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Professional License in Dubai

For consultants, freelancers, agencies and service providers: 100% ownership of your practice with the lowest-cost mainland entry point.

Who Needs a Professional Licence

The professional licence covers activities based on skill and intellect rather than trading goods: management and IT consultancy, marketing, design, engineering services, training, technical services and dozens more. It has always allowed 100% foreign ownership, historically requiring only a local service agent for administrative liaison, a role now removed for most activities.

It is typically the cheapest mainland route and can be structured as a sole establishment or a civil company for partners. Pro24 confirms your exact activity code, handles approvals and gets you licensed within days.

Professional Licence at a Glance
Best forServices & consultancy
Foreign ownership100%
Legal formsSole est. / Civil co.
Local agentNot required (most)
Timeline3 to 7 working days
OfficeVirtual office accepted

Why Choose a Professional Licence

Lean, fully owned and mainland-wide.

Full Ownership Always

Service activities carry 100% foreign ownership regardless of nationality.

Lowest Mainland Cost

No trading approvals or high capital declarations keeps setup and renewal lean.

Serve UAE Clients Directly

Invoice mainland companies and government bodies without a free zone workaround.

Freelancer Friendly

Sole establishment form suits independent professionals building a personal brand.

Partner Structures

Civil company form lets two or more professionals share one practice.

Upgrade Path

Convert to an LLC later if you add trading activities or take investment.

Getting Licensed

01

Activity Match

We map your service to the correct DET professional activity code, including qualification checks.

02

Name & Approval

Trade name reserved and initial approval issued, usually within 2 days.

03

Office & Licence

Virtual office or Ejari registered and your professional licence issued.

04

Visa & Bank

Owner visa processed and your banking file prepared for account opening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some activities (engineering, legal, medical, teaching) require attested qualifications; general consultancy and many creative or technical activities do not. We confirm requirements for your exact activity first.

Yes. Visa quota works like any mainland licence, linked to your office solution.

A freelance permit is cheaper but limits you to working in your own name, often within one zone. A professional licence gives a real company, mainland-wide invoicing and hiring power.

With a virtual office, realistic 2026 budgets start around AED 12,000 to 15,000 including the licence and one visa; we confirm exact figures in a written quote.

License Your Practice This Week

Tell us what you do; we confirm the right activity code and send a fixed quote in 24 hours.