01
Trading and Retail
Import, export, wholesale, retail and general trading across foodstuffs, electronics, textiles, building materials, automotive parts and consumer goods.
No specialist approval listed
Activities
Mainland Business Activities
The mainland activity list is the most comprehensive in the country, covering more than two thousand approved activities across every sector.
- Nine popular activity groups
- Regulator approvals mapped
- Multiple activities per licence
Activities
Mainland Business Activities in the UAE
If an activity cannot be licensed in a free zone, the mainland is usually where it belongs.
Activities are grouped by sector, and each carries its own licence category, approval requirements and, occasionally, minimum capital or premises conditions.
2,000+
Approved activities
09
Popular sector groups
Up to 10
Activities per licence
By Sector
Popular Mainland Activity Groups
Each card shows the sector, what it covers, and whether a specialist regulator has to approve you before the licence issues.
02
Construction and Contracting
Building contracting, electromechanical works, fit-out, maintenance and specialised technical contracting. Most require municipality and civil defence approvals.
Approval required
Regulator
- Municipality
- Civil Defence
03
Professional Consultancy
Management, engineering, IT, marketing, HR and financial consultancy delivered under a professional licence.
No specialist approval listed
04
Real Estate Services
Brokerage, property management, valuation and owners association management, all requiring RERA registration in Dubai.
Approval required
Regulator
- RERA (Dubai)
05
Food and Beverage
Restaurants, cafeterias, catering, cloud kitchens and food trading. All require municipality food safety approval and inspection.
Approval required
Regulator
- Municipality food safety
06
Healthcare and Wellness
Clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, fitness centres and beauty salons, subject to health authority licensing of both the facility and its practitioners.
Approval required
Regulator
- Health authority
07
Logistics and Transport
Freight forwarding, shipping agency, courier services, land transport and warehousing, with RTA and customs approvals where relevant.
Approval required
Regulator
- RTA
- Customs
08
Education and Training
Training institutes, nurseries, tutoring centres and vocational education, requiring approval from the education authority in the emirate.
Approval required
Regulator
- Education authority
09
Manufacturing
Light and heavy industry, assembly, food processing and packaging, requiring industrial-zoned premises and environmental clearance.
Approval required
Regulator
- Industrial zoning
- Environmental clearance
External Approvals
Regulators We Deal With
Where your activity needs third-party clearance, we prepare and file it alongside the licence.
- Municipality
- Civil Defence
- RERA
- Health authority
- RTA
- Customs
- Education authority
- Environmental clearance
Which bodies apply depends entirely on your activity and emirate. We confirm the full list, and the lead time each one adds, before you commit.
Common Questions
Activity Selection Questions
01
How many activities can a mainland licence hold?
Mainland licences can carry multiple activities, typically up to ten on a single registration, provided they fall within compatible groups. Mixing incompatible categories such as professional and commercial usually requires separate licences.
02
What are external approvals and when do they apply?
Certain activities require clearance from a specialist regulator before the licence issues. Examples include the health authority for clinics, RERA for real estate, the RTA for transport, civil defence for contracting and the municipality for food handling.
03
Can I start trading before approvals come through?
No. Operating before your licence and any required external approvals are issued exposes you to fines and possible closure. We give you a realistic timeline that includes approval lead times.
04
Does my activity affect my visa quota?
Indirectly. The quota is driven primarily by office space, but certain activities carry different ratios and some labour-intensive activities are assessed separately by the authority.
05
Can I add an activity later?
Yes, via a licence amendment. If the new activity falls in a different category or needs external approval, additional steps and fees apply.
Next Step
Find Your Activity Code
Tell us what your business does and we will identify the exact activity, licence category and approvals you need.