A manufacturer's industrial license comes from the emirate. The federal ministry issues a separate Industrial Production License. This page explains the order they come in, the approvals involved and what each emirate publishes.
An industrial license is the mainland license for manufacturing, production, packaging and assembly of goods. It is issued by the emirate's licensing authority, in Dubai the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Invest in Dubai states that approvals from regulators are required before operations start. The federal Industrial Production License from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is a separate license, applied for after the emirate's license.
Manufacturing falls under the industrial license, which is issued by the licensing authority of the emirate. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) describes it as the license for businesses in manufacturing or industrial production, such as factories and assembly plants.
Invest in Dubai says it is required for manufacturing, production, packaging, segregation or collection of goods. Its examples include food production, textiles, paper, petroleum products and equipment manufacturing. Sharjah's Economic Development Department defines the industrial license as covering manufacturing, production and assembly.
Invest in Dubai states that external approvals from regulators are required before operations start.
They are two separate licenses, and the emirate's license comes first. The Industrial Production License is a federal license from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), and a local industrial license is one of its required documents.
MoIAT's page shows a service time of 5 working days, while its FAQ says within 15 business days. We confirm the current time and fee with the ministry when you apply.
| Point | Emirate industrial license | MoIAT Industrial Production License |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The emirate's licensing authority, such as DET in Dubai | Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology |
| Order | First | Second. The local industrial license is a required document |
| What it allows | The industrial activity itself | Applying for customs duty exemptions on machinery, equipment, spare parts and materials used in manufacturing |
| Eligibility stated | No single rule is published. We confirm it with the emirate's authority | At least 10 employees, capital of at least AED 250,000 and a local industrial license, per MoIAT's FAQ |
| Inspection | Additional approvals depend on the activity | A ministry inspector physically inspects the facility before the license is issued |
Good to knowWe could not confirm on an official page whether the Industrial Production License is compulsory for every manufacturer. We confirm the position for your activity with the ministry before you apply.
Invest in Dubai sets out nine steps, from choosing the activities to obtaining additional approvals. They are listed in the process on this page.
Initial approval is mandatory for many industrial licenses in Dubai, and it is needed before the facility address can be registered through Ejari. Invest in Dubai states that construction of the facility can begin once the final business license and the additional approvals are received.
Product standards and certifications in Dubai are led by Dubai Municipality. Invest in Dubai names Dubai Industrial City, Dubai South, JAFZA and Dubai Investment Park as locations with industrial land.
Each emirate's authority publishes different information. The table sets out what each one says.
Sharjah also names the industrial sectors it targets: pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, building materials, chemicals, plastics and rubber, agriculture and food, and machinery and equipment. An industrial sole proprietorship in Sharjah may be owned by UAE or GCC nationals only.
| Emirate | What the authority publishes |
|---|---|
| Dubai | Initial approval is mandatory for many industrial licenses. External approvals are required before operations start |
| Abu Dhabi | The Industrial Leader economic license is issued instantly, without documents, so an investor can start planning an industrial project. Listed fees are AED 790, AED 10, AED 10 and AED 50, with a service time of 2 working days |
| Sharjah | An office license for an industrial facility can be obtained before or after the factory is established. Industrial activities may need a safety certificate from Civil Defence |
Good to knowTwo working days is the time TAMM shows for the Industrial Leader service. It is not the time it takes to set up a factory.
Invest in Dubai states that foreign investors can hold 100% in commercial and industrial activities on the mainland, except activities with a strategic impact.
The legal form also matters. In Sharjah an industrial sole proprietorship may be owned by UAE or GCC nationals only. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority before you apply.
The MoIAT Industrial Production License lets the holder apply for customs duty exemptions on machinery, equipment, spare parts and materials used in manufacturing.
Invest in Dubai also states that there are no customs duties on raw material imports for production.
The Emirates Quality Mark is awarded by MoIAT to products that meet UAE national standards. Certified products can clear customs without an ECAS certificate.
Good to knowHolding the license lets you apply. The decision on each exemption belongs to the authority.
No official page we checked states one rule, and the published position differs by emirate and by license.
The industrial license covers manufacturing, production, packaging, segregation or collection of goods.
Foreign investors can hold 100% in industrial activities, except activities with a strategic impact.
Manufacturing and industrial production need an industrial license.
The application asks for details of partners, local service agents or managers.
Initial approval is done at the same time as booking the trade name.
Initial approval is needed before the facility address can be registered through Ejari.
Legal documents are signed virtually by stakeholders registered on Invest in Dubai.
The final business license is issued by DET.
External approvals from regulators are required before operations start. Invest in Dubai states that construction can begin once the final license and these approvals are received.
Prices are published, with what each one covers and what it does not. We send the full cost in writing before you commit.
Mainland license
AED19,500
One investor visa
AED12,500
Terms and conditions apply. Prices are indicative. The license fee differs by business activity, and the final cost varies with the number of visas and government fees. See all packages.
Answered from the official sources listed below. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Manufacturing falls under the industrial license, issued by the emirate's licensing authority, which in Dubai is the Department of Economy and Tourism. Invest in Dubai says it is required for manufacturing, production, packaging, segregation or collection of goods, and that external approvals from regulators are required before operations start.
No official page we checked states one rule. In Dubai the facility address is registered through Ejari after initial approval. In Sharjah an office license for an industrial facility can be obtained before or after the factory is established. Abu Dhabi's Industrial Leader license is issued without documents for the planning stage.
The emirate's industrial license comes first and is issued by the local licensing authority. The Industrial Production License is a separate federal license from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, applied for afterwards. It lets the holder apply for customs duty exemptions, and the ministry inspects the facility before issuing it.
Invest in Dubai states that foreign investors can hold 100% in commercial and industrial activities on the mainland, except activities with a strategic impact. In Sharjah, an industrial sole proprietorship may be owned by UAE or GCC nationals only. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority.
The Industrial Production License from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology lets the holder apply for customs duty exemptions on machinery, equipment, spare parts and materials used in manufacturing. Invest in Dubai also states there are no customs duties on raw material imports for production. The authority decides each exemption.
It depends on the activity. In Dubai, external approvals from regulators are required before operations start, and Dubai Municipality leads product standards and certifications. In Sharjah, industrial activities may need a safety certificate from Civil Defence. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority before you apply.
The Emirates Quality Mark is awarded by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to products that meet UAE national standards. Products certified with the mark can clear customs without an ECAS certificate.
Invest in Dubai lists packaging among the activities that require an industrial license, together with manufacturing, production, segregation and collection of goods. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism gives assembly plants as an example, and Sharjah defines the industrial license as covering manufacturing, production and assembly.
Every fact on this page was checked against the official source on 29 September 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm the current position before any application.
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