Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Activity Code 7110.02 and what does it cover
Activity Code 7110.02 is the classification for Engineering Design and Consulting licences in Dubai. It sits within ISIC Division 71, which covers architectural and engineering activities and related technical consulting.
Under this licence, firms are authorised to provide engineering design, technical consulting, feasibility studies, project supervision, and advisory services across a broad range of disciplines — including structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
A single licence can cover design drawings, engineering reports, technical due diligence, value engineering assessments, and site supervision. It is a professional services licence, not a trade, industrial, or contracting licence.
What activities are excluded from the Engineering Design and Consulting licence
While the licence covers a wide scope of advisory and design work, certain activities are explicitly not permitted under Activity Code 7110.02.
- Hands-on construction and physical contracting work
- Equipment supply
- Any activity that involves physically building rather than designing, advising, or supervising
Each of these excluded activities requires its own separate licence category. Firms that wish to both design and construct must hold multiple licences structured appropriately for each activity.
Who typically needs an Engineering Design and Consulting licence in Dubai
This licence is suited to a wide range of engineering professionals and firms operating in the UAE market. Typical licence holders include structural engineers, multidisciplinary consultancies, and solo technical advisers.
Clients served under this licence commonly include real estate developers, government entities, EPC contractors, and asset owners. The licence is particularly relevant for firms targeting Dubai's construction pipeline, infrastructure expansion, and Vision 2030-aligned megaprojects.
What is the difference between a mainland and free zone licence for engineering consultancies
The choice between mainland and free zone is the most consequential structural decision when setting up an engineering consultancy in Dubai. Each option has distinct commercial implications.
A mainland licence issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) allows firms to contract directly with UAE government entities and bid on public-sector infrastructure tenders. For consultancies targeting municipal projects, road authorities, or utility providers, mainland registration is effectively a prerequisite. Mainland engineering consultancies typically also require professional qualification approval from the Dubai Municipality Engineering Department.
A free zone licence offers faster setup, 100% foreign ownership as standard, lower overhead, and no paid-up capital requirement. The trade-off is that direct government contracts are generally not accessible without additional arrangements.
How long does it take to set up an Engineering Design and Consulting licence
Setup timelines vary depending on the jurisdiction chosen for registration.
- Free zone structures: Typically 5–10 working days
- Mainland structures: Generally 3–6 weeks, partly due to the additional professional qualification approval process through Dubai Municipality
Free zone setups tend to be faster because they involve fewer regulatory touchpoints. Remote setup is also possible in certain free zones, meaning physical presence in Dubai during the application process is not always required.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement for this licence
For most free zone structures, there is no mandatory minimum share capital requirement when obtaining an Engineering Design and Consulting licence. This makes the licence accessible to solo practitioners and small firms without significant upfront capital commitments.
Mainland requirements may differ depending on the specific structure and any additional approvals required. It is advisable to confirm current requirements with the relevant authority — the DED for mainland and the relevant free zone authority for free zone setups — at the time of application.
What are the regulatory bodies involved in obtaining this licence
Several regulatory bodies may be involved depending on the jurisdiction and structure chosen for your engineering consultancy.
- Dubai Municipality — involved in professional qualification approvals, particularly for mainland engineering consultancies
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) — the issuing authority for mainland licences
- Relevant free zone authority — such as Meydan Free Zone, for free zone licence applications
Mainland applicants should anticipate engagement with both the DED and the Dubai Municipality Engineering Department as part of their setup process.
Why is Meydan Free Zone highlighted as an option for engineering consultancies
Meydan Free Zone is positioned as a practical and cost-efficient option specifically for boutique engineering consultancies, solo practitioners, and SME design firms serving private developers or international clients.
Key advantages cited include 100% foreign ownership with no paid-up capital requirement, competitive annual licence fees, scalable visa allocation, and the ability to complete setup remotely without needing to be physically present in Dubai during the process.
It is best suited to firms whose client base does not depend on direct UAE government contracts, since free zone entities generally cannot access public-sector tenders without additional structural arrangements.
Engineering Design and Consulting License in Dubai
Dubai's construction pipeline, infrastructure expansion and Vision 2030-aligned megaprojects keep producing work for firms that design and advise rather than build. Activity code 7110.02 is the license for that.
It is a professional services license with a clear edge to it: you produce drawings, reports and assessments, and you supervise. You do not construct and you do not supply equipment. This guide covers the scope, the jurisdiction decision, the costs, and where the timeline actually goes.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7110.02 sits in ISIC Division 71 and authorises engineering design, technical consulting, feasibility studies, project supervision and related advisory work. The scope is multidisciplinary: structural, civil, mechanical, electrical and combined services all sit inside it.
