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Emirae.Pro UAE Business Services Platform
UAE business activity directory

Business Activities in the UAE

Search activity names, compare them with the authority's own activity list, review authority-specific codes and licence fit, and understand which setup, approval or amendment route may apply.

Try: Browse categories
Activity names, codes and availability may vary by authority and jurisdiction. Verify current requirements with the relevant official source.
Activity explorer

Search UAE business activities

Find activity records by name, code, category, licence fit, jurisdiction or approval requirement. Results and filters run in your browser and do not create shareable search pages.

Emirae's activity catalogue is being expanded from authority-attributed sources. Current results are an illustrative record set and may not represent every activity or jurisdiction. Codes and official names are shown as pending until a verified source is attached.

No matching activity records

No matching activity records were found in the currently available dataset. Try a broader term, review official activity resources or request help identifying the correct activity.

Official activity resources Request help
Browse by category

Browse activities by business category

Start from the kind of business you run. Selecting a category filters the explorer above — it does not open a separate page.

Category labels are provided for navigation. Each emirate's Department of Economic Development (DED) and each free zone publishes its own activity list, and those may use different classifications, names and codes.
What a record means

Understand what an activity record actually means

Each activity record separates a friendly Emirae label from the official name, code and authority behind it. Hover a field to see what it represents.

A business activity code is not necessarily universal across the UAE. Always read the code together with its authority and jurisdiction.
Activity & licence

A business activity helps determine the relevant licence route

The activity you choose feeds the authority's classification, which in turn shapes the licence route and its dependencies. The relationship is not identical across authorities.

Activity scope
What the business will actually sell or do, described precisely enough to match a real activity record.
Authority classification
The authority maps the activity into its own framework — the same concept may be classified differently elsewhere.
Licence route
The classification points to a licence route or class. Labels and grouping vary between authorities.
Legal & operational dependencies
Professional qualifications, premises, approvals and legal form may all attach to the route.
Providers

Find providers familiar with your selected activity

Once you have identified the right activity record, Emirae can connect you with verified providers whose stated capabilities match — never with invented expertise, counts or approvals.

Provider matches appear here only from real, verified provider records. No provider profiles are shown for the illustrative activity set below.

Provider coverage is still being expanded

Provider coverage for this activity is still being expanded. Review the activity record and official sources, or continue to the central request flow so Emirae can route the request when suitable provider coverage is available.

Browse consultants Continue to request flow

Provider capability is evidence-gated: activity familiarity, jurisdictions served and services offered are shown only from a provider's verified profile. Emirae does not display prices, ratings, success rates, approvals obtained or authority relationships that a provider has not evidenced.

Jurisdiction fit

Activity availability depends on jurisdiction and authority

The same business concept can carry a different name, code, scope and requirement depending on where it is licensed. Verify each jurisdiction on its own.

Lane 1Mainland
Mainland records belong to the relevant emirate licensing authority. Names, codes and requirements may vary by emirate. Legal form, premises and approvals may affect the route.
Explore Company Formation
Lane 2Free zones
Each free zone maintains its own permitted activities and packages. A free-zone list must not be treated as a universal UAE list. Navigate to the relevant Free Zone page or official source.
Compare Free Zones
Lane 3Regulated / specialist
Some activities depend on an external regulator or professional body. The record must identify the source and current verification status. Specialist legal or compliance review may be required.
View official activity resources

Emirae does not claim an activity is available in all jurisdictions and does not auto-recommend a free zone without structured, current evidence.

Activity pricing

UAE business activity setup pricing snapshot

Review indicative consultant offer ranges for activity selection, licence setup and related business-setup support. Choose a category to compare typical scopes and AED price ranges before submitting one request.

