell expertise rather than goods. Management consultancy, IT services, marketing, engineering consultancy, design, translation, accounting services, training and similar activities all sit here. In Dubai the licence is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); other emirates issue the equivalent through their own economic departments, and free zones issue service or consultancy licences that serve the same purpose within the zone's framework.
The important practical distinction is scope: a professional licence does not permit trading physical goods. If you intend to import, stock or resell products alongside your services, you either add a commercial activity or hold a separate commercial licence. Getting this wrong is a common cause of banking questions and customs problems later.
This page covers which activities qualify, the structure choice between a sole establishment with a Local Service Agent and an LLC, the real cost stack, documents including any attested qualifications, and how the professional licence compares with a commercial licence for tax, visas and banking.
| Factor | Professional licence | Commercial licence |
|---|---|---|
| Core scope | Services and expertise | Trading goods |
| Ownership | 100% foreign | 100% foreign for most activities |
| Local Service Agent | Needed for sole establishment | Not applicable to LLC |
| Import / export code | Not applicable | Available |
| Typical DET fee | AED 12,000 – 15,000 | AED 15,200 – 25,000 |
| Best for | Consultancies and service firms | Retail, wholesale, distribution |
What is a professional licence?
A professional licence permits the practice of a profession or the provision of services that rely on intellectual, technical or artistic skill. It is one of the main UAE licence categories alongside commercial, industrial and tourism licences, and it is defined by the activity codes on the licence rather than by the company's name.
Some professional activities are regulated and require an external approval or practitioner credential before the licence issues — engineering, legal, medical, education, accounting and audit are the common examples.
Who needs a professional licence?
- Consultants — management, HR, marketing, IT, engineering, sustainability
- Software and technology service companies not reselling hardware
- Design, media production, content, translation and creative studios
- Accounting, bookkeeping, audit and tax service firms (subject to approvals)
- Training providers, tutoring and education services (subject to approvals)
- Maintenance, technical and installation service businesses
What activities can a professional licence cover?
Activities are drawn from the authority's official list, and a single licence can carry several related codes. What it cannot carry is a trading activity: buying and reselling goods requires a commercial licence, and manufacturing requires an industrial licence.
| What you do | Licence needed |
|---|---|
| Advise, design, develop, train, maintain | Professional |
| Buy and resell goods, import, distribute | Commercial |
| Manufacture or process goods | Industrial |
| Operate travel, hospitality or tour services | Tourism |
| Sell services and goods together | Commercial with services, or two licences |
How much does a professional licence cost in Dubai?
Budget from roughly AED 12,000 to AED 15,000 for the DET professional licence itself, then add the components that most quotes leave out: trade name, initial approval, Local Service Agent fee if you use a sole establishment, Ejari-registered premises, the establishment card and each residence visa.
| Item | Typical cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | 620 – 2,000 | Foreign or non-standard names cost more |
| Initial approval | 120 – 270 | DET administrative fee |
| DET professional licence | 12,000 – 15,000 | Activity dependent |
| Local Service Agent (if sole establishment) | 5,000 – 15,000 / yr | Fixed annual fee; no shareholding |
| Ejari office tenancy | 10,000 – 40,000 / yr | Sets your visa quota |
| Establishment card | 1,800 – 2,500 | Immigration registration |
| Residence visa each | 3,500 – 5,700 | Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping |
Sole establishment, civil company or LLC?
| Factor | Sole establishment | Civil company | LLC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | One individual | Two or more professionals | 1 – 50 shareholders |
| Liability | Unlimited personal | Unlimited, joint | Limited to capital |
| Local Service Agent | Required | Required | Not required |
| Corporate shareholders | No | Limited | Yes |
| Best for | Solo consultants | Partnered practices | Scaling firms, investors, staff |
How to get a professional licence, step by step
- Confirm the exact activity codes and whether any need external approval
- Choose the legal structure — sole establishment, civil company or LLC
- Reserve the trade name and obtain initial approval
- Appoint a Local Service Agent if using a sole establishment or civil company
- Sign a tenancy and register it on Ejari
- Submit attested qualifications where the activity requires them
- Pay the licence voucher, then complete establishment card and visas
Professional licence and tax, banking and visas
- Corporate tax applies the same way: 0% up to AED 375,000 taxable income, 9% above it
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months
- Banks generally view a clearly evidenced single-service activity favourably
- Visa quota on mainland follows Ejari office space, not licence type
- Free zone service licences use facility tiers instead of Ejari for quota
Which route fits your situation?
