Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Electronic Engineering Services licence (activity code 7110.64) actually authorise a business to do
Activity code 7110.64 authorises electronic systems design, circuit engineering, instrumentation, control systems engineering, and related technical consultancy. It sits within ISIC Division 71, covering professional, scientific, and technical activities.
This is a knowledge and design licence, not a contracting licence. Firms holding it can specify, design, and advise on electronic systems for buildings, industrial plant, or infrastructure — but physical installation and contracting work requires a separate contracting licence under a different regulatory framework.
Who is the Electronic Engineering Services licence best suited for
The licence suits sole practitioners, boutique engineering consultancies, and regional offices of international engineering groups that provide design, advisory, or specification services rather than on-site installation work.
The client base is broad and includes construction developers, industrial operators, government infrastructure programmes, telecoms firms, and manufacturing facilities — all of which typically require this type of technical input at the project design stage.
Can a foreign national own 100% of an Electronic Engineering Services company in Dubai
Yes. 100% foreign ownership is available on both the Dubai mainland and in free zones, meaning ownership structure is no longer the key differentiating factor when choosing between the two routes.
This applies to mainland licences issued by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) as well as to free zone licences such as those issued by Meydan Free Zone. Investors should instead focus on client access, cost base, and operational flexibility when making the structural decision.
What is the difference between setting up on the Dubai mainland versus in a free zone for this licence
A mainland licence issued by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) allows unrestricted work across UAE government and private sector contracts, making it the more practical choice if your target clients include federal or emirate-level government entities or if you intend to bid on public tenders directly.
A free zone licence — such as one from Meydan Free Zone — offers faster setup, lower overhead, and administrative simplicity. It is well-suited to consultancies operating regionally or internationally where work is delivered remotely or across borders rather than requiring direct contractor engagement on UAE project sites.
Free zone entities working on UAE mainland projects typically do so through approved commercial arrangements or by appointing a mainland-licensed contractor as the executing party.
How long does it take to set up an Electronic Engineering Services company in Dubai
Setup timelines vary by jurisdiction. A free zone setup typically takes 5–10 working days, reflecting the streamlined administrative processes offered by free zone authorities such as Meydan Free Zone.
A mainland setup through DET generally takes 2–4 weeks, accounting for the additional regulatory steps involved in obtaining a mainland professional or commercial licence.
What does an Electronic Engineering Services licence cost in Dubai
Licence costs start from approximately AED 12,000 per year in a free zone, though the total cost of setup will depend on the chosen jurisdiction, office package, and visa allocation requirements. Mainland licences typically carry different fee structures set by Dubai Economy and Tourism.
There is no mandatory minimum share capital in most free zones, which reduces the initial capital commitment for new entrants. Businesses should also factor in VAT registration requirements above AED 375,000 turnover and corporate tax at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000 when planning their financials.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement for this licence
No mandatory minimum share capital applies in most free zones when setting up under activity code 7110.64. This makes the licence accessible to sole practitioners and small consultancies without requiring significant upfront capital commitments.
Mainland requirements may differ depending on the specific legal structure chosen, so it is advisable to confirm current DET requirements at the time of application.
What are the tax obligations for an Electronic Engineering Services business in Dubai
Businesses are subject to UAE corporate tax at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Income below this threshold falls within the zero-rate band, which benefits smaller consultancies and sole practitioners in their early years of operation.
VAT registration is required once annual turnover exceeds AED 375,000, at which point the business must charge, collect, and remit VAT in accordance with UAE Federal Tax Authority rules. Businesses approaching this threshold should plan their accounting and compliance processes accordingly.
Electronic Engineering Services License in Dubai
Dubai's infrastructure programme, smart city agenda and industrial growth all run on electronic systems that somebody has to design. Activity code 7110.64 licenses that work, and the path to holding it is shorter than most people expect.
This is a design and advisory license rather than a contracting one, which is the distinction that decides whether it fits your business. This guide covers the scope, the structures, what it costs, and the ongoing duties.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7110.64 sits in ISIC Division 71, covering engineering consultancy, design and advisory work. It is a knowledge and design license, not a contracting one.
What you can sell
- Electronic systems design
- Circuit engineering
- Instrumentation
- Control systems engineering
- Related technical consultancy
If your firm specifies, designs or advises on electronic systems, whether for buildings, industrial plant or infrastructure, this is the right code.
