Business activities
Choosing the Right Business Activity for Your Licence
Your activity determines your licence type, the approvals you need, your visa eligibility and sometimes your choice of jurisdiction. Selecting it accurately at the start avoids costly amendments later.
Bizzone UAE
Business Setup Consultants in Dubai, UAE
How activities work
Each licensing authority publishes a catalogue of approved activities grouped under commercial, professional, industrial and tourism licences. Some activities require external approvals from a regulator before the licence is issued.
- Activity determines licence category
- Some activities need external regulator approval
- Activity groups can often be combined
- Free zones publish their own activity lists
- Changing activity later requires an amendment
- Activity affects bank account acceptance
Activity categories
Trading
General trading, specialised trading, import, export and distribution.
Professional services
Consultancy, management advisory, engineering and technical services.
IT & technology
Software development, IT services, SaaS and technical support.
E-commerce
Online retail, marketplaces and digital-first trading models.
Marketing & media
Advertising, digital marketing, production and event services.
Real estate
Brokerage, property management and development services.
Manufacturing & industrial
Light manufacturing, assembly, packaging and processing.
Logistics & transport
Freight forwarding, courier, warehousing and supply chain.
Education & healthcare
Training, tuition, clinics and allied services with regulator approval.
How the process works
Consultation
We review your activity, ownership, visa needs and budget, then recommend the structures that genuinely fit.
Documentation
We prepare and check the application pack so the file is submitted right the first time.
Approval & licensing
We handle authority submissions, name reservation, initial approvals and the licence issuance process.
Post-setup support
Establishment card, visas, Emirates ID, bank account introductions, tax registration and ongoing compliance.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can't find your answer? A consultant can walk you through the detail in a short call.
Usually yes, provided the activities sit within the same licence category and the authority permits the combination. Some pairings require separate licences.
Certain activities — healthcare, education, financial services and some technical trades — require approval from the relevant regulator before licensing. We manage those submissions as part of the process.
Timelines vary by authority, activity and how quickly documents and approvals are returned. Your consultant gives you an indicative schedule at the start and keeps you updated at each stage.
Cost depends on the authority, licence type, number of visas and office option you choose. We prepare a written, itemised quotation for your specific case rather than publishing a headline figure that may not apply to you.
Free consultation
Speak with a Bizzone UAE consultant
Tell us what you plan to do in the UAE and we will map out the licence, visa and compliance path that fits.
- +971 50 121 6915
- info@bizzoneuae.com
- Office No. 105, Alkhayyal Building, Near Karama Medical Fitness Center, Al Karama, Dubai, UAE
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