Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the activity code for a Customer Care Center licence in Dubai
The activity code for a Customer Care Center in Dubai is 8299.90, which sits within the broader category of business support services not elsewhere classified. This code covers inbound and outbound call handling, complaint resolution, CRM support, and multi-channel customer engagement across voice, email, and live chat.
It is important to note that this code is distinct from telemarketing and data processing licences, which carry separate codes and may involve additional regulatory requirements. Confirming the correct activity code before incorporation helps avoid complications at the renewal or expansion stage.
What types of operations does a Customer Care Center licence in Dubai permit
A Customer Care Center licence under activity code 8299.90 supports a commercially practical range of operations. Permitted activities include:
- Inbound and outbound call handling
- Complaint resolution
- CRM support
- Multi-channel customer engagement across voice, email, and live chat
The licence supports both captive operations — where the centre serves entities within the same corporate group — and outsourced models serving third-party clients on a commercial contract basis.
Should I set up a Customer Care Center on the Dubai mainland or in a free zone
The choice between mainland and free zone depends primarily on who your clients are. A mainland licence issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) permits unrestricted client contracts across the UAE, making it the more practical choice if your operation is serving local UAE businesses directly.
A free zone licence offers 100% foreign ownership by default, faster incorporation, and generally lower overhead costs — making it well suited to businesses whose clients are based regionally or internationally. The key constraint is that free zone entities cannot contract directly with UAE mainland clients without a local distributor arrangement or a mainland branch.
Is 100% foreign ownership allowed for a Customer Care Center in Dubai
Yes. 100% foreign ownership is available through two routes. Free zone structures have always permitted full foreign ownership by default. On the mainland, 100% foreign ownership is now permitted across most commercial activities following the 2021 Companies Law amendments, removing the historical requirement for a local sponsor in the majority of cases.
Confirming ownership eligibility for your specific activity and chosen structure before incorporation is advisable, as certain regulated activities may still carry restrictions.
How long does it take to set up a Customer Care Center licence in Dubai
Setup timelines vary by structure. A free zone licence can typically be obtained in 3–7 working days, particularly where the free zone offers a digital-first incorporation process that can be completed remotely. A mainland licence generally takes 2–4 weeks due to the additional steps involved with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
Having shareholder documents, trade name preferences, and activity confirmations prepared in advance helps avoid delays at each stage of the process.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement for a Customer Care Center licence in Dubai
For most free zone structures, there is no mandatory minimum share capital requirement when setting up a Customer Care Center in Dubai. This makes the free zone route particularly accessible for lean-start models and international founders looking to establish a regional presence without significant upfront capital commitments.
Mainland structures may have different requirements depending on the legal form chosen, such as an LLC. It is worth confirming the specific requirements with your chosen authority or a licensed business setup adviser before proceeding.
Why is Meydan Free Zone recommended for Customer Care Center operations
Meydan Free Zone is centrally located in Dubai and offers several features well suited to customer care operations. Key advantages include scalable visa allocations that grow with headcount without requiring proportionate increases in physical office space, and a fully digital incorporation process that can be completed remotely — relevant for international founders.
Additional benefits include competitive annual licence fees with transparent renewal costs, no hidden charges, and flexible package structures suited to both lean-start models and established operations looking to regionalise. Its access to a large, multilingual labour pool is also a practical advantage for operations requiring language-specific support teams.
How are visa allocations handled for a Customer Care Center in Dubai
Visa eligibility for a Customer Care Center licence in Dubai is scalable, based on office space and the licence package chosen. This means headcount can be grown over time without being locked into a fixed visa quota from the outset.
In free zone structures such as Meydan Free Zone, visa allocations can increase with headcount without necessarily requiring proportionate expansions in physical office space at the early stages. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) governs employment-related requirements on the mainland, while free zone authorities manage visa processes within their respective jurisdictions.
Customer Care Center Setup in Dubai
Dubai sits in the middle of a region that needs customer support in several languages and several time zones. The infrastructure, the people and the rules all line up behind that, which is why so many support operations serving the GCC, South Asia and beyond are based here.
This guide covers activity code 8299.90, what a customer care center license lets you run, where to set it up, and what it costs to keep it compliant once you are trading.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Activity name | Customer Care Center |
|---|---|
| Activity code | 8299.90 |
| License type | Commercial or service |
| What it covers | Inbound and outbound calls, complaint handling, CRM support, and customer contact by voice, email and live chat |
| Minimum share capital | No mandatory minimum for most free zone structures |
| Time to license | 3 to 7 working days in a free zone, 2 to 4 weeks on the mainland |
| Who regulates it | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism for the mainland, the relevant free zone authority for free zones – Invest in Dubai |
| Visas | Scalable, based on your office space and license package – Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation |
What This Activity Covers
Code 8299.90 sits under business support services not elsewhere classified. Customer care centres fall squarely inside it, and the range of work it allows is wide enough for most operations.
