Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Activity Code 7020.98 cover for maritime consultancy in Dubai
Activity Code 7020.98 falls under ISIC Division 70.20 — Management Consultancy Activities, applied specifically to maritime operations. It is a professional advisory licence, not an operational one.
Permitted activities include port operations advisory, vessel management consulting, maritime logistics strategy, flag state compliance guidance, and crew management advisory. It is well suited to naval architects, ex-mariners, port planners, P&I correspondents, and maritime HR specialists.
The licence does not cover freight forwarding, ship brokerage, or cargo handling. Those functions carry separate activity codes and may require additional regulatory approvals. If your business combines advisory and operational work, you must list all relevant activities on the licence from the outset.
Should I set up a maritime consultancy on the Dubai mainland or in a free zone
The choice between mainland and free zone is structural and directly affects which clients you can serve. A mainland licence issued through Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) allows you to contract directly with UAE government entities, port authorities, and semi-government bodies — access that free zones do not automatically provide.
Free zones such as JAFZA, DMCC, and Meydan Free Zone offer 100% foreign ownership, no corporate tax on qualifying income under the UAE's 9% corporate tax regime, and faster setup timelines. JAFZA is particularly relevant given its physical proximity to Jebel Ali Port and the concentration of maritime businesses within its boundary.
If your primary clients are international shipping companies, vessel owners, or overseas port operators, a free zone structure is typically the more cost-efficient and administratively straightforward choice.
Can a foreign national own 100% of a maritime consultancy in Dubai
Yes, under both mainland and free zone structures. Following the 2021 Commercial Companies Law amendments, mainland LLCs can now be 100% foreign-owned, subject to activity classification. Maritime consultancy under Activity Code 7020.98 generally qualifies.
A mainland sole proprietorship, however, still requires a local service agent agreement with a UAE national. This agent holds no equity in the business but must be formally appointed. Free zones have always permitted 100% foreign ownership without this requirement, making them a popular choice for solo consultants and small teams.
What are the main steps to obtain a Maritime Consultancy Services licence in Dubai
The process begins with trade name reservation — checked and reserved through the DET portal for mainland or directly with the chosen free zone authority. Names implying government affiliation or using restricted terms such as 'international' require prior approval.
Next comes initial approval, which involves submitting passport copies, the proposed activity, and a business plan summary where required. DET initial approval typically takes one to three working days; free zones are often faster.
You then select a legal structure — sole establishment, LLC, or free zone FZ-LLC — and arrange compliant office space. Mainland licences require a tenancy contract registered via Ejari, while free zones offer flexi-desk arrangements at considerably lower cost.
Why is Dubai considered a strategically important base for maritime consultancy
Dubai sits at the intersection of East-West shipping lanes and handles over 14 million TEUs annually through Jebel Ali — the largest port in the Middle East and the 9th busiest globally. This volume of trade creates sustained demand for specialist maritime advisory services.
The UAE's maritime sector contributes approximately AED 150 billion to GDP, and Dubai's port efficiency is ranked in the top 10 globally by the World Bank Logistics Performance Index. For consultants targeting shipping companies, port operators, or vessel owners, few locations offer comparable client density and commercial logic.
Which free zone is best suited for a maritime consultancy in Dubai
JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone) carries the strongest sectoral relevance due to its physical location adjacent to Jebel Ali Port and the high concentration of shipping, logistics, and maritime businesses operating within its boundary. It is the natural choice for consultants whose work is closely tied to port operations or vessel management.
Meydan Free Zone suits lean consultancies prioritising low entry cost and remote setup capability, with no mandatory physical office at entry level. DMCC offers a well-regulated environment with strong international credibility, particularly useful for consultants serving commodity trading or vessel financing clients.
The right choice depends on your target client base, budget, and whether physical proximity to port infrastructure is operationally important to your practice.
What is the difference between a professional licence and a commercial licence for maritime consultancy
A professional licence is issued for knowledge-based, advisory, or skill-driven activities where the business delivers expertise rather than goods or operational services. Maritime consultancy under Activity Code 7020.98 typically qualifies as a professional activity, reflecting its purely advisory nature.
A commercial licence applies to trading, operational, or mixed-activity businesses. If a maritime business combines consultancy with freight forwarding, ship brokerage, or cargo handling, a commercial licence — or multiple activity listings — may be required. The applicable licence type can also vary depending on whether you set up on the mainland or within a specific free zone.
What activities are excluded from the Maritime Consultancy Services licence
The Maritime Consultancy Services licence under Activity Code 7020.98 is strictly an advisory licence. It does not permit freight forwarding, ship brokerage, or cargo handling — all of which carry separate activity codes and, in some cases, require additional regulatory approvals from bodies such as the Federal Transport Authority or UAE Maritime Authority.
If your business model involves both consultancy and any operational maritime function, you must list all relevant activities on the licence from the outset. Adding activities retrospectively is possible but involves additional fees and processing time, so it is more efficient to plan the full activity scope before submission.
Maritime Consultancy Services License in Dubai
Dubai sits where the East-West shipping lanes cross, and Jebel Ali moves more than 14 million TEUs a year. That volume creates a steady need for people who advise shipping companies on how to run their operations better. Activity code 7020.98 is the license for that advice.
This guide covers what the code permits, what it excludes, how it differs from the marine engineering code, and how to set up.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
Code 7020.98 is a professional advisory license, not an operational one. The permitted scope covers:
- Port operations advisory
- Vessel management consulting
- Maritime logistics strategy
- Flag state compliance guidance
- Crew management advisory
It suits naval architects, former mariners, port planners, P&I correspondents and maritime HR specialists working purely in an advisory capacity.
What It Does Not Cover
Three things sit outside this license: freight forwarding, ship brokerage and cargo handling. Each carries its own activity code and, in some cases, additional regulatory approval.
If your business combines advisory with any operational maritime function, list every relevant activity on the license from the start. Adding activities later is possible but costs more and takes longer, so plan your full scope before you submit.
How This Differs From Marine Services Consultancy
These two codes are easy to confuse, and holding the wrong one is an expensive mistake.
Put simply, 7020.98 is a management discipline applied to ships, and 7110.15 is an engineering discipline applied to ships. If your advice is commercial and operational, this is your code. If it is technical and engineering-led, look at 7110.15 instead, and note that it carries a credential requirement this one does not.
Mainland or Free Zone
This is the biggest choice you will make when setting up. Let your clients decide it, not the price.
Meydan Free Zone suits a lean consultancy: low entry cost, remote setup, and packages starting from AED 12,500 including the license and a flexi-desk.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, book your trade name: Check availability through the DET portal or your free zone. Avoid names implying government affiliation, and note that restricted terms such as "international" need prior approval.
- Step 2, get initial approval: Submit passport copies, your proposed activity and a business