What you can produce
- Design drawings and specifications
- Engineering feasibility studies
- Technical reports and technical due diligence
- Value engineering assessments
- Project supervision and structural assessments
- Multidisciplinary consulting
All of that runs under a single license, which is what makes the code useful for a practice that works across disciplines.
What is excluded
- Hands-on construction
- Physical contracting work
- Equipment supply
Each of those needs its own license category. A firm that wants to design and build has to hold more than one license, structured properly for each. This is a professional services license, not a trade, industrial or contracting one, and that distinction has both operational and commercial consequences.
Who Your Clients Will Be
The buyers are the people who own, fund or deliver built assets:
- Real estate developers
- Government entities
- EPC contractors
- Asset owners
The license suits structural engineers, multidisciplinary consultancies and solo technical advisers alike. That range is worth noting, because the same code carries a single experienced engineer advising on structural assessments and a mid-size firm running supervision across several projects.
Mainland or Free Zone
Get this wrong and you are either locked out of government tenders or carrying overheads you did not need.
Mainland
A license from the Department of Economy and Tourism lets you contract directly with UAE government entities and bid on public sector infrastructure tenders. For a consultancy targeting municipal projects, road authorities or utility providers, that is not a preference. It is a prerequisite.
Free zone
A free zone license removes the qualification approval friction, sets up faster, gives full foreign ownership with no capital to fund, and costs less to run. The trade-off is that direct government contracts are generally off the table without further arrangements.
Meydan Free Zone for smaller practices
It suits boutique consultancies, solo practitioners and SME design firms serving private developers or international clients: full ownership with no paid-up capital, competitive annual fees, scalable visa allocation, flexi-desk arrangements, and setup that can be completed remotely without being in Dubai.
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Step by Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, confirm your activity scope: Check that 7110.02 covers the services you intend to offer, against the relevant authority's activity list, before submitting anything.
- Step 2, choose your jurisdiction: Assess your client base and whether you intend to bid on government tenders. This decision drives cost, timeline and long-term flexibility.
- Step 3, book your trade name: Submit the initial application with passport copies, a business plan summary and your activity declaration. Name reservation usually completes in 1 to 2 working days.
- Step 4, get initial approval: Mainland applicants submit professional qualification documents to the Dubai Municipality Engineering Department at this stage. Free zone applicants move straight on.
- Step 5, secure your premises: A flexi-desk is accepted in most free zones. Mainland professional licenses typically need a physical office with an Ejari-registered tenancy.
- Step 6, pay your fees and collect your license: Then apply for your establishment card and confirm your visa quota. In free zones this often completes within 3 to 5 working days of payment.
- Step 7, open a corporate bank account: Allow 4 to 8 weeks. Have your license, Memorandum of Association and activity documentation ready, because banks look closely at engineering and consulting companies.
Delays here almost always come from skipping the qualification checks or underestimating the bank account.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
Professional qualification approval
For mainland consultancies this is the step that sets your timeline. Qualification documents go to the Dubai Municipality Engineering Department, and it is a large part of why mainland setup runs 3 to 6 weeks against 5 to 10 working days in a free zone. Prepare certified credentials before you start rather than during.
Visas follow your structure
On the mainland, visa eligibility is tied to physical office size. Free zones sell fixed visa packages instead. Work out your expected headcount before choosing a package, because upgrading part way through a term costs more than buying correctly at the start.
Renewals
Annual renewal is compulsory in every jurisdiction. Failing to renew triggers fines and can lead to blacklisting, which is a disproportionate outcome for a missed date. Set a reminder 90 days before expiry.
VAT
Registration becomes compulsory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000, and engineering consulting is standard-rated at 5%.
Market Opportunity
The demand behind this license is generated by a construction and infrastructure programme that has not slowed, and by megaprojects tied to Vision 2030. Both produce work at design stage, which is where this license sits.
The commercial appeal is the range of deliverables under one code. Feasibility studies pay early in a project. Design drawings and specifications carry the main fee. Value engineering assessments get commissioned when budgets tighten, which means they arrive precisely when other work is being cut. Site supervision runs through construction. A firm that offers all four is exposed to the project's whole life rather than a single stage.
The cost of entry is also low for what is a credential-driven business. No paid-up capital in most free zones, a license from AED 12,000, a flexi-desk instead of an office, and remote setup mean the barrier is your engineering qualifications rather than your balance sheet. That favours experienced individuals leaving larger firms, which is a common route into this market.
Conclusion
An engineering design and consulting license under code 7110.02 is a simple professional license to get. The framework is established, the scope is clearly bounded, and both routes work depending on your model.
The real decisions are jurisdiction, office structure, and whether your target clients need you to hold a mainland presence. Settle those upfront and the process is predictable. Defer them and you risk restructuring later at higher cost.
Use the cost calculator to estimate your budget, or speak to a setup adviser about the right structure for your practice.
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