The Department of Economic Development (DED) issues a professional license in Dubai if an individual or a company delivers services based on their intellectual or artistic talent like carpentry, artisanship, consultancy services, printing and publishing, beauty salons, repair services, etc.

What is a Professional License in Dubai?

A professional license in Dubai is an authorization granted by the Department of Economic Development (DED) to people or businesses to offer particular professional services. Entrepreneurs who set up businesses in Dubai usually are confused about whether to apply for a professional or commercial license. Companies wanting to carry out service-related activities are required to get a professional license in Dubai. It’s also crucial to remember that this trade license in Dubai is only available to people with graduate degrees, extensive experience and relevant qualifications in a certain field. To open a professional business and provide services to clients, you need to hold a professional license in Dubai.

Documents Required

To obtain a professional license in Dubai, certain documents must be submitted to the appropriate authorities, guaranteeing that all legal and regulatory requirements are fulfilled. The following is a list of professional license requirements in Dubai that the authorities typically need:

  • Filled application form
  • Passport and Emirates ID copies of the local partner (if applicable)
  • Passport copy of the emigrant business owner
  • NOC from the sponsor of the foreign business owner (if applicable)
  • Copies of the expatriate business owner’s Emirates ID, if the owner is a resident of the UAE
  • Copies of the visit visa if the owner is not a resident of the UAE
  • Additional DED-listed approvals
  • Permissions from external government bodies (if applicable)

Note: Please note that the document requirements may change.

Steps to Get a Professional License in Dubai :

Following are the steps to avail of a professional license in Dubai Mainland:

Choose your business niche:

You must identify the niche to which your firm belongs before you can enumerate every activity that is related to your enterprise. Your professional license in Dubai depends on the business activities you choose, and you risk penalties if your licensing application does not include a complete list of all of your company activities.

To obtain a professional permit, you must approach the Department of Economic Development (DED), responsible for managing all license-related matters in Dubai.

Decide on a legal structure:

You can choose from an array of legal structures in Dubai for your company setup. The most common types of legal structures are Limited Liability Company (LLC) and Sole Proprietorships.

Register your company name:

To reserve a business name, businesses in the United Arab Emirates must pay a fee to the Registry Office and then submit the required documentation to the DED for approval.

Before providing you with a reserved trade name certificate, the Registry Office will verify the availability and compliance of the names you have submitted and approve the most acceptable one. You should be aware that the government has tight regulations about this, so be sure to review and follow them fully.

Before providing you with a reserved trade name certificate, the Registry Office will verify the availability and compliance of the names you have submitted and approve the most acceptable one. You should be aware that the government has tight regulations about this, so be sure to review and follow them fully.

Make a memorandum of association:

Prepare a Memorandum of Association (MOA). A business setup service provider can assist you with this.

Initial approval application:

An initial approval indicates that your firm satisfies all requirements set forth by numerous government departments and agencies and that the DED has no complaints about it. Therefore, before submitting your application for a professional license in Dubai, it is crucial to seek initial approval from the DED.
With this, you will be ready to submit your application for a professional license in Dubai to DED. Once you finish the payment and receive your license, you can start operating your company!

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Professional License Cost In Dubai

To know more about the costs of a professional license in Dubai, get in touch with our business setup consultants.

Renewal of professional license in Dubai

Your professional license in Dubai needs to be renewed periodically, and for this, you will be required to pay the renewal fee.

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Difference between professional and commercial licenses in Dubai

Whether in Dubai Mainland or Dubai Free Zone, Businesses and firms are permitted to engage in any trading activity with a commercial license. Think of this as a broad trading license for retail and import/export business in Dubai.

A professional license in Dubai is intended for use in service-related business operations by people or organizations that provide knowledge in a particular field of competence and educational background.

The key differences between a commercial and professional license are mainly related to the types of business activities you can undertake.

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