A professional license is the license for selling expertise. This page explains who needs one, which legal forms are used, where a local service agent may still be required and what the official sources say about tax.
A professional license is the mainland license for service based businesses that earn revenue from expertise, such as consulting firms, administrative services and educational institutions. In Dubai it is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Whether a local service agent is needed depends on the legal form and the emirate. Official pages still refer to the agent for sole establishments and civil companies.
A professional license is required for service based businesses that earn revenue from expertise. Invest in Dubai gives consulting firms, administrative services and educational institutions as examples.
Sharjah's Economic Development Department defines it as a license for services based on experience and qualifications. In Abu Dhabi, professional activities are licensed under the same commercial economic license service on TAMM.
A freelancer permit is a different product. Abu Dhabi's Freelancer License and Dubai's E-Trader license are separate from the professional license.
The three forms differ in who owns the business and how far the owner is liable. Invest in Dubai states that a sole establishment is owned by one person, who is personally liable for all its financial obligations.
In Dubai, a civil company is owned by two or more partners who carry out a professional activity. A limited liability company can be owned by one person of any nationality and limits liability to the capital, which makes it the limited liability alternative to a sole establishment.
| Legal form | Who owns it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sole establishment | One person | The owner is personally liable for all its financial obligations |
| Civil company | Two or more partners in a professional activity | Not one of the five company forms in the Commercial Companies Law |
| LLC single owner | One person or one company, of any nationality | Liability is limited to the capital |
Good to knowNo official page we checked states that professional activities can be licensed under an LLC in each emirate. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority before you apply.
It depends on the legal form and the emirate, and the role has not been abolished for every legal form.
The sole establishment and the civil company are not among the five company forms in the Commercial Companies Law, so the law's foreign ownership provisions for companies do not automatically govern them. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism says the requirement for a national agent still exists for sole establishments, subject to the legislation of local authorities.
The UAE Government portal lists an attested service agent contract among the license documents for civil establishments and companies that are 100% owned by nationals of countries outside the GCC. A local service agent agreement must be attested by the notary public or the court.
Good to knowNo DET or Invest in Dubai page we checked states the current Dubai rule for professional licenses. We confirm the position for your activity and legal form with the authority before you apply.
Each emirate's authority publishes its own position. The table sets out what each one says.
| Emirate | How professional activities are licensed | What the authority publishes on agents |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Professional license, for service based businesses | The application asks for details of partners, local service agents or managers |
| Abu Dhabi | Under the commercial economic license service on TAMM | ADRA's setup steps mention a local service agent agreement as needed |
| Sharjah | Professional license, for services based on experience and qualifications | A sole proprietorship (service agent) form exists for a foreign national with a citizen agent |
| Ajman | Civil business company for a professional activity | If any partner is not a GCC citizen, a UAE citizen must be appointed as agent or made a partner at any percentage |
The UAE Government portal states that financial consultation activities need approval from the Securities and Commodities Authority, and that other regulated professions need approval from their sector regulator.
A company must obtain all the approvals its activity requires before it starts that activity, under Article 11 of the Commercial Companies Law. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority before you apply.
Good to knowThe regulator decides whether to approve. We prepare and submit the application and cannot promise the outcome.
The Ministry of Finance lists natural persons conducting business activities in the UAE among the persons subject to corporate tax.
The Federal Tax Authority says that resident natural persons, as well as juridical persons, can elect Small Business Relief if revenue is AED 3 million or less. We did not find, on a primary source, the level of turnover at which an individual comes within corporate tax.
Good to knowThis page states what the official sources say. It is not tax or legal advice.
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.
Invest in Dubai states that the professional license is required for service based businesses that earn revenue from expertise, and names consulting firms as an example. A commercial license is issued for businesses that buy and sell goods and services. The license follows the activity. We confirm the license type for your activity with the authority before you apply.
It depends on the legal form. A limited liability company can be owned by one person of any nationality. Sole establishments and civil companies are not among the five company forms in the Commercial Companies Law, and official pages still refer to a local service agent for them, depending on the emirate. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority.
It depends on the legal form and the emirate. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism says the national agent requirement still exists for sole establishments, subject to local rules. Ajman DED's terms say a civil company with any partner who is not a GCC citizen must appoint a UAE citizen as agent or partner. We confirm the position for your activity with the authority.
In the descriptions Invest in Dubai gives, a sole establishment is owned by one person, who is personally liable for all its financial obligations. A civil company is owned by two or more partners carrying out a professional activity. A one person limited liability company can be owned by one person of any nationality and limits liability to the capital.
The official sources tie liability to the legal form. Invest in Dubai states that the owner of a sole establishment is personally liable for all its financial obligations. A limited liability company limits liability to the capital, which makes it the limited liability alternative to a sole establishment. This is what the sources state, not legal advice.
In Dubai, a civil company is the legal form for two or more partners carrying out a professional activity. The agent rule depends on the emirate. Ajman DED's terms say that if any partner is not a GCC citizen, a UAE citizen must be appointed as local service agent or made a partner at any percentage. We confirm the position with the authority of the emirate you choose.
Abu Dhabi's Freelancer License and Dubai's E-Trader license are separate products from the professional license. The Dubai E-Trader license is a home based license for individuals selling through social media and online platforms, and it is issued only as a sole proprietorship.
The Ministry of Finance lists natural persons conducting business activities in the UAE among the persons subject to corporate tax. The Federal Tax Authority says resident natural persons can elect Small Business Relief if revenue is AED 3 million or less. This is what the official sources state, not tax or legal advice.
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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