Business licences
Professional licence in Dubai for consultants and skilled trades
A professional licence is for individuals and firms that earn from their own knowledge or skill, such as consultants, designers, trainers, accountants and technicians. On the Dubai mainland it is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism, usually to a sole establishment or a civil company. Caliph arranges the legal form, any local service agent agreement and the application.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Issued by
- Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on the Dubai mainland
- Suits
- Consultants, specialists, service professionals and skilled trades
- Usual legal forms
- Sole establishment for one owner, civil company for two or more partners
- Ownership
- The professionals own the practice in full
- Local service agent
- Appointed by notarised agreement where owners are not UAE or GCC nationals. Holds no shares
- Liability
- Owners and partners answer personally for the obligations of the practice
Overview
A professional licence is built around a person's ability, not around stock or equipment. It is the licence for management and marketing consultants, IT specialists, designers, translators, trainers and accountants, and for service trades such as repair and maintenance work. If clients pay you for what you know or what your hands can do, this is usually where your activity sits.
The legal forms differ from those of a trading company. One professional normally sets up a sole establishment. Two or more form a civil company, which is a partnership of practitioners. The owners hold the whole practice. Under the federal government's guidance, when the owners are not UAE or GCC nationals, a local service agent is appointed by a notarised agreement. The agent is a UAE national who helps with government formalities, owns no part of the business and has no say in how it is run.
Some professions have a gatekeeper. Health, education and training, legal, engineering and audit work are examples where a regulator checks qualifications or gives its own approval before the licence is issued. These rules differ by activity, and practice on service agents has been changing, so your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you before anything is signed.
Why professionals choose this licence
You keep full ownership
The practice belongs to you and your partners. A local service agent, where one is needed, has no shares and takes no part in profits or decisions.
Made for a one-person practice
A sole establishment lets one qualified person start under their own licence without partners or a board.
Partners can practise together
A civil company lets two or more professionals share one licence, one office and one name while each brings their own expertise.
Clients in every emirate
A mainland professional licence lets you serve private clients, companies and government bodies anywhere in the UAE.
Residence visas for you and your team
Once the establishment card is open, the practice can sponsor the owner's visa and employee visas within its allocation.
What to have ready for a professional licence
- Passport copy of each owner or partner
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copies, if you already live here
- Degree or professional certificates, for activities that ask for proof of qualification
- A short CV showing your experience in the field
- Two or three trade name options
- A no objection letter from your current sponsor, if the authority asks for one
- Passport and Emirates ID copy of the local service agent, where one is appointed
- The tenancy contract for the office, registered in Ejari
Foreign degrees may need attestation before they are accepted. Caliph arranges this when your activity calls for it.
How a professional licence is issued
Activity and conditions confirmed
Your consultant finds the matching professional activity and checks whether it asks for qualifications or a regulator's approval.
Legal form chosen
A sole establishment if you practise alone, a civil company if you have partners.
Trade name and initial approval
The name is reserved and DET issues the initial approval.
Agreements signed
Where they apply, the local service agent agreement and the civil company contract are prepared and signed before the notary.
Office and Ejari
The tenancy for your office or business centre desk is signed and registered.
Licence issued
Any regulator's approval is attached, the fees are paid and the professional licence is issued.
Good to know
- A professional licence does not allow you to trade in goods. If you plan to sell products as well as services, ask your consultant whether both can be licensed together.
- Because owners are personally responsible for the obligations of the practice, professional indemnity cover is worth discussing with an insurer early.
- Free zones issue their own licences to consultants and freelancers, with limits on working directly in the mainland market.
Questions people ask
Who needs a professional licence in Dubai?
Anyone whose business is their own expertise or skill: consultants, IT and marketing specialists, designers, trainers, translators, accountants, and service trades such as repair and maintenance. If the business mainly sells goods, a commercial licence applies instead. Your consultant matches your work to the official activity list.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a professional licence?
Yes. The professional owns the practice in full, alone through a sole establishment or with partners through a civil company. Under the federal guidance, owners who are not UAE or GCC nationals appoint a local service agent by notarised agreement. The agent holds no shares in the practice.
What does a local service agent do?
A local service agent is a UAE national named in a notarised agreement with the practice. The role is limited to helping with licensing and government formalities. The agent does not own any part of the business, has no voice in its management and receives only what the agreement sets out.
What is the difference between a sole establishment and a civil company?
A sole establishment has one owner who holds the licence personally. A civil company is a partnership of two or more professionals who practise under one licence and share responsibility according to their agreement. In both forms the owners are personally liable, unlike the shareholders of a limited liability company.
Do I need a degree for a professional licence?
For many consultancy and specialist activities the authority asks for proof of qualification or experience, and regulated fields such as health, education, engineering and audit have their own approval. Other service activities need no certificate. The requirement is set per activity, so your consultant checks it first.
Can I get residence visas on a professional licence?
Yes. After the licence is issued the practice opens an establishment card and can sponsor the owner's residence visa and visas for employees. The number available depends on the office and the allocation given by the authorities, which your consultant explains for your case.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
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