Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a laundry services business in Dubai?
A laundry services business provides washing, dry-cleaning, and care of clothing, textiles, and related items for both households and commercial clients such as hotels, restaurants, and gyms, operating under activity code 9601.95.
Do I need third-party approval to start a laundry business in Dubai?
No, activity 9601.95 does not require any third-party approval, which keeps the setup process direct.
Is a laundry business subject to AML requirements?
No, activity 9601.95 is exempt from AML requirements at the activity level.
What types of laundry services can I offer under this license?
Washing and dry-cleaning of garments (including fur), pressing and finishing, collection and delivery, carpet and rug shampooing, drapery and curtain cleaning, linen and uniform supply, and diaper supply. Minor repairs only if part of cleaning.
What is excluded from activity 9601.95?
Renting out clothing other than work uniforms (even if cleaning is included) is excluded. Independent repair and alteration services that are not connected to the cleaning process are also excluded from this activity.
How To Start a Laundry Business in Dubai With Meydan Free Zone
From hotel linens to daily dry cleaning, laundry services are woven into the fabric of Dubai’s fast-paced lifestyle. According to Statista Market Insights¹, the Home and Laundry Care market in the UAE is projected to generate US$546.20 million in 2025, with a steady 1.77% CAGR between 2025 and 2029. This rise is fuelled by the city’s growing expat population, a thriving hospitality sector serving millions of tourist stays each year, and a shift toward convenience-driven services.
The National, citing the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism², reports that Dubai welcomed 18.72 million international visitors in 2024, with the hospitality footprint that comes with them, hotels, restaurants, and serviced apartments, generating recurring volumes of bedding, towels, uniforms, and linen that need professional cleaning.
As more families and businesses rely on outsourced laundry, the demand for licensed service providers offering everything from pressing and dry cleaning to linen rentals and specialised fabric care continues to climb.
For entrepreneurs, this isn’t just about keeping clothes spotless. It’s about stepping into a market that promises consistency, credibility, and growth.
Securing a laundry license in Dubai through Meydan Free Zone positions you at the centre of a thriving service industry that caters to hotels, gyms, corporates, and busy households. With 100% ownership, a fast digital setup, and access to banking and visas, Meydan Free Zone gives you the structure and support to launch confidently and scale your laundry business as part of the city’s everyday rhythm.
Dubai’s Laundry Market at a Glance
Dubai’s laundry market sits on three steady demand sources: a growing expat population, a hospitality sector that handles millions of tourist stays per year, and a daily-life culture that increasingly outsources home tasks. The numbers point to a market with real consistency.
Dubai’s laundry market rests on the UAE Home and Laundry Care segment, projected at US$546.20 million in 2025, plus the linen and uniform volumes generated by 18.72 million international visitors to Dubai in 2024 alone. That mix of household, hospitality, and corporate demand is what makes the activity recurring rather than one-off.
Sources: Statista: Home and Laundry Care, UAE Market Forecast (2025); The National: Dubai attracted 17 million international tourists in the first 11 months of 2024 (Jan 2025).
Laundry Services (9601.95)
This is a business activity that covers the washing, dry-cleaning, and care of clothing, textiles, and related items. It applies to both the general public (households) and to industrial or commercial clients such as hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Services can be provided using mechanical equipment, by hand, or through self-service coin-operated machines.
At a glance, the services this license covers are:
- Laundering and dry-cleaning of garments, including fur items, pressing, and finishing
- Collection and delivery of laundry
- Carpet and rug shampooing
- Cleaning of drapery and curtains, on-site or off-site
- Linen and uniform supply services such as workwear or hotel linens
- Diaper supply services
- Minor garment repair and alteration work, only when carried out as part of the cleaning process
This class does not include the rental of clothing other than work uniforms (even if cleaning is included), or independent repair and alteration services that are not connected to cleaning.
For example, a laundry business licensed with this activity could operate a dry-cleaning shop for households, provide carpet cleaning and curtain care, offer collection and delivery for busy families, and supply and maintain work uniforms for a corporate client. However, it would not be licensed to operate as a clothing rental service or a tailoring shop offering alterations as a stand-alone activity.
The four core demand segments named earlier, hotels, gyms, corporates, and busy households, each hire a different mix of services from a licensed laundry business. The table below shows what each segment typically buys.
| Client Type | Services They Typically Hire |
|---|---|
| Hotels and hospitality groups | Linen and uniform supply, bulk laundering and pressing of bedding and towels, drapery and curtain cleaning, and on-site collection and delivery |
| Gyms, spas, and salons | Towel laundering, uniform care for staff, and regular collection and delivery on a subscription basis |
| Corporate clients | Workwear and uniform supply and maintenance, dry-cleaning of suits and formal wear for staff, and managed pickup-and-delivery contracts |
| Busy households | Dry-cleaning of garments including fur items, pressing and finishing, carpet and rug shampooing, curtain cleaning, and home collection and delivery |
Third-party approval: This business activity does not require a third-party approval.
Anti-Money Laundering: The business activity (9601.95) is exempt from AML requirements.
Citations
1 Statista. Home & Laundry Care: United Arab Emirates Market Forecast. Statista Market Insights, 2025.
² The National, citing the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. “Dubai attracted 17 million international tourists in the first 11 months of 2024.” The National, January 2025.