Where it stops
Physical installation and contracting work need a separate contracting license under a different regulatory framework. Design and specification sit here; execution does not. Firms that intend to do both need both licenses, and it is much cheaper to establish that at the start than to discover it when a client asks you to install what you designed.
Who Your Clients Will Be
The buyers all need technical input at design stage:
- Construction developers
- Industrial operators
- Government infrastructure programmes
- Telecoms firms
- Manufacturing facilities
The license itself suits three types of firm: sole practitioners, boutique engineering consultancies, and regional offices of international engineering groups. That range is unusual. The same code works for one experienced engineer and for a multinational's regional design office, because the deliverable is expertise rather than capacity.
Mainland or Free Zone
Both routes now allow full foreign ownership, so that is no longer the deciding factor it once was. The decision is about client access and cost.
Mainland
A license from Dubai Economy and Tourism allows unrestricted work across UAE government and private sector contracts. If federal or emirate-level government entities are on your target list, or you intend to bid on public tenders directly, this is the practical choice.
Free zone
A free zone license is faster, cheaper and administratively simpler. It suits a consultancy working regionally or internationally, where the work is delivered remotely rather than on UAE project sites.
Working on mainland projects from a free zone
This is workable and common. Free zone companies working on UAE mainland projects typically do so through approved commercial arrangements, or by appointing a mainland-licensed contractor as the executing party. For a design-led consultancy that suits many models perfectly well, but check it against your own before you choose.
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Step by Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, define your activity scope: Confirm 7110.64 reflects what you sell, cross-checked with DET or your free zone authority. Misclassification causes delays.
- Step 2, choose jurisdiction and legal structure: LLC on the mainland, FZE for a single shareholder, or FZCO for several. This affects governance, banking and client access.
- Step 3, book your trade name: Check availability and follow UAE naming conventions. Names referencing outside governments, offensive terms or protected designations get rejected.
- Step 4, submit your papers: Passport copies for all shareholders, a business plan summary, a No Objection Certificate if you currently work in the UAE, and the authority's application forms.
- Step 5, secure your premises: Free zones offer a flexi-desk that satisfies the address rule without a full lease. Mainland applications need a tenancy contract registered with Ejari.
- Step 6, pay your fees and collect your license: Free zones typically process in 5 to 10 working days once papers are complete. Mainland runs 2 to 4 weeks depending on the approvals involved.
- Step 7, open a corporate bank account: Have your license, shareholder documents, business plan and source of funds papers ready. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for activation.
- Step 8, apply for visas: Investor, partner and employee visas link to your establishment card, and the allocation scales with your office package.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
Renewals
Annual license renewal is compulsory. Late renewal brings fines and can affect both visa status and banking relationships, so put the date somewhere you will see it.
VAT
Registration is compulsory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000. Engineering consultancy services are standard-rated at 5%.
Corporate tax
The 9% rate applies to taxable income above AED 375,000 from June 2023. Small business relief may be available for qualifying companies below AED 3 million in revenue, so confirm eligibility with a tax adviser rather than assuming either way.
Books
Accounting and bookkeeping duties apply whatever the size of the company, and UAE law says financial records must be kept for at least five years.
Project approvals
Dubai Municipality may be relevant for project-specific approvals on engineering outputs and technical submissions. That is separate from your trade license and depends on what you are working on.
Market Opportunity
The demand behind this code is being generated by three things at once, which is what makes it steady. Infrastructure expansion produces buildings and facilities that need electronic systems designed. The smart city agenda produces instrumentation and control work that did not exist a decade ago. Industrial growth produces plant that needs both.
The breadth of the client list follows from that. Construction developers, industrial operators, government programmes, telecoms and manufacturing all buy this input, and they buy it at design stage, which means the work arrives before construction budgets get squeezed rather than after.
The economics suit a small firm unusually well. No mandatory share capital in most free zones, a license from AED 12,000, a flexi-desk instead of an office, and a deliverable that is knowledge rather than equipment. A sole practitioner with the right credentials can be trading properly for a fraction of what most licensed activities demand, and the same code scales up to a regional design office without restructuring.
Conclusion
An electronic engineering services license is a sound structure for engineering professionals and consultancies targeting the UAE and the wider GCC. The framework is clear, foreign ownership is fully available either way, and demand across infrastructure, industrial and telecoms work is holding up.
The choice between mainland and free zone comes down to your client base, the nature of your contracts, and where you expect to grow. Both give you a credible legal presence and a platform to work across the region.
The one thing to settle before you apply is the design and contracting distinction. Get that right and the rest follows.
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