- Solo consultant selling to UAE corporates — mainland professional licence, sole establishment
- Two or more partners in a regulated practice — civil company with the right approvals
- Hiring a team and taking investment — professional activity inside an LLC
- Serving only overseas clients — a free zone service licence is usually cheaper
- Selling services plus products — add a commercial activity or plan a second licence
Who this option suits best
- Independent consultants and advisory firms
- Software, data and technology service businesses
- Marketing, design, media and content studios
- Engineering, accounting and training practices with the right approvals
- Founders who want 100% ownership without holding stock or inventory
Step-by-step process
- 1
Map your activities to official codes1 – 2 days
Confirm each code is professional, and whether an external regulator approval applies.
- 2
Choose the legal structure1 day
Sole establishment, civil company or LLC — this decides liability and the agent requirement.
- 3
Reserve the trade name and get initial approval1 – 3 days
Three name options; names must match the activity.
- 4
Appoint a Local Service Agent if required1 – 3 days
Fixed annual fee, no shareholding, documented in a notarised agreement.
- 5
Secure premises and register Ejari1 – 5 days
Mainland licences need registered premises before issuance.
- 6
Submit qualifications and approvals3 – 15 days
Attested degrees or practitioner credentials for regulated activities.
- 7
Pay, issue and complete immigration1 – 4 weeks
Licence voucher, establishment card, then residence visas.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Attested degree or professional credential where the activity is regulated
- Local Service Agent agreement for a sole establishment or civil company
- Ejari-registered tenancy contract
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Name and initial approval | 1 – 3 working days |
| Agent and premises | 2 – 7 working days |
| Licence issuance | 1 – 3 working days |
| Establishment card and visas | 2 – 4 weeks |
Figures reflect 2026 DET and immigration fee bands for professional activities. Regulated activities add external approval fees. Provider service fees are itemised separately on every marketplace package.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Selling goods under a professional licence
Fix: Add a commercial activity or hold a separate commercial licence before invoicing product sales.
Paying a Local Service Agent when using an LLC
Fix: An LLC needs no agent; the fee applies only to sole establishments and civil companies.
Ignoring regulator approval for a regulated activity
Fix: Check whether engineering, education, medical, legal or audit approvals apply before paying the licence fee.
Skipping degree attestation
Fix: Attest qualifications in the issuing country and at the UAE mission first.
Choosing an office too small for the planned team
Fix: Mainland visa quota tracks Ejari square metres.
Myth vs reality
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| A professional licence means a local partner owns 51% | Professional licences allow 100% foreign ownership. A Local Service Agent has no shares and no profit entitlement. |
| Consultancy licences are tax free | Corporate tax applies at 0% up to AED 375,000 taxable income and 9% above it, the same as other categories. |
| A professional licence lets you sell anything | It covers services only. Trading goods requires a commercial licence. |
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance Regulations (ESR) notifications for relevant activities such as holding, IP, headquarters and distribution.
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
Frequently asked questions
What is a professional licence in Dubai?
How much does a professional licence cost in Dubai?
Do I need a local partner for a professional licence?
What is the difference between a professional and commercial licence?
Can a professional licence sponsor visas?
Do I need a degree for a professional licence?
Can I get a professional licence in a free zone?
Is a professional licence cheaper than a commercial licence?
Does a professional licence need an office?
Can I add trading later?
People also ask
Is a consultancy licence the same as a professional licence?
Consultancy is a subset of professional activities. A consultancy licence is a professional licence limited to advisory codes.
How long does a professional licence take?
Commonly five to ten working days for the licence once name, approvals and premises are in place; regulated activities take longer.
Can two consultants share one licence?
Yes, through a civil company or an LLC with both as shareholders. A sole establishment has a single owner.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three verified providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm whether your activity is regulated and needs external approval
- Decide between sole establishment, civil company and LLC before naming
- Attest qualifications early if the activity requires them
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Every listed provider holds a valid UAE trade licence and publishes fixed prices
- Costs reviewed against 2026 published government schedules
- Written and reviewed by advisers who have processed UAE licences and residence visas
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)Professional licence activities, agent rules and fees
- u.ae — types of business licenceOfficial definitions of professional, commercial and industrial licences
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
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