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For firms serving clients

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For setting up

ScoutPlanning your UAE setupAtlasUAE setup reference

Screening, rules and records

VerifySanctions and PEP screeningLexaraUAE rulebook libraryVaultStatutory records storageScopeWhat applies to you
Free guidesFree zonesBusiness activitiesUAE laws and rulebooksRegulatory updates
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ScoutBusiness setup
Costs and visasPackages, visas and renewal by zoneRules and taxAuthority, QFZP and audit rulesBy emiratePrice indexZones ranked by costCost calculatorFree zone authoritiesBest for startupsBest for freelancersSetup guide
Licences by activityApprovals, fees and setup stepsActivity look-upISIC activities and where they're allowedPermissions by zoneIncorporation documentsBusiness plan review
Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceSetup toolsSample setup reportAfter you incorporate
Talk to an adviserGet your AI advisory

In Scout · Business setup

Free zones
Costs and visasRules and taxBy emiratePrice indexCost calculatorFree zone authoritiesBest for startupsBest for freelancersSetup guide
Mainland
Licences by activityActivity look-upPermissions by zoneIncorporation documentsBusiness plan review
Compare and plan
Mainland vs free zoneCompare free zonesDIFC vs ADGMCrypto (VASP) licenceSetup toolsSample setup reportAfter you incorporate
Talk to an adviser
Apps

For companies

ComplyGovern

For firms serving clients

OnboardShieldLedgerBecome an Arakan adviser

For setting up

ScoutAtlas

Screening, rules and records

VerifyLexaraVaultScope

Free guides

Free zonesBusiness activitiesUAE laws and rulebooksRegulatory updates
Find the right appAll apps →
Learn

Watch

Explainer videos and demosLexara Academy

Read

Tax and compliance glossaryBriefingsCompliance scenariosLexara Weekly

Use Arakan

In your AI assistantHelp centre
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Start freeSign in
2,137 mainland activities indexed

UAE mainland activity licence fees

Government licence fees for mainland business activities vary by emirate — sometimes significantly, for the exact same activity. Browse by category below.

Manufacturing

558 activities →

3D Printing Products Production

Fee data pending

Access Cradles Manufacturing

Fee data pending

Acid Manufacturing

Fee data pending

Adhesives Manufacturing

Fee data pending

Agarwood & Incense Manufacturing

Fee data pending

Agricultural Tractors Manufacturing

Fee data pending

Aircraft Dismantling

Fee data pending

Aircraft Manufacturing

Fee data pending

View all 558 in Manufacturing →

Personal & Social Services

120 activities →

Acupuncture Center

Fee data pending

Addiction Rehabilitation Center

Fee data pending

Adult Day Healthcare Facility

Fee data pending

Aerial Advertising Services

Fee data pending

Aircraft Engine & Parts Repair & Overhaul

Fee data pending

Amusement Park

Fee data pending

Aquarium Park

Fee data pending

Art Gallery

Fee data pending

View all 120 in Personal & Social Services →

Construction & Contracting

83 activities →

Advertising Billboards Contracting

Fee data pending

Advertising Signboards Cleaning Services

From AED 1,250 (Abu Dhabi)

Air-Conditioning, Ventilations & Air Filtration Systems Installation & Maintenance

From AED 1,000 (Abu Dhabi)

Airports Ground Support Equipment Installation & Maintenance

From AED 1,500 (Abu Dhabi)

Bridges & Dams Contracting

Fee data pending

Building Cleaning Services

From AED 1,250 (Abu Dhabi)

Building Contracting

From AED 1,000 (Abu Dhabi)

Building Maintenance

From AED 1,000 (Abu Dhabi)

View all 83 in Construction & Contracting →

Financial Services

77 activities →

Accidents & Civil Liabilities Insurance

Fee data pending

Agricultural Finance

Fee data pending

Bank Brokers

Fee data pending

Banking Representative Office

Fee data pending

Brokerage in Commodities Listed in Local Markets

Fee data pending

Brokerage in Local Securities

Fee data pending

Brokerage in Securities Listed in Foreign Markets

Fee data pending

Central Clearing Services for Securities

Fee data pending

View all 77 in Financial Services →

Health & Social Work

52 activities →

Air Ambulance Services

Fee data pending

Anesthesia & Pain Therapy Clinic

Fee data pending

Cardiac Clinic

Fee data pending

Childbirth Support Services (Doula)

Fee data pending

Clinical Laboratory

Fee data pending

Convalescence House

Fee data pending

Dental Laboratory

Fee data pending

Dental Surgery Clinic

Fee data pending

View all 52 in Health & Social Work →

Education

38 activities →

Advanced Driving School

Fee data pending

Advanced First Aid Training Center

Fee data pending

Automobile Driving School

Fee data pending

Aviation Training Institute

Fee data pending

Aviation Training Services

Fee data pending

Child Skills Development Training

Fee data pending

College

Fee data pending

Community College

Fee data pending

View all 38 in Education →

Agriculture & Fishing

35 activities →

Advanced Growing of Beverage Crops

Fee data pending

Advanced Growing of Citrus Fruits

Fee data pending

Advanced Growing of Grains, Leguminous Crop & Oilseeds

Fee data pending

Advanced Growing of Other Non- Perennial crops

Fee data pending

Advanced Growing of Palms & Fruits

Fee data pending

Advanced Growing of Spices

Fee data pending

Advanced Growing of Vegetables, Melons, Roots & Tubers

Fee data pending

Agricultural Pest Control

Fee data pending

View all 35 in Agriculture & Fishing →

Accommodation & Food Services

16 activities →

Banquet kitchen

From AED 1,000 (Abu Dhabi)

Cafeteria

From AED 250 (Abu Dhabi)

Coffee Shop

Fee data pending

Fish & Meat Grilling

Fee data pending

Floating Coffee Shop

Fee data pending

Floating Restaurant

From AED 600 (Ajman)

Ice Cream Shop

Fee data pending

Juice & Soft Drinks Preparing

Fee data pending

View all 16 in Accommodation & Food Services →

Mining & Quarrying

14 activities →

Emergency Response Center

Fee data pending

Gypsum Mining

Fee data pending

Limestone Quarrying

Fee data pending

Marine Mining

Fee data pending

Natural Manures Extraction

Fee data pending

Oil & Natural Gas Well Equipment Repairing & Maintenance

Fee data pending

Oil & Natural Gas Well Maintenance

From AED 1,000 (Abu Dhabi)

Oil & Natural Gas Well Reinforcement Services

Fee data pending

View all 14 in Mining & Quarrying →

Administrative & Support Services

5 activities →

Food & Dairy Consultant

From AED 1,250 (Abu Dhabi)

Security Services Hotels

From AED 600 (Ajman)

Sport Research & Consultancies

From AED 2,500 (Abu Dhabi)

Valet Parking Services

From AED 500 (Abu Dhabi)

Waste Management & Recycling Consultancy

From AED 2,500 (Abu Dhabi)

IT & Media

1 activities →

Electronic Equipment And Devices Systems And Software Designing

From AED 600 (Ajman)

Other / Extra-Territorial Bodies

1 activities →

Business Aviation Association

Fee data pending

Mainland or free zone — which fits your business?

Scout scores both mainland and free zone options against your specific activity, ownership, and market access needs.

Get your ranked shortlist
Arakan

UAE compliance, from company setup to filing — for UAE companies and the firms that serve them. 11 apps on one company record.

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11 apps

Comply

Your compliance manager

Govern

Governance and board compliance

Onboard

Client onboarding (KYC/CDD)

Shield

Clients' regulatory compliance

Ledger

Clients' FTA compliance

Scout

Planning your UAE setup

Atlas

UAE setup reference

Verify

Sanctions and PEP screening

Lexara

UAE rulebook library

Vault

Statutory records storage

Scope

What applies to you

Business setup by activity

All 2,100+ activities
Trading & ServicesManufacturingReal Estate & Business ServicesPersonal & Social ServicesTransport, Storage & LogisticsConstruction & ContractingFinancial ServicesVirtual AssetsHealth & Social WorkEducationAgriculture & FishingProfessional & Technical ServicesAccommodation & Food ServicesMining & QuarryingUtilities & Energy
Free zone setup costsFree zone price indexSetup cost calculatorMainland vs free zoneWhich zones permit your activity

UAE free zones by emirate

View all
Dubai
DMCCDIFCJAFZADAFZADSODWCDICDubai Media CityDHCCIFZAMeydanDSCDPCDKPDOCDSPD3DIACDCCDubai Maritime CityDWTCGDP
Abu Dhabi
ADGMKEZADMCFZtwofour54ADAFZICADAAIAFZ
Sharjah
SPCSHAMSHFZASAIFSRTIPSHCC
RAK
RAKEZRAK DAO
Ajman
ACMFZAFZAMC
Fujairah
FOIZFCCFFZ
UAQ
UAQIZUAQ FTZ

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