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To start a construction business in Dubai you need a contracting licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism, a classification from Dubai Municipality, and a fire-and-safety approval from Civil Defence. Most contracting is mainland. OMC handles the licence, the approvals and the staff visas end to end.
Fix the contracting activity
Decide the exact activity, such as building contracting, electromechanical works, demolition or maintenance. The activity sets the licence and which approvals you need.
Register the mainland company
Most contracting is mainland, because it trades across Dubai and bids for local projects. Reserve the trade name and file the initial approval with DET.
Secure the technical approvals
Contracting licences need a Dubai Municipality classification and a Civil Defence sign-off. The grade you qualify for sets the project value you can take on.
Set up visas for your team
A contracting firm runs on people. Set up the establishment card and the visa quota so you can sponsor engineers and workers.
Open the corporate bank account
Open a business account to receive project payments and pay subcontractors. Approval sits with the bank; we introduce you to the right officer.
Dubai runs one of the most active building pipelines in the region, across public infrastructure, residential towers, hospitality and fit-out. That work reaches contractors, electromechanical firms, fit-out companies and maintenance providers, not only the large developers. A licensed contracting company can bid for both private and government projects, which is why most operators register on the mainland rather than in a free zone.
A construction licence is issued by DET as a contracting or building-maintenance activity, then classified by Dubai Municipality into a grade that caps the project value you can take on. Civil Defence approval covers fire and life safety. The cost depends on the activity, the classification grade and your visa quota, so we price your exact setup rather than publish a figure that would not fit your case. Get your exact quote.
| Structure | Ownership | Where it can trade | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland | 100% foreign for most activities | Anywhere in the UAE, and bids for government work | Contracting and maintenance firms that bid for local and government projects |
| Free zone | 100% foreign | Within the zone and internationally | Services, consultancy and trading that does not need to sell across the UAE market |
| Offshore | 100% foreign | Holding and international business only, no UAE trade | Holding assets and international structuring, not local operations |
We have handled UAE company formation since 2007, across more than 1,400 companies. We coordinate the authorities a contracting licence actually touches, so you are not chasing DET, the Municipality and Civil Defence separately. We set up the licence, the classification, the establishment card and the visas, and introduce you to a banking officer for the corporate account.
You apply to the Department of Economy and Tourism for a contracting activity, then obtain a Dubai Municipality classification and a Civil Defence approval. OMC files the licence and coordinates both approvals so the process runs in one place.
Yes. Most mainland contracting activities now allow 100% foreign ownership, so you do not need a local partner to hold shares. We confirm the ownership rule for your specific activity before you file.
Yes. A mainland contracting licence requires a real tenancy, not a flexi-desk, because the activity is inspected and classified. We help you meet the office requirement for the grade you are targeting.
Dubai Municipality grades contracting companies, and the grade caps the value of projects you can take on. A higher grade needs more capital, staff and track record. We advise on the grade that fits your plan.
The trade licence itself is quick once documents are in, but the Municipality classification and Civil Defence approvals add time. We give you a realistic timeline for your activity and grade at the quote stage.
We have handled UAE company formation since 2007, across more than 1,400 companies. Tell us what you are planning and we will map your exact licence, approvals and costs.