What you can run
Under this license you can run:
Inbound and outbound call handling
Complaint resolution
CRM support
Customer contact across voice, email and live chat
Captive or outsourced
It covers two different business models. A captive operation serves other companies in your own group. An outsourced operation serves third-party clients under commercial contracts. Both sit under the same code.
Check the code before you apply
This code is separate from telemarketing and data processing licenses, which have their own codes and can bring extra rules with them. Getting the code right now saves an awkward conversation at renewal or when you expand.
Who Your Clients Will Be
If you are running a captive centre, your client is your own group, and the job is service quality rather than sales. If you are running an outsourced centre, you are selling to businesses that would rather buy support than build it, and your contracts will be commercial ones with service levels attached.
Either way, the operation lives or dies on staffing. Dubai gives you access to a large multilingual labour pool, which matters when a client wants support in a specific language.
Mainland or Free Zone
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone (Meydan Free Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Who you can sign directly | Any client across the UAE, without restriction | Regional and international clients |
| UAE mainland clients | Direct | Needs a local distributor arrangement or a mainland branch |
| Ownership | 100% across most commercial activities since the 2021 Companies Law amendments | 100% yours by default |
| Time to license | 2 to 4 weeks | 3 to 7 working days |
| Running cost | Higher overheads | Generally lower overheads |
This choice decides your cost, your client access, your ownership and how easily you can grow headcount. If your customer care operation serves UAE businesses directly, mainland is the practical answer. If your clients are regional or international, a free zone license is faster to get and cheaper to run.
Meydan Free Zone works well for this activity for four reasons:
Visa allocations scale with headcount, without needing a matching jump in office space early on
Setup is digital first, so the whole thing can be done remotely
License fees are competitive and renewal costs are clear, with no hidden charges
Packages flex from a lean start to an established operation moving into the region
Free Business Setup Cost Calculator
Step by Step Setup Guide
Step 1, define your structure: Choose between a sole establishment, a mainland LLC, or a free zone company. Settle shareholder nationality and the ownership split before you go further.
Step 2, book your trade name: Check what is available through DET eServices or your free zone portal before you commit to branding or buy a domain.
Step 3, send in your papers: Passport copies, a short business plan where the authority asks for one, and a No Objection Certificate if you already hold a UAE visa.
Step 4, get your license: Pay the fees and collect your trade license. Free zones usually issue within 3 to 5 working days.
Step 5, open a corporate bank account: Do this before you start trading. UAE banks want a valid trade license, a tenancy contract, and full KYC papers for every shareholder and director.
Step 6, apply for visas and register with MOHRE: Employee visas are tied to your license and your office capacity. MOHRE registration is compulsory for mainland companies hiring staff, and it governs contracts, wages and labour compliance.
Your phone system is regulated
SIP trunks, VoIP systems and call recording platforms all have to meet the rules set by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. This applies whether you are mainland or free zone, and unlicensed telephony carries both regulatory and operational risk. Sort it before you take your first call.
VAT
Register for VAT once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 a year, through the Federal Tax Authority portal. Most operations billing corporate clients cross that line quickly. You can also register voluntarily below the threshold, which can be worth doing to recover input tax.
Customer data
If you handle personal data belonging to people in the UAE, you have to work in line with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021. It covers how you collect, process and store data, and what happens when data crosses a border. For a contact centre this is not a side issue. It is the core of what you handle all day.
Emiratisation
Nafis quotas apply to mainland companies with 50 or more staff. If your plan involves scaling headcount, build that into the hiring model early rather than fixing it after you cross the line.
Market Opportunity
The case for basing a customer care operation in Dubai comes down to reach and staffing. From one office you can cover the GCC, South Asia and markets beyond, in working hours that overlap with all of them. The talent pool is large and multilingual, which is what lets you sell language-specific support as a service rather than apologise for not having it.
The structure helps too. Visa allocations scale with headcount instead of forcing you into a fixed quota on day one, so you can win a contract and then hire against it. Free zone setup runs 3 to 7 working days and can be done remotely, which means an international operator can stand up a regional presence quickly and without a mandatory capital injection.
That combination suits both models this code allows. A group can move its own support here and run it as a captive centre. An outsourcer can start lean, take one client, and grow the operation as contracts land.
Conclusion
Setting up a customer care center in Dubai is simple once three things are settled: the right license structure, a compliant phone setup, and a clear view of whether your clients are mainland or regional.
For most international operators, a free zone license through Meydan Free Zone is the fastest and cheapest route in, with room to grow staffing and visa allocations as the operation gets bigger.
Speak to the Meydan Free Zone team to confirm the right structure for your operation and get your license issued within days.
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