Dubai business activity finder
Find the activity your Dubai licence is built on.
Search the free zone and mainland lists side by side, open any activity for its licence type and approvals, then shortlist what fits your plan.
- free zone activities
- 1,639
- mainland activities
- 2,616
- activities in one search
- 2,785
- licensing authorities
- 3
1,639 free zone activities
Shortlist0- IFZAProfessional licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- IFZAProfessional licenceNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZProfessional licenceApproval needed
- IFZACommercial licenceNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZCommercial licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- UAQ FTZIFZACommercial licenceNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZProfessional licenceMinistry of Culture & Youth approval
- UAQ FTZIFZAProfessional licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZIFZACommercial licenceNo approval
- IFZAProfessional licenceMinistry of Culture & Youth approval
- IFZAProfessional licenceDubai Civil Aviation Authority approval
- UAQ FTZApproval needed
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZCommercial licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZIFZAProfessional licenceNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZCommercial licenceNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZCommercial licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- IFZACommercial licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZCommercial licenceNo approval
- UAQ FTZNo approval
- IFZACommercial licenceDubai Civil Aviation Authority approval
- UAQ FTZIFZACommercial licenceDubai Civil Aviation Authority approval
- IFZAUAQ FTZCommercial licenceNo approval
Dubai business activities
Found your activity? Here is what comes next.
Setting up in Dubai is not the hard part. Choosing the wrong activity is what costs founders time and money. The activity on your licence defines what you can legally invoice, so it is the first decision to lock, not an afterthought.
In short
Your activity decides your licence type, your approvals, and whether a free zone or a mainland setup fits. Choose it first and the licence, visas and bank account fall into place. Choose it last and you pay to redo the paperwork.
- 1
Search what you do
Type what you actually do, a keyword like trading, consultancy or software.
- 2
Compare both lists
Switch between free zone and mainland to see where your activity can be licensed.
- 3
Open and shortlist
Open any card for its licence type and approvals, then shortlist the activities that match your plan.
Free zone or mainland
Both routes are legitimate.
The right one depends on where your customers are and how you want to hold the company.
The mistake that forces a re-licence
Do not register the name before the activity
Reserving a trade name or signing an office lease before the activity is set is the common misstep. If the activity does not match the structure, you re-file and pay again. Lock the activity first, and the name, licence and lease follow cleanly.
After your activity
Plan residency and tax early.
There is no personal income tax in the UAE, and a free zone company can pay 0% Corporate Tax on its qualifying income. Both depend on the right residency and structure, not on the licence alone.
Beyond the finder
Get the activity right. The rest is process, not guesswork.
We confirm the activity mix, choose free zone or mainland, arrange the licence, and handle approvals, visas, banking and compliance. One team, one point of contact, from first call to live company.
- Free, no-obligation call
- 1,400+ companies started
- In business since 2007
- 01Free zone company setup100% ownership and a fast, packaged licence.
- 02Dubai mainland company setupFor businesses selling into the local market.
- 03Residency and visasFor you, your team and your family.
- 04Business bankingPrepared and submitted so accounts open cleanly.
- 05Accounting, tax and complianceKeeps your company in good standing.