Full foreign ownership
Most professional activities carry 100% ownership with no local service agent requirement.
- Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 GST
- Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
SERVICE · LICENSING
Professional License
For consultants, engineers, IT specialists and service providers, a professional licence lets most activities carry 100% foreign ownership with no minimum capital requirement.
Professional licence, the basics
- 5–10 working daysTypical timeline
- 100% foreign ownershipOn most professional activities
- No minimum capitalFor most activity types
- Service-based onlyNot for trading goods
Overview
What a professional licence covers
A professional licence covers service and intellectual activities, consultancy, engineering, IT services, marketing, accounting, design, rather than the buying and selling of physical goods. Most professional activities qualify for full foreign ownership without a local service agent.
Some regulated professions, medical, legal, engineering consultancy, need an additional qualification certificate or a sector regulator’s approval alongside the standard licence application. We identify which apply before you submit anything.
Activity classification and eligibility check
Trade name reservation and initial approval
Qualification certificate attestation, for regulated professions
Licence issuance and Chamber of Commerce registration
Establishment card and visa quota setup
Benefits
Why a professional licence fits service businesses
No minimum capital
Unlike some industrial or commercial activities, professional licences typically have no declared capital requirement.
Fast issuance
With qualification documents ready, most professional licences issue within a week.
Wide activity list
Consultancy, IT, design, marketing, accounting and dozens more activities are covered under one licence category.
Mainland or free zone
Available through DED or almost any free zone, depending on where your clients are.
Low overhead to start
Many professional activities can begin from a flexi-desk without a dedicated office.
Who this is for
Consultants, engineers, IT professionals, designers, marketers and other service providers who sell expertise and time rather than physical goods.
When this is not for you
A professional licence is the wrong licence if you buy and resell physical goods. Trading activities sit under a commercial licence, and running them on a professional licence is a compliance problem waiting for an inspection. If part of your business is services and part is trading, tell us both, because the mix decides the licence.
Requirements & Process
Qualification verification, and who it applies to
Documents & eligibility
The core file is straightforward; regulated professions add a qualification-verification step that takes longer than the licence application itself.
Passport copies for all shareholders and the appointed manager, valid at least six months
Passport-size photographs against a white background
Three proposed trade names in order of preference
A clear description of the professional activity for correct classification
Attested qualification certificates, for regulated professions (medical, legal, engineering)
No Objection Certificate from a current UAE sponsor, where applicable
Tenancy contract or flexi-desk agreement for the licensed address
CV or professional profile of the practising owner or manager
Additional documents may be required depending on the specific professional activity and licensing authority. We confirm the exact list for your case before any fee is paid.
How it works
The 5 stages of a professional licence
Straightforward professional activities typically issue within five to ten working days; regulated professions take longer for qualification verification.
01
Activity classification
We confirm the correct professional activity code and flag whether it needs sector-regulator approval.
1 working day02
Trade name and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved and initial approval secured from the licensing authority.
1–2 working days03
Qualification verification
For regulated professions, attested qualification certificates are submitted for sector-regulator review.
3–10 working days, regulated professions only04
Licence issuance
The trade licence is issued once fees are settled and any required approvals are in place.
1–2 working days05
Establishment card and handover
The immigration establishment card is opened and your complete document pack is handed over.
1–2 working daysGet your professional licence moving
Tell us your professional activity, a senior consultant confirms eligibility and an exact quote in writing, usually within 15 minutes during working hours.
No follow up calls unless you ask
Exact cost in writing
Response within 15 minutes during working hours
Related services
- Commercial License
- Mainland Company Formation in Dubai
- Free Zone Company Setup in the UAE
- Trade License Renewal
Want the numbers first? Dubai Mainland Cost Calculator