Independently researched UAE market ranges · provider identities protected
Identity withheldIdentity protected
Management Consultancy Licence SetupActivity verification, licence application & formation supportView activity pricing
Professional licenceMainlandFree ZoneActivity verification
Provider feeGov. fees excluded
AED 6,500–18,000researched range
Identity withheldIdentity protected
Business Consultancy Activity & Licence SupportActivity selection and licence application
Professional licenceLicence supportMainland
Provider feeGov. fees excluded
AED 6,000–16,000researched range
Identity withheldIdentity protected
Project Management Consultancy SetupActivity verification and formation
Professional licenceFormationUAE wide
Provider feeGov. fees excluded
AED 7,000–19,000researched range
Identity withheldIdentity protected
HR Consultancy Activity SetupActivity & licence support
Professional licenceActivity verification
Provider feeGov. fees excluded
AED 6,500–17,000researched range
Identity withheldIdentity protected
Marketing Consultancy SetupActivity selection and licence support
Professional licenceLicence support
Provider feeGov. fees excluded
AED 6,000–16,500researched range

Ranges are independently researched UAE market ranges for provider professional fees (prototype pricing fixture, reviewed Jul 2026) — not binding quotations and not live marketplace data. Government, authority, office, visa, approval and other third-party costs are excluded unless a row states otherwise. Final fees vary by authority, activity scope, legal form, visas, premises and external approvals.

Get activity-specific offers from relevant consultants Submit one request and receive structured quotes for your planned activity, jurisdiction and company-setup scope.
Submit Your Request View Open Requests
Approvals & regulation

Some activities require additional approval or specialist review

Approval states are shown only when a record carries evidence for them. A missing state is not the same as "no approval required".

No external approval identified External approval indicated Regulated activity Qualification may be required Premises / facility requirement Status unknown / pending
No approval identified
No external approval identified

No additional approval has been identified in the current record. This is not confirmation that none is required — it must still be verified for the exact activity and jurisdiction.

Source & date shown on the record
Approval indicated
External approval indicated

The record indicates a likely external approval from another authority. The responsible body and current status are shown where known.

Responsible authority named when known
Regulated
Regulated activity

The activity may be regulated by a sector authority or professional body, with its own eligibility, registration and conduct requirements.

Verify with the relevant regulator
Qualification
Professional qualification may be required

The activity may depend on a professional qualification or accreditation for the licence holder or a named individual.

Evidence requirements vary
Premises
Premises or facility requirement indicated

The activity may require approved premises or a specific facility, which can affect where and how it can be licensed.

Depends on authority & location
Unknown / pending
Status unknown or verification pending

The approval position has not yet been confirmed for this record. Emirae distinguishes "unknown" from "not required" and does not infer requirements from category alone.

Confirm before relying on it
Approval and eligibility requirements can change and may depend on the exact activity, authority, legal form, premises and applicant profile. This is not legal advice, and no approval is guaranteed.
Business Licensing & Compliance Legal Services Official Resources
Multiple activities

Adding or combining activities is a separate licensing decision

Identifying the right records is the first step. Whether activities can sit together — on a new or existing licence — is a licensing and amendment question.

New company or licence

Planning a new setup

Confirm the activities up front so the licence route and legal form support them from the start.

  • Which activities describe the intended business?
  • Are they compatible under one licensing route?
  • Does the legal form support them?
  • Does the authority permit the combination?
Setup Consultation Company Formation Business Licensing
Existing company

Changing an existing licence

Activities on a live licence are changed through a formal amendment, not by editing the directory.

  • Add an activity
  • Remove or change an activity
  • Amend the trade licence
  • Update related company records
Company Amendment Services
The activity directory helps identify records. Adding, changing or combining activities on an existing licence belongs to the company-amendment and licensing process.
Official resources

Verify activity information with the relevant official source

These are the official routes for confirming activity names, codes, availability and approvals. Emirae links to them but is not the authority.

Emirae organises activity information for discovery and comparison. The relevant authority remains the source of truth for current names, codes, availability and approvals.
UAE Government business & licensing resourcesNational · via Official Resources hub

Helps you find the correct official portal for business and licensing information across the UAE, and how to use it.

Official ResourcesReviewed Jul 2026
National Economic Register (licence & activity verification)National (NER)

Where to verify a licence and its listed activities against the national register. Learn what it does and does not confirm.

VerificationReviewed Jul 2026
Dubai DET / Invest in Dubai activity searchDubai

The official Dubai route to look up permitted activities, names and codes for the Dubai Economy & Tourism framework.

