Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is activity code 7490.12 and what types of consulting does it cover
Activity code 7490.12 falls under ISIC division 7490, which covers professional, scientific, and technical activities not classified elsewhere. It is a broad category designed for specialist advisory work that sits outside architecture, engineering, and management consulting.
Eligible disciplines include environmental consulting, HR advisory, public relations consulting, translation advisory, safety consulting, and research services, among other niche technical advisory roles. If your consulting work is knowledge-based and does not fall under codes 7110, 7120, or 7020, this code almost certainly applies to you.
You can verify the activity and its current classification directly via the Invest in Dubai portal.
Who is the 7490.12 consultancy licence most suited for
This licence is designed for specialists in fields such as environmental advisory, communications, research, HR, safety, and niche technical sectors who need a legal operating base in the UAE.
It is equally relevant to solo practitioners, boutique consultancies, and multi-discipline advisory firms. Expat founders and international SMEs seeking a UAE hub for Gulf-wide consulting mandates will also find it a practical fit.
Can a foreign national own 100% of a consultancy business in Dubai
Yes. 100% foreign ownership is now permitted for most consulting activities on the mainland following amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law. This removed the previous requirement for a local Emirati partner in many professional service categories.
Free zone entities have long permitted full foreign ownership, and this remains unchanged. The specific ownership structure available to you will depend on your chosen jurisdiction and legal entity type.
What is the difference between setting up on the mainland versus in a free zone
Mainland (DED) is better suited to client-facing local work and government contracts, as it allows you to operate freely across the UAE without restrictions on who you can trade with.
Free zones such as Meydan Free Zone are well suited to remote service delivery or internationally focused consulting. They typically offer flexi-desk arrangements instead of requiring a full physical office, which reduces overhead considerably. Free zone entities also benefit from 0% corporate tax on qualifying income and full profit repatriation.
What corporate tax rate applies to consultancy businesses in Dubai
The UAE applies a 9% corporate tax on taxable income above AED 375,000, as confirmed by the Federal Tax Authority. Income below this threshold is not subject to corporate tax.
Free zone entities can benefit from a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, provided they meet the conditions set out under the UAE Corporate Tax Law. It is advisable to seek qualified tax advice to confirm your entity's eligibility for free zone tax treatment.
What documents are typically required to apply for this consultancy licence
Standard documentation requirements include passport copies, a UAE entry visa, and a no-objection certificate (NOC) if you are currently employed by another entity in the UAE. Some authorities also require a business plan.
For mainland applications, you will also need a physical tenancy contract registered via Ejari to confirm your office address. Free zone applicants can usually substitute this with a flexi-desk agreement, simplifying the process and reducing upfront costs.
How long does it take to receive a consultancy licence in Dubai
Licence issuance typically takes 5 to 15 working days, depending on the jurisdiction chosen and how complete your documentation is at the point of submission.
Delays most commonly arise from document gaps or jurisdiction mismatches rather than regulatory complexity. Working through the steps in order and confirming all requirements with your chosen authority before submission is the most effective way to avoid hold-ups.
What legal structures are available when setting up under activity code 7490.12
The main options are a sole establishment, a limited liability company (LLC), or a free zone entity. Each carries different implications for liability, ownership, and banking.
A sole establishment is straightforward for individual practitioners but offers no liability separation. An LLC provides liability protection and suits multi-partner setups on the mainland. A free zone entity combines full foreign ownership with simplified setup requirements, making it popular for internationally focused consultancies. The right choice depends on your client base, risk profile, and long-term growth plans.
How to Start Consultancy Licensing (Other Than Architecture, Engineering & Management) in Dubai
Dubai's consulting sector is much wider than architecture, engineering and management. If your expertise sits outside those three, activity code 7490.12 is the license that puts you in business.
This guide covers what the code actually covers, who it suits, the choice between mainland and free zone, and the exact steps to get licensed.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7490.12 is deliberately broad. It exists to catch specialist advisory work that does not fit the tighter codes for architecture (7110), engineering (7120) or management consulting (7020).
