Quick answer: A professional license in Dubai mainland costs roughly AED 12,000–18,000 for the licence itself, or AED 15,000–25,000+ once you add an office and one visa. If you offer a service activity and want the cheapest legal route, a free zone professional licence starts at about AED 5,750 in the Northern Emirates (licence only) or around AED 12,500 inside Dubai — government fees are set by each authority and change without notice.
Key takeaways
- A professional license covers service and skill-based activities — consultancy, IT, marketing, design, tutoring — not the buying and selling of goods.
- Dubai mainland professional licence: roughly AED 12,000–18,000 before office and visas.
- The cheapest professional-type licence is a free zone one — from about AED 5,750 outside Dubai, or AED 12,500 for a Dubai free zone address.
- Professional licences allow 100% foreign ownership and are usually cheaper than commercial licences for the same owner.
- Government fees are fixed by the authority (DET or the free zone); a consultancy service fee sits on top and should always be quoted separately.
What is a professional license in Dubai?
A professional license is a permit to legally carry out service-based, skill- or knowledge-based activities in the UAE — such as consulting, IT services, marketing, accounting, engineering, design, legal advice, education and medical services.
The defining line is simple: a professional licence is for selling your expertise or a service, while a commercial licence is for buying, selling and trading physical goods. If your invoice is for hours, advice or a finished creative deliverable, you almost certainly need a professional licence. If it is for products shipped from a warehouse, you need a commercial one.
On the Dubai mainland, a professional licence is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Importantly, professional activities allow 100% foreign ownership — you do not need an Emirati partner, only (in some structures) a Local Service Agent who holds no equity. Free zones issue their own equivalent service or consultancy licences, also with full ownership.
Professional license vs commercial license: what's the difference?
A professional license is for services and is typically cheaper and simpler; a commercial license is for trading goods and often carries higher fees and more approvals.
| Feature | Professional license | Commercial license |
|---|---|---|
| Activity type | Services, consulting, skills | Buying, selling, trading goods |
| Ownership (mainland) | 100% foreign | 100% foreign for most activities |
| Local Service Agent | Sometimes required (no equity) | Not required for most activities |
| Typical mainland cost | AED 12,000–18,000 | Often higher, varies by activity |
| Examples | IT, marketing, tutoring, design | General trading, retail, import/export |
For most solo founders and consultants, the professional route is the lower-cost entry point. If you are weighing where to register, our guide on mainland vs free zone breaks down the trade-offs in plain terms.
How much does a professional license cost in Dubai mainland?
A Dubai mainland professional license costs approximately AED 12,000–18,000 for the licence alone, rising to AED 15,000–25,000+ once you add office space and one residence visa.
Here is the realistic breakdown of DET government fees. These are set by the authority and can change without notice.
| Component | AED | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | 620 – 735 | One-off DET fee |
| Initial approval | 120 – 235 | DET pre-approval |
| Trade licence fee (DET) | 8,000 – 12,000 | Core annual licence |
| Market fees | 1,000 – 2,500 | ~5% of Ejari rent value |
| MoJ / MOA notarisation | 900 – 1,500 | For LLC structures |
| Admin & knowledge/innovation fees | 500 – 1,000 | Fixed DET add-ons |
| Licence subtotal | 12,000 – 18,000 | Before office and visas |
| Ejari / flexi-desk / office | 6,000 – 25,000+ | By location and type |
| Establishment card (GDRFA) | 1,200 – 2,000 | Needed before any visa |
| Per investor or employee visa | 3,500 – 6,000 | Medical, EID and stamping included |
Realistic Dubai mainland total with office and one visa: AED 15,000–25,000+.
A professional service fee from a consultancy like DBM sits on top of these government fees — we always state the two separately so you can see exactly what goes to the government and what goes to us. For a deeper look at mainland pricing, see our Dubai mainland license cost breakdown and our full mainland company setup service.
What is the cheapest route to a professional license?
The cheapest professional-type licence is a free zone service or consultancy licence, starting at around AED 5,750 in a Northern Emirates free zone (licence only, no visa), roughly double that inside Dubai.