DubaiReviewed Jul 2026
Abu Dhabi ADDED / TAMM licensing resourcesAbu Dhabi

The official Abu Dhabi route for licensing and activity information under ADDED, accessed through the TAMM platform.

Abu DhabiReviewed Jul 2026
Emirate licensing authoritiesBy emirate

Reach the official licensing authority for each emirate, where mainland activity names and requirements are maintained.

By emirateReviewed Jul 2026
Official free-zone activity cataloguesBy free zone

Each free zone publishes its own permitted-activity catalogue. Compare zones, then confirm on the zone's official source.

Free zonesReviewed Jul 2026
Selection guidance

Choose the activity that matches what the business will actually do

Work through six dimensions of the real operation. This is guidance to prepare a good decision — not a score or a guaranteed answer.

1

Product or service sold

The core thing customers pay for. A precise description narrows the record far better than a broad label.

Affects the activity scope
2

Customer type

Business, consumer, government or mixed. This can change classification and, sometimes, approvals.

Affects classification
3

Delivery model

Online, in-person, cross-border or hybrid. Delivery can influence which activity and jurisdiction fit.

Affects jurisdiction fit
4

Revenue-generating operations

Every way the business actually earns. Unrelated revenue streams may need more than one activity.

Affects activity combination
5

Premises or facility needs

Office, warehouse, clinic, kitchen or none. Premises can be a condition of the activity itself.

Affects the premises field
6

Regulated or professional dependencies

Any qualification, accreditation or regulator involved. When present, professional review is sensible.

Affects the approval fields
Review activity records No score, guaranteed recommendation or automated legal conclusion is produced here.
Avoid the traps

Common mistakes when choosing a UAE business activity

Most activity problems trace back to a handful of branching points on the same path. Each has a clear corrective action and route.

Where it goes wrong
Business concept
Wrong label chosen
Authority ignored
Approval missed
Verified decision

Choosing a broad label that does not match real operations

RiskA generic activity may exclude what the business actually does, or attract requirements it does not need.
FixDescribe the precise product or service, then match the closest real record.
RouteSetup Consultation

Copying a competitor’s activity without verifying the authority

RiskTheir record may belong to a different authority, jurisdiction or licence route than yours.
FixConfirm the activity against the authority that will license your company.
RouteOfficial activity resources

Treating a Dubai code as universal across the UAE

RiskCodes and names differ by emirate and authority; a Dubai code may not exist elsewhere.
FixRead every code together with its authority and jurisdiction.
RouteOfficial activity resources

Assuming a free-zone activity is available on the mainland

RiskFree zones maintain their own permitted-activity lists that are not UAE-wide.
FixVerify availability separately for each jurisdiction.
RouteCompare Free Zones

Ignoring external approvals

RiskA regulated activity can stall at licensing if an external approval was never planned for.
FixCheck the approval state on the record and confirm with the regulator.
RouteLegal Services

Confusing licence type with activity name

RiskThe licence groups the activity; it is not the activity itself.
FixSeparate what the business does from how the authority classifies it.
RouteBusiness Licensing

Combining incompatible activities without review

RiskSome activities cannot sit on one licence, or change the required legal form.
FixCheck compatibility before committing to a structure.
RouteSetup Consultation

Using one activity for unrelated revenue streams

RiskA single activity rarely permits genuinely different lines of business.
FixIdentify each revenue stream and the record it needs.
RouteCompany Formation

Assuming an activity permits all marketing claims or services

RiskPermitted scope is defined by the authority, not by the everyday label.
FixRead the permitted-scope summary and verify before advertising.
RouteBusiness Licensing

Relying on an outdated PDF or cached list

RiskNames, codes and requirements change; an old source may no longer be valid.
FixRe-check the current official source and its date.
RouteOfficial activity resources

Selecting an activity only because it appears cheaper

RiskA cheaper-looking activity may not match operations or may need extra approvals later.
FixChoose for fit first; cost belongs to the licensing decision.
RouteBusiness Licensing

Creating a company before confirming the operational scope

RiskAmending activities after formation is a separate, formal process.
FixConfirm the intended scope before you form, or plan an amendment.
RouteCompany Amendments
Keep researching

Continue your activity research

Deeper explainers, side-by-side comparisons and interactive tools. Links open published resources only.