Disciplines that sit under it include:
- Environmental consulting
- HR advisory
- Public relations consulting
- Translation advisory
- Safety consulting
- Research services
- A range of sector-specific technical advisory roles
The test is simple. If your work is knowledge-based and does not fall under those three excluded codes, this is almost certainly yours. You can check the activity and its current classification on the Invest in Dubai portal.
Who Your Clients Will Be
The license suits specialists who need a legal base in the UAE: environmental advisers, communications people, researchers, HR consultants, safety experts and niche technical advisers.
It works equally for a solo practitioner, a boutique consultancy and a multi-discipline advisory firm. It is also a common route for expat founders and international SMEs who want a UAE hub for Gulf-wide mandates, working from Dubai and serving clients across the region.
Mainland or Free Zone
This is the biggest choice you will make when setting up. Let your clients decide it, not the price.
For most solo consultants and small advisory firms serving international clients, a free zone is the more efficient starting point. If your target work is government contracts and local client-facing projects, the mainland is the better fit.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
The process is linear. Delays almost always come from missing documents or a jurisdiction mismatch, not from the rules being complicated. Work through it in order.
- Step 1, choose your jurisdiction: Mainland or free zone, decided by where your clients are.
- Step 2, confirm your activity code: Check 7490.12 with the relevant authority, either through DET e-Services for the mainland or with your chosen free zone.
- Step 3, book your trade name: It must follow UAE naming rules, so no religious terms, no geopolitical entities and nothing that clashes with a registered mark.
- Step 4, choose your legal structure: A sole establishment, a limited liability company or a free zone entity. Each one differs on liability, ownership and banking.
- Step 5, prepare your documents: Passport copies, UAE entry visa, a no-objection certificate if you are currently employed, and a business plan where the authority asks for one.
- Step 6, sort your office address: Mainland needs an Ejari tenancy contract. Free zones usually accept a flexi-desk, which keeps your costs down.
- Step 7, submit and pay: Send the application, pay the license fees and get initial approval. Fees vary by jurisdiction and legal form.
- Step 8, apply for visas: Mainland visas run through MOHRE. Free zones handle visa processing themselves.
- Step 9, open a corporate bank account: Allow four to eight weeks. Banks want your license, your memorandum of association and evidence of real business activity, and a clear model with a documented client pipeline speeds things up.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
License renewal
Your license renews every year. Miss the window and you face financial penalties, and if it stays unresolved you can be blacklisted, which makes banking and future applications much harder. Put the date in your calendar well ahead of expiry.
Corporate tax
Registration with the Federal Tax Authority is mandatory once turnover passes AED 375,000, and depending on your structure it may be needed below that too. Deal with it before you are profitable, not after.
Sector approvals
Some consulting sub-activities carry an extra layer. Environmental advisory, for example, may need sign-off from the relevant municipality or environmental authority. Confirm any sector-specific approval before you start client work.
Staff and records
On the mainland you must register with MOHRE before hiring anyone. Proper accounting records, including auditable financials, are required under UAE corporate tax law whichever jurisdiction you pick.
Market Opportunity
The professional services market here is growing, helped along by the Vision 2031 diversification targets, and Dubai is where most of the consulting work sits. The emirate produces over 30% of UAE GDP, so the density of clients is simply higher than anywhere else in the country.
The other thing worth noting is how little it takes to start. A consultancy has no stock and no equipment. With a flexi-desk covering your address and a license issued in a couple of weeks, you can be trading quickly and scale up only when the work justifies it.
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Conclusion
Activity code 7490.12 opens up a wide and commercially solid consulting category, covering everything from environmental and HR advisory to PR, safety and specialist technical fields.
Setup is simple when your jurisdiction, structure and documents line up from the start. Mainland suits people chasing local contracts. Free zone suits leaner, internationally focused firms. Either way, the compliance basics are not optional: register for tax, renew on time, and keep proper accounts.
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