Activities

Business activities and licence types

The activity decides the licence type, and the licence type narrows the free zone. Start here to match the right licence and free zone to your business.

See the full classification

• ConsultingThe most common activity among first-time UAE founders.
• E-commerceCovers online retail, marketplace selling and dropshipping.
• General tradingA general trading licence permits buying and selling a wide range of goods under a single licence, rather than being restricted to named product categories.
• Digital marketingAdvertising, social media management, SEO, content production and media buying.
• IT servicesSoftware development, IT consulting, systems integration and managed services.
• Digital assets and cryptoThis is the activity where bad advice is most common and most expensive.
• Import and exportDubai's position as a re-export hub between Asia, Africa and Europe is the actual commercial reason most trading companies incorporate here — tax is secondary.
• Holding companyA holding company owns shares, intellectual property or real estate rather than trading.
• Real estateProperty brokerage in Dubai is regulated by RERA and requires a mainland licence plus individual broker certification — a free zone licence does not permit brokering Dubai property.
• Coaching and trainingOnline coaching, courses and info-products sit under a service or media licence and are among the simplest activities to license.
• Software developmentCustom software, mobile applications and SaaS products.
• Media productionFilm, video, photography and content production.
• Logistics and freightFreight forwarding, warehousing, courier and supply chain services.
• ManufacturingIndustrial licences require physical premises, environmental clearance and usually municipal approvals.
• Commodities tradingPrecious metals, agricultural products and energy trading.
• Family officeSingle-family and multi-family office structures.
• FintechPayments, lending, insurtech and financial software.
• HealthcareClinics, telemedicine and health services.
• EducationTraining institutes, e-learning and academic institutions.
• PublishingBook, magazine and digital publishing.
• Maritime servicesShip management, chartering, marine surveying and yacht services.
• EnergyOil and gas services, renewables and energy trading.
• Clean technologyRenewable energy, sustainability consulting and environmental technology.
• AutomotiveVehicle trading, spare parts and automotive services.
• Design and creativeGraphic design, interior design, architecture and fashion.
• Gaming and esportsGame development, publishing and esports.
• Events and exhibitionsEvent management, exhibition organisation and conference production.
• ElectronicsConsumer electronics and component trading.
• PharmaceuticalsPharmaceutical distribution and medical supplies.
• Fund managementAsset management, fund administration and investment advisory.