Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is activity code 7490.95 and what does it permit a security consultancy to do in Dubai
Activity code 7490.95 — Security Consultancies sits within ISIC Division 74 (Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities). It is a professional services licence, meaning it covers advisory and analytical work rather than operational security delivery.
Permitted activities include risk assessment, security audits, threat analysis, protective intelligence, crisis management advisory, and consultancy to corporates, governments, and high-net-worth individuals.
The licence does not cover physical guarding, manned security, or armed protection. Those activities fall under entirely separate regulatory frameworks and require distinct licensing from the relevant UAE authorities.
Can a foreign national own 100% of a security consultancy on the Dubai mainland
Yes. Following the 2021 amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law, 100% foreign ownership is now permitted in most professional activities on the Dubai mainland, including security consultancy.
However, eligibility should be verified for your specific activity via the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) e-Services portal before proceeding, as individual activity codes can have nuanced requirements.
Free zones such as Meydan Free Zone have always offered 100% foreign ownership as a standard feature, making them an alternative route if mainland eligibility is uncertain.
What are the typical costs for obtaining a security consultancy licence in Dubai
Cost varies by jurisdiction. On the mainland, professional licence fees typically run AED 10,000–20,000 annually, paid to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED).
Free zone packages — which often bundle the licence with visa allocations — generally start from AED 12,000–18,000 per year, depending on the free zone and the number of visas included.
Additional costs to budget for include trade name reservation fees, notarisation, office space (or a flexi-desk arrangement in a free zone), and VAT registration if your taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000.
How long does it take to get a security consultancy licence in Dubai
Processing times differ between jurisdictions. A mainland licence via DED typically takes 5–10 working days once all documents are submitted and approvals are in order.
A free zone licence is generally faster, with many free zones completing incorporation in 2–5 working days. Meydan Free Zone is cited as a practical option for consultancies seeking speed and streamlined visa processing.
These timelines assume a straightforward application. Delays can occur if additional regulatory approvals are required or if submitted documents need correction, so preparing a complete document set before submission is advisable.
What is the difference between a mainland and a free zone licence for a security consultancy
The core distinction is client access. A mainland licence issued by DED allows direct contracting with UAE government entities, semi-government bodies, and local corporates without restriction — essential for public-sector mandates such as infrastructure protection or national event security planning.
A free zone licence offers 100% foreign ownership, faster incorporation, lower initial capital requirements, and streamlined visa processing. It is well-suited to consultancies whose clients are primarily regional or multinational private-sector firms.
Free zone entities wishing to advise UAE government bodies may need to establish a local branch or obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the relevant authority, adding complexity and cost.
Who are the typical clients of a licensed security consultancy in Dubai
The client base for activity code 7490.95 is broad. Core sectors include real estate developers, financial institutions, logistics operators, event organisers, diplomatic missions, and multinational firms operating across the GCC.
Dubai's role as a regional headquarters city creates structural — rather than cyclical — demand for independent security advisory. Drivers include Expo legacy infrastructure, NEOM-adjacent supply chains, and sustained government capital expenditure on critical infrastructure protection.
Market data from IMARC Group and Mordor Intelligence consistently places the UAE among the fastest-growing security services markets in the Middle East, suggesting a strong pipeline of potential engagements for newly licensed consultancies.
When does a security consultancy in Dubai need to register for VAT
VAT registration becomes mandatory once a business's taxable turnover reaches AED 375,000 in a 12-month period. This threshold applies to security consultancies operating in Dubai just as it does to other professional services businesses.
Voluntary registration is possible below this threshold and can be commercially advantageous if your clients are VAT-registered businesses that can reclaim input tax. It also signals a degree of operational scale to prospective clients.
Consultancies operating across multiple GCC jurisdictions should also review the VAT rules of each country in which they generate revenue, as cross-border advisory services can have complex place-of-supply implications.
What is the first step in the licence application process for a security consultancy in Dubai
The process is sequential, and the first step is trade name reservation. Applicants must check name availability and reserve their chosen trade name through either the DED portal (for mainland applications) or the relevant free zone authority's portal.
The trade name must comply with UAE naming conventions — it cannot include offensive language, references to religion in certain contexts, or names that imply government affiliation. Reserving the name locks it in while the remaining steps are completed.
Each subsequent step in the application can only proceed once the previous one is finalised, so starting with a clear, compliant trade name avoids early delays in the overall timeline.
Apply for a Security Consultancy License in Dubai
Dubai runs on large infrastructure projects, financial hubs and regional headquarters, and all of that needs people who can assess risk properly. Activity code 7490.95 is the license for that work. It covers advice and analysis, not guards on a gate.
This guide covers what the license lets you do, who your clients will be, how mainland and free zone compare, the steps to get licensed, and what you must keep in place afterwards. Getting licensed is quick. The part worth thinking about is which jurisdiction fits the clients you want.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Activity code | 7490.95, Security Consultancies, under ISIC Division 74 |
|---|---|
| License type | Professional services license |
| Main regulator | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), or the free zone authority for a free zone setup |
| Mainland license fee | AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 a year |
| Free zone package | From AED 12,000 to AED 18,000 a year, visa allocation included |
| Setup time | 5 to 10 working days on the mainland, 2 to 5 working days in a free zone |
| VAT threshold | AED 375,000 taxable turnover – Federal Tax Authority |
| Market outlook | UAE security services market set to keep growing steadily through 2030 – IMARC Group and Mordor Intelligence |
| Foreign ownership | 100% in Meydan Free Zone, and 100% on the mainland for most professional activities |
What This License Covers
Code 7490.95 sits in ISIC Division 74, Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities. It is a professional services license, which means you sell advice and analysis rather than boots on the ground.
