Mainland Business Activities in Dubai
Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism (DET, formerly DED) regulates over 3,000 approved business activities. Selecting the right one is the foundation of your company license. We will explains how activities work, what approvals you may need, and how to choose the most suitable option for your business.
What Are Mainland Activities in Dubai?
“Mainland activities” are the services, trades, or industries your company is legally permitted to operate under a Dubai mainland trade license. Each activity is classified by DET with a code and assigned to a license type—Commercial, Professional, or Industrial.
Choosing the wrong activity can delay approvals, cause problems with banks, or even limit your ability to expand later. Getting it right from the start ensures your license, banking, and compliance stay aligned.
Main License Categories for Activities
Dubai mainland business activities fall into four broad categories:
Commercial
Covers trading, retail, wholesale, distribution, and brokerage. Popular for general trading, e-commerce, and product-specific businesses.
Professional
Designed for service-based businesses such as consultancy, IT, education, design, or marketing. These activities often allow 100% foreign ownership.
Industrial
Applies to businesses engaged in manufacturing, assembly, packaging, or production. These licenses may require additional warehouse or safety approvals.
Tourism and Regulated Sectors
Includes tourism, healthcare, finance, and education. These often require clearance from external regulators before DET issues the license.
How to Select the Right Activity
When choosing a mainland activity, precision matters. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Define your business model clearly – what you will sell or provide, and to whom.
- Match with DET terminology – select the exact activity title and code rather than a “close enough” option.
- Check for external approvals – for example, DHA for healthcare, KHDA for education, Municipality for food-related activities.
- Think about banking and contracts – banks verify your activity against invoices, contracts, and financial flows.
- Plan for future growth – select activities that allow expansion without re-registering from scratch.
100% Foreign Ownership vs Sponsor Requirements
Many business activities in Dubai mainland now allow 100% foreign ownership. However, certain regulated or strategic sectors still require either a local service agent (LSA) or a corporate nominee sponsor.
At Gulf Corporate Services, we check your chosen activity against the current DET list of restricted sectors. This ensures you know exactly whether you need a sponsor and what structure is safest for your business.
External Approvals: What You Should Know
Not all activities can be licensed with DET approval alone. Depending on the sector, you may also need clearances such as:
- DHA (Dubai Health Authority): for medical or healthcare activities.
- KHDA (Knowledge & Human Development Authority): for education or training.
- Dubai Municipality: for food trading, restaurants, or consumer goods.
- Central Bank or other regulators: for finance or insurance.
Factoring these into your timeline avoids delays and makes your application stronger.
Adding or Changing Activities Later
It’s common for businesses to expand their services over time. DET allows you to add or amend activities on your existing license. This typically involves an application, updated Memorandum of Association (MoA) if needed, and additional fees.
Our consultants handle the paperwork and ensure your contracts, approvals, and banking stay aligned after the update.
Documents Required for Mainland Activities
To apply for a mainland license with your chosen activity, you’ll usually need:
- Passport copies of shareholders and directors
- Visa or entry permit copies (if applicable)
- Passport-size photos
- Proposed trade names (two to three options)
- Ejari tenancy contract for your office space
- External approvals (if your activity requires them)
- UBO chart and business model summary (helpful for bank account opening)
Costs & Timeline for Mainland Activities
Costs vary depending on your chosen activity and license type. Government fees, office rent, and legal documentation make up the bulk of expenses. Regulated sectors may add extra approval costs.
- Licensing: AED 18,000 – AED 25,000 (approximate starting range)
- Office space/Ejari: depends on size and location
- External approvals: variable by regulator
Timeline: Most straightforward activities are licensed in 1–3 weeks, provided all documents are correct.
Popular Mainland Activities
Dubai offers more than 3,000 officially listed mainland activities under the Department of Economy & Tourism (DET). While the full list is extensive, a few activities consistently attract entrepreneurs and investors because of their market demand, profitability, and ease of setup.
Commercial Activities
Trading remains one of the most common business models in Dubai. Popular commercial activities include:
- General Trading – allows import, export, and distribution of a wide variety of products.
- Foodstuff Trading – covering packaged foods, beverages, and FMCG items.
- Auto Parts & Accessories Trading – driven by Dubai’s role as a re-export hub.
- Real Estate Brokerage – strong in Dubai’s thriving property sector.
Professional Activities
Professional licenses are ideal for service-based businesses that depend on knowledge and expertise. Common examples include:
- Management Consultancy – providing strategic, operational, or HR advisory services.
- IT & Software Services – covering software development, IT solutions, and tech support.
- Digital Marketing & Media – in demand across e-commerce, hospitality, and retail.
- Education & Training Services – popular with institutions offering vocational or professional development courses.
Industrial Activities
Industrial licenses are gaining traction as Dubai encourages manufacturing and logistics. Popular choices include:
- Food & Beverage Manufacturing – catering to both local and export markets.
- Light Manufacturing – assembling or packaging consumer goods.
- Cosmetics & Personal Care Production – supported by growing regional demand.
- Logistics & Warehousing – linked to Dubai’s role as a global trade hub.
These examples reflect just a fraction of the DET list, but they highlight the activities most frequently chosen by new investors. Selecting the right one depends on your business model, target market, and future expansion goals.