Free zones issue consultancy and service licences that cover most professional activities, and they allow 100% ownership. The catch for strict Dubai branding is geography: a Dubai address costs more.
| Zone | Licence only (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman (ANC) | 5,500 – 6,800 | General activities, tightest budgets |
| SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) | 5,750 – 6,500 | Consultants, freelancers, e-commerce |
| SHAMS (Sharjah) | 5,900 – 7,000 | Media, creative, small trading |
| RAKEZ | 6,500 – 8,500 | Industrial, trading, professional |
| IFZA (Dubai) | 12,500 – 14,000 | Dubai address |
| Meydan (Dubai) | 12,500 – 15,000 | Premium Dubai branding |
The genuine UAE entry point is roughly AED 5,750, reachable only outside Dubai. Inside Dubai, the free zone entry point is about AED 12,500. Anyone quoting a Dubai licence at AED 5,500 is quoting a Northern Emirates zone — do not confuse the two.
If you want the visa included, a free zone professional licence plus one investor visa (all-in — licence, establishment card, visa, medical, Emirates ID and basic insurance) runs about AED 11,000–13,000 at SPC, up to AED 17,000–20,000 at Meydan. That all-in figure is the honest number, because an advertised "from AED X" banner usually leaves the visa out.
Compare options on our free zone company formation page, or see the SPC Free Zone breakdown for one of the most consultant-friendly zones.
Step-by-step: how to get a professional license in Dubai
Getting a professional license follows a clear sequence; most applications complete in a few working days once documents are ready.
- Choose your activity and jurisdiction. Confirm your service activity is classified as professional, then decide mainland (DET) or a specific free zone based on where you need to operate and your budget.
- Reserve a trade name. Submit 2–3 name options for approval; the reservation is a one-off fee.
- Get initial approval. The authority confirms it has no objection to your activity and ownership structure.
- Secure an address. Arrange Ejari (mainland) or a flexi-desk/office package (free zone). This is required to issue the licence.
- Notarise documents (if LLC). Prepare and notarise the MOA or service agent agreement where applicable.
- Pay fees and collect the licence. Settle the DET or free zone charges and receive your professional trade licence.
- Apply for visas (optional). Open the establishment card, then process investor or staff residence visas via our visa services team.
Documents checklist
Prepare these before you start to avoid delays:
- Passport copy of each shareholder (valid 6+ months)
- Passport-size photo (white background)
- UAE visa/entry stamp or Emirates ID (if a resident)
- Proposed trade name options
- Description of the professional activity
- Tenancy contract / Ejari or free zone desk package
- Local Service Agent details (only if required for the activity)
You can estimate your full outlay in minutes using our cost calculator, or browse all trade licence options to confirm which activity code fits your work.
FAQ
How much does a professional license cost in Dubai in 2026?
A Dubai mainland professional license costs approximately AED 12,000–18,000 for the licence itself, or AED 15,000–25,000+ with an office and one visa. A free zone professional licence is cheaper — from about AED 5,750 outside Dubai, or AED 12,500 for a Dubai free zone address. Government fees are set by each authority and change without notice.
What is the difference between a professional and commercial license?
A professional license covers service and skill-based activities such as consulting, IT, marketing and design, while a commercial license covers buying, selling and trading physical goods. Professional licences are usually cheaper for the same owner and allow 100% foreign ownership on the mainland, often without an equity partner.
Can I get 100% ownership with a professional license in Dubai?
Yes. Professional activities on the Dubai mainland allow 100% foreign ownership. Some structures require a Local Service Agent, but that agent holds no shares in the company and takes no profit — they act only as a liaison for government formalities. Free zone professional licences also grant full ownership by default.
What activities fall under a professional license?
Professional licences cover expertise-based services: management and IT consultancy, marketing and advertising, accounting and audit, engineering, legal services, education and tutoring, design, medical and technical services. If you sell skills, time or a finished service rather than physical stock, you need a professional licence rather than a commercial one.
Do I need an office to get a professional license?
Yes, a registered address is required for any UAE licence. On the mainland you need Ejari (from around AED 6,000+), while most free zones include a low-cost flexi-desk in their packages. The address type affects your market fees and how many visas you can sponsor, so it is worth confirming before you choose a zone.
Is a free zone professional license cheaper than mainland?
Generally yes. A Northern Emirates free zone professional licence starts at roughly AED 5,750 (licence only), against AED 12,000–18,000 for a Dubai mainland licence. The trade-off is that free zone companies are designed to operate within the free zone and internationally; direct trading in the local UAE mainland market may need an additional arrangement.
Ready to price your professional license accurately? DBM has formed 1,000+ companies over 10+ years and holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 126 reviews. We'll tell you exactly what the government charges and what our service fee is — separately, with no surprises. Book a free consultation via our contact page or message us on WhatsApp at +971 50 504 6228.