What you can do under it: risk assessment, security audits, threat analysis, protective intelligence, crisis management advice, and consultancy to companies, governments and wealthy private clients.
What you cannot do: physical guarding, manned security or armed protection. Those sit under separate rules and separate licenses from other UAE authorities. Do not assume one license stretches across both sides of the trade.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Your buyers come from a wide spread of sectors:
- Real estate developers
- Financial institutions
- Logistics operators
- Event organisers
- Diplomatic missions
- Multinational firms working across the GCC
Nobody in this group hires on a hunch. They want to see who you have advised before, what your people have done, and whether your scope on paper matches the work they are buying. Dubai's pull as a regional headquarters city means the demand is steady rather than seasonal.
Mainland or Free Zone
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone (Meydan Free Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Who you can advise | UAE government bodies, semi-government bodies and local companies, with no limits | Mainly regional and multinational private firms |
| Foreign ownership | 100% on most professional activities | 100% yours |
| Premises | Tenancy contract registered on Ejari | Flexi-desk is usually enough |
| Setup time | 5 to 10 working days | 2 to 5 working days |
| Annual cost | AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 | From AED 12,000 to AED 18,000 |
The jurisdiction decides who you can sell to, and that is the whole question. A mainland license from the Department of Economy and Tourism lets you contract directly with UAE government bodies, semi-government entities and local companies with no restriction. If you want public sector work, infrastructure protection or national event security planning, mainland is usually the only route that works.
Since the 2021 changes to the UAE Commercial Companies Law, 100% foreign ownership is allowed on the mainland for most professional activities. Check your own activity on the DET e-Services portal before you commit, because individual codes can carry their own conditions.
A Meydan Free Zone license gives you full ownership, faster setup, less capital up front and simpler visa processing. It fits consultancies whose clients are regional or multinational private firms. If you later want to advise UAE government bodies from a free zone entity, you may need a local branch or a no objection certificate from the relevant authority. Let your clients decide it, not the price.
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Step by Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, book your trade name: Check the name is free and hold it through the DET portal or your free zone portal. Names must follow UAE naming rules, so nothing offensive and nothing that implies a government link.
- Step 2, get initial approval: Send activity details, passport copies for every shareholder and a short business plan. This confirms the activity is allowed and starts the formal application.
- Step 3, prepare your MOA and ownership papers: Draft the Memorandum of Association. On the mainland, confirm your ownership setup under the updated foreign investment rules. Free zones usually hand you a standard template.
- Step 4, sort your office: A mainland license needs a real tenancy contract registered on Ejari. Most free zones accept a flexi-desk, which keeps early costs low.
- Step 5, pay the fees and collect your license: Mainland runs 5 to 10 working days from a complete submission. Free zones usually turn it around in 2 to 5 days.
- Step 6, sort visas and banking: Apply for investor and employee visas through MOHRE, then open a corporate bank account. Every UAE bank works to the framework set by the Central Bank of the UAE, so the papers they ask for are much the same wherever you go.
One more thing to check before you file. Some advisory work, especially anything touching government facilities, critical infrastructure or sensitive intelligence functions, may need clearance or a no objection certificate from Dubai Police or a federal security authority. Pin down your exact scope first, or you risk delays and a rewrite of your activity.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
Annual renewal
Renew every year. Miss it and you get fines, and if it drags on the license can be cancelled. That takes your staff visas and your banking relationship down with it.
VAT
Register with the Federal Tax Authority once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000. Advice sold to UAE clients is standard-rated at 5%. Cross-border advice may be zero-rated, depending on the nature of the supply and where the client sits.
Books and audit
Mainland LLCs must be audited. Keep proper financial records from day one. Going back later to rebuild your bookkeeping costs money and creates risk you do not need.
Scope discipline
Your work has to stay inside what the license permits. Drifting into guarding or armed protection without the right license is a fast way to lose the one you already hold.
Market Opportunity
IMARC Group and Mordor Intelligence both place the UAE among the fastest-growing security services markets in the Middle East, with the market set to keep growing steadily through 2030.
The reasons are concrete. Expo legacy infrastructure still needs protecting. NEOM-adjacent supply chains run through the UAE. Government spending on critical infrastructure protection has held up rather than tailed off. Add Dubai's role as a regional headquarters city, and demand for independent risk advice is built into how the economy works here rather than tied to a cycle. For a new consultancy, that means a pipeline instead of a scramble.
Conclusion
This license is simple to get. Three choices decide how well it serves you: your jurisdiction, your ownership structure, and how closely your stated scope matches the work you actually plan to sell.
Mainland opens the door to government and local corporate work. Meydan Free Zone is faster, cheaper to start and fully yours, and it fits private-sector and international clients.
Settle those three before you apply and the process is clean and predictable. The license is the floor, not the business. What you build on top of it is the real work.
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