Dubai Mainland Professional License
Get your Dubai Mainland Professional License for consulting, services, IT, marketing, and expertise-based businesses. 100% foreign ownership, no UAE partner required for most activities.
Description
A Dubai Mainland Professional License is for service-based businesses where the value lies in expertise rather than goods — management consulting, marketing, IT services, design, HR consulting, accounting, training, and similar professional activities. Issued by DET (formerly DED), it allows operating anywhere in the UAE with 100% foreign ownership for most professional activities under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021.
The professional license category is the most popular choice for consultants, agencies, and service providers because it has lower setup costs than commercial licenses, more flexibility in shareholding structures (including Civil Companies and Sole Establishments), and reduced LSA (Local Service Agent) requirements after recent reforms. Civil Companies and Sole Establishments often no longer require an LSA at all.
Octavon Global Advisory handles the complete Dubai professional license setup — DET initial approval, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, Ejari registration, license issuance, Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership (if required), Establishment Card, investor visa, medical, Emirates ID, and corporate bank account introduction. Most professional license setups complete in 7 to 14 working days.
What's Included
- DET Mainland Professional Trade License
- 100% Foreign Ownership (Most Activities)
- No LSA Required for Civil Company / Sole Establishment (Most Activities)
- Up to 10 Related Professional Activities
- Operate Across All UAE Emirates
- MOA / Civil Company Agreement Drafting
- Trade Name Reservation
- DET Initial Approval
- Ejari Tenancy Registration
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce Membership
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Investor Visa (1 included)
- Medical Fitness Test and Emirates ID
- Corporate Bank Account Introduction
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Minimum 1 shareholder (individual or corporate)
- Trade name following DET naming rules
- Activities from the Professional category only
- Physical office with valid Ejari tenancy contract
- Educational certificates for regulated professions (engineers, accountants, doctors)
- Activity-specific NOC for regulated services
- Shareholder passport with 6+ months validity
Required Documents
- Passport Copy (6+ months validity)
- Passport-sized Photographs
- UAE Visa Copy and Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- 3 Proposed Trade Name Choices
- List of Professional Activities (up to 10)
- Office Lease / Ejari
- Educational Certificates (attested, for regulated professions)
- NOC from Current Sponsor (if applicable)
- Activity-specific NOC for regulated services
- For corporate shareholder: attested parent documents
Our Process
- Consultation on activity selection (Professional category)
- Choose legal structure (LLC vs Civil Company vs Sole Establishment)
- Trade name reservation with DET
- DET initial approval
- Office tenancy contract and Ejari registration
- MOA or Civil Company Agreement drafting
- Activity NOCs for regulated services
- Final trade license application
- License collection
- Dubai Chamber membership and Establishment Card
- Investor visa, medical, Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account opening
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 12,000
- Service Fee: AED 4,000
- VAT (5%): AED 800
- Total: AED 16,800
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities are covered under a Dubai Mainland Professional License?
Service-based activities including management consulting, marketing consulting, IT services, HR consulting, training, design services, accounting, legal consulting, engineering consulting, business advisory, and over 500 other expertise-based professional activities approved by DET.
Do I need a UAE national partner for a Dubai professional license?
No, not for most activities. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, the Local Service Agent (LSA) requirement has been removed for most Civil Companies and Sole Establishments. You can hold 100% ownership and management of your professional license.
What is a Civil Company vs an LLC for professional activities?
A Civil Company is a partnership structure used for professional activities (consulting, services) where partners share profits proportionally — common for doctors, engineers, lawyers, and accountants. An LLC has limited liability protection and is more common for general consulting and service businesses.
How long does Dubai professional license setup take?
Standard professional license setup completes in 7 to 14 working days. Faster than commercial licenses on average because there are fewer activity NOCs required for most consulting and service activities.
Do I need attested educational certificates?
Required for regulated professions (engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants), recommended for managerial consulting roles, and not required for general business consulting, marketing, or IT services. We confirm requirements during activity selection.
Can I provide services to clients across the UAE?
Yes. A Dubai mainland professional license allows you to provide services to clients in any UAE emirate without a separate license. You can also bid for UAE government tenders and contracts.
What is the minimum office requirement for a professional license?
A small office (typically 12-25 sqm) with valid Ejari is sufficient for most professional licenses. Shared office spaces and business centres with Ejari-registered desks are accepted. Larger offices are required for higher visa quotas.