Before comparing UAE licences, write down what your company will sell, who will pay it and where the work will happen. Ask the relevant licensing authority or adviser to match that description to the exact activity name and code. A package label such as “consultancy” is a starting point; the activity wording and any conditions are what you need to confirm.
Write a brief someone else can check
- What will you invoice for? Name the deliverables and separate services from goods. If you sell both, describe each revenue stream.
- Who buys it? Identify typical customers, their locations and whether you sell directly or through an intermediary.
- Where does the work happen? Separate your registered address, the location of your staff and any customer premises you visit.
- How do goods move? If relevant, identify who imports, stores and delivers them.
- What changes next? List likely additions within the next year, such as a new product line or working on site.
Example: a design studio that also resells equipment
A founder plans to invoice for design projects and occasionally resell equipment. A quote covering design alone may leave the resale plan unanswered. Put both activities in the brief and ask whether the proposed licence covers them together, whether another approval applies and what happens if resale starts later. The example illustrates the questions to ask; it does not identify a licence that will fit every studio.
Keep a written decision record
For each proposal, record the authority, exact activity wording and code, any external approval, where work may be performed and who will confirm unresolved points. Add the date and keep the response alongside the quote. If two providers suggest different activity codes, ask each to explain what its recommendation covers before comparing the prices.
What if I expect mainland customers?
Describe how the service or goods will reach them. Customer location and operating location are different facts. If you are considering a free zone company that will operate in Dubai mainland, use our guide to mainland operating routes to frame the questions to verify for your case.
Use the Virtue AI Navigator to shortlist routes, then use the quote comparison worksheet to compare written scopes. Confirm activity eligibility and conditions before committing.
Already licensed and planning to offer something new? Read our guide to adding a business activity to a UAE company licence before committing to the work.