GuideHow to choose the right business activity in the UAEA practical walk-through of matching real operations to an activity record.Read guide GuideUnderstanding UAE business activity codesWhat codes are, why they differ by authority, and how to read them safely.Read guide GuideMultiple business activities on one licenceWhen activities can be combined, and when an amendment is needed.Read guide GuideActivities requiring external approvalHow regulated and specialist activities depend on other authorities.Read guide GuideCommercial vs professional vs industrial activitiesHow high-level licence groupings relate to what a business does.Read guide GuideCommon activity-selection mistakes to avoidThe branching points where activity choices most often go wrong.Read guide
Data model

Activity data must remain source-attributed and current

Every authority-specific record is intended to carry its own source and freshness metadata. Here is what each record tracks and where coverage currently stands.

What each record tracks

Authority or source, jurisdiction, record type, collection date, last-verified date, confidence or status, and any known limitations.

Why it matters

A code only makes sense next to its authority and date. Source attribution lets you judge how current and reliable a record is.

When a source changes

If a source changes or disappears, verification is downgraded and the record is flagged for review — official status is never silently retained.

Official record linked Independently reviewed record Partial record Verification pending No current structured record
Catalogue coverage is being expanded. A missing record does not mean an activity is unavailable, and a listed record does not guarantee eligibility or approval. Emirae does not claim complete UAE coverage, real-time government synchronisation, official API access or guaranteed freshness.
Report a correction Official Resources
FAQ

UAE business activity questions

Straight answers on codes, availability, licences and what Emirae can and cannot confirm.

Still unsure which activity applies?

Carry your selected activity and setup context into one central request and let a verified specialist help confirm it.

Request activity guidance
What is a business activity in the UAE?
A business activity describes the commercial, professional, industrial or other operation a company intends to conduct. The relevant authority uses the activity when determining the licensing route and related requirements.
Is one business activity code valid across the entire UAE?
Not necessarily. Names and codes may vary by emirate, free zone, authority and dataset. Always read a code together with its source and jurisdiction.
How do I search for a UAE business activity?
Search by business concept, activity name, product, service or code. Then review the authority, licence fit, jurisdiction and current source before making a setup decision.
Are Dubai business activities different from other emirates?
Authorities may use different names, codes, classifications and requirements. The same business concept may therefore have different records across jurisdictions.
Can one company have several business activities?
Sometimes, but compatibility depends on the authority, licence route, legal form and exact activity combination. Existing companies may also require a formal licence amendment. See Company Amendment Services.
Does selecting an activity guarantee a trade licence?
No. The authority may consider the legal form, applicant, premises, approvals, documents and other requirements.
What is the difference between an activity and a licence type?
The activity describes what the business does. The licence type or licensing route groups the activity under the authority's framework.
Can the same activity be available on the mainland and in a free zone?
Possibly, but availability, names, codes and permitted scope may differ. Verify each jurisdiction separately.
Which activities need external approval?
Some regulated, professional, health, education, financial, transport, food or specialist activities may require another authority's approval. The exact requirement must be verified for the selected record and jurisdiction.
Can Emirae confirm the correct activity for my company?
Emirae provides discovery, comparison and request routing. A qualified provider or the relevant authority should confirm the final activity and licensing route.
How do I add an activity to an existing licence?
That is normally a company-amendment and licensing process. Use the Company Amendment Services route to compare suitable providers.
Does the directory contain every UAE business activity?
No. Catalogue coverage is expanded from authority-attributed sources. Use the relevant official resource when a record is missing or requires confirmation.
Need help confirming the activity?

Continue with the selected activity and the right UAE specialist

Carry the selected activity, authority and setup context into one central request. You can review and change the activity before you submit.

Request activity and licence guidance Explore Company Formation
Business Licensing Company Amendments Compare Free Zones Official activity resources