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An industrial license in the UAE is a legal permit that enables businesses and entrepreneurs to engage in manufacturing, assembly, or production activities in a legally compliant manner. The license is issued by the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism or any free zone authority. The permit will officially enable a company to assemble, produce, or manufacture goods using raw materials.
This legal permit is most common for food & beverages, textiles, chemical processing, machinery assembly, and medical equipment manufacturing. So, if you’re planning to enter into the industrial venture, the first thing you need to do is obtain an industrial license in Dubai.
Enterslice’s consultants will help you prepare your documents, secure a physical lease in the best area in mainland or free zone, liaise with the authorities like DET or FZ, renew the license before expiration, and provide post-registration support for one year.
Physical Office Mandate
No Requirement for Local Agent
100% Foreign Ownership Allowed
9% Corporate Tax in the Mainland
Strategic Hub for Global Market Access
No Corporate Tax for Qualifying Income in Free Zones
No Local Sponsor Needed for Most Activities
Zero Personal Income Tax
Full Repatriation of Capital Gains & Profits
If you want to obtain an industrial manufacturing license in Dubai UAE, you must have a physical working space, meet specific criteria, and adhere to the UAE environmental laws. Contact Enterslice and get expert guidance throughout your business journey.
The benefits of a UAE industrial license include complete foreign ownership, tax-free income, 100% repatriation of profits, fewer import-export duties, and ease of business operations. Key advantages of having an industrial license in Dubai are as follows:
There's no corporate, personal, or capital gains tax in the free zones on qualifying income. A 9 percent tax rate applies only if you have a non-qualifying income exceeding the USD 102,110 limit. This benefits medium entrepreneurs and startups who can further that revenue into core business operations.
The UAE allows complete repatriation of capital gains and profits to your home country with no deduction policy. It attracts more foreign investments through new business setups in the manufacturing industry.
You don’t need a local sponsor for obtaining an industrial license in Dubai, as modified by the 2021 law amendment. Now you can venture into the business of food production, tech, construction, machinery, textile, electronics, supply chain, warehousing, renewable energy, and many more without needing a UAE national as your business partner.
After obtaining a UAE industrial license, you can access customized leases, warehouse facilities, and energy-efficient logistics that’ll further your day-to-day business operations in Dubai.
Once you’ve obtained the industrial manufacturing license in Dubai, you can take advantage of the strategic location and excellent connectivity to ports, highways, and airports that enable seamless trade for new business set-ups.
With the government's support for industrial licensing services in the UAE through online applications and faster approval, you can save a lot of overhead costs involved in administrative tasks, such as in-office visits and paperwork. It is one of the merits of UAE industrial license.
Scroll down and find out how to apply for an industrial license in Dubai with Enterslice, as explained below:
The first step of this process is to identify a lawful economic activity that you want to engage in Dubai. The business operation must clearly align and comply with UAE regulations for manufacturing, production, processing, or assembly. Our associates will assist you in selecting a permitted activity to avoid any rejection or legal issues.
The next step is to choose a favorable location in Dubai, such as the mainland or a free zone. Both come with their own benefits. You must choose the right one that best suits your business requirements and capital mandates. If you’re expanding your operations in Dubai, then a branch office is good; otherwise, new business ventures require a limited liability company (LLC) set up for foreigners.
A trade name is a mandatory requirement, which serves as an identifier of your business to the public. Our associates will help you select the best name that aligns with your products/services, search the online portal of DET or a free zone authority, and assist in obtaining the final approval by the concerned authority.
Once we’ve facilitated the trade name reservation in Dubai for your business. We'll proceed with obtaining the initial approval for company registration from the Department of Economy & Tourism or a FZ authority. This certificate will affirm that the UAE government doesn’t have any issue with you setting up an industrial business in Dubai.
Based on your business activity, we’ll help you obtain additional certifications and approvals that are mandatory for smooth business operations from the Dubai municipality or the applicable ministry. The authorities may conduct inspections of your manufacturing to verify your equipment, raw materials, and processes.
In the next step, we’ll apply for a Dubai industrial license with mandatory documents, external approvals, and fee payment to the DET or applicable free zone authority like DMCC or JAFZA.
The authority will conduct a thorough examination of your documentation and additional certifications to ensure compliance with the UAE manufacturing guidelines. They may either grant you an industrial license for Dubai or seek clarification. In the meantime, our legal associates will promptly respond to all the queries after consulting with you.
After obtaining the industrial license in Dubai, you can apply for a visa for investors and employees, depending on your organizational size. Generally, a visa application is accompanied by a medical examination, proof of employment, and related paperwork. Our immigration specialists will assist you with this for timely approval.
A bank account is pertinent for managing your finances, vendor expenses, and employee salaries. We'll help you connect with leading banks as per your business requirements and company size and assist you in preparing for the bank interview.
The timeline for an industrial license in Dubai is as follows:
Choose a legitimate business activity either in mainland or free zones, such as JAFZA, Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), and Dubai South, that is well-suited for your activity. Subsequently, select a structure from the LLC or branch office.
Reserve your company’s name with Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism (DET) or a free zone authority, depending on your location in Dubai.
Prepare your MOA, AOA, trade name certificate, and submit it to the concerned authorities to obtain the initial approval before applying for the UAE industrial license.
Obtain a lease to establish your assembly plant, manufacturing unit, or warehouse facility in the mainland or freezone.
Get additional approvals from the municipality, health, safety, and other business-specific permits required for the industrial license in the UAE. The authority will conduct a site inspection to evaluate the operational efficiency of your machinery and materials.
Apply for the license with the necessary paperwork and obtain the certificate of the UAE Industrial License by the DET or the relevant free zone authority.
File for visa permits through the Department of Economy & Tourism or Free Zone authority like Meydan, DSO, or DMCC, who will then forward it to the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). You can also apply to the immigration authority, like ICP or GDFRA’s online portal.
Prepare documents, submit applications, and prepare the bank’s questionnaire for corporate bank account opening.
Get a comprehensive understanding of the types of industries and business activities that you can undertake with an industrial license in Dubai:
Top Industries for UAE Industrial License
Top Activities for Industrial License in the UAE
The documents required for an industrial license in Dubai are as follows:
A copy of the passports of the directors and key shareholders
Company registration certificate
A copy of the partnership agreement (if required)
An official business address, such as a lease or rental agreement
A business plan with financial projections
Memorandum of Association
Articles of Association
A site plan for the proposed factory location
No objection certificate if the manufacturing plan is for rental
Approvals from municipalities and the electricity authority
List of all equipment and machinery
A flow diagram of the manufacturing process
Detailed information on raw material dealers
Bank account statement or financial guarantees
Organizational structure and shareholder agreements
Worried about complex documentation in getting an industrial license in Dubai?
Checkout how Enterslice will assist in fulfilling compliance obligations after an industrial manufacturing license in Dubai UAE:
The criteria for an industrial license in the UAE are as follows:
Still not secured an industrial license in Dubai? Let us help you out.
Enterslice is one of the leading LegalTech firms in India, providing business setup services in Dubai’s mainland and free zones like DMCC, DIFC, DSO, and JAFZA. We have proven experience of 15+ years in company registration and industrial manufacturing license in Dubai UAE. Key reasons for choosing us as your compliance partners include the following:
An industrial license is a permit that is obtained by businesses engaged in the manufacturing, processing, and assembly industries in Dubai’s mainland or free zone regions. There are more than 20 free zones in Dubai. Some common FZs include:
Common benefits of obtaining a manufacturing license in Dubai include: 1) customer trust; 2) legal compliance; 3) 100% foreign ownership; 4) tax exemptions for R&D and import-export; 5) access to international markets; 6) governmental support and funding; and 7) easy LLC setup.
You can only operate under the activities that are specified in your license registration. For example, if you have a mainland license, then you can only operate such activities in that particular region. In case you want to operate in the free zone, you must obtain a dual license from the relevant authority.
No, you don’t need a local agent to obtain an industrial license in Dubai’s mainland region. However, you may need a local service agent to complete administrative tasks in the free zones.
You don’t generally require a local sponsor for most business activities in Dubai after the 2021 amendment, which removed the requirement of appointing a UAE national with 51% stake in the company. You may need a sponsor for certain restricted activities like oil, gas, telecommunications, and security.
The process starts for the license registration includes: 1) selection of a business activity; 2) reservation of the trade name; 3) incorporation of the LLC, one person company, or branch office; 4) application for external approvals by various authorities; 5) finalization of a lease or warehouse; 6) submission of license application to the DET or FZ authority; 7) grant of certificate; and 8) company bank account opening.
Yes, as per the United Arab Emirates regulations and rules, you must obtain a physical working office, such as a land, commercial building, warehouse, or related rental property, to support your business operations.
Yes, the Dubai government system will equip you with the necessary monetary support in the initial stages of your business, especially if it benefits the UAE economy. It'll help you further your company’s innovation expenditure.
Our experts and consultants will assist you with:
You need to have at least 10 employees, and prepare your company registration documents, like the memorandum of association & articles of association. Apart from this, you must also secure a trade name, a physical manufacturing facility, and the minimum capital required for the license.
With an industrial license, you can engage in manufacturing, production, processing, assembly, import-export, and packaging business in various industries like consumer electronics, F&B, agriculture, metal, logistics, tech, and furniture.
Yes, you must have at least USD 60,000 to start a manufacturing, assembly, or packaging business in Dubai.
-- Testimonials
“The explanation of obtaining an industrial license in Dubai was extremely clear. It simplifies regulatory steps for manufacturing businesses.”
Verified Customer
“Excellent resource for companies planning manufacturing operations in Dubai. It clarifies the licensing process and regulatory framework clearly.”
Verified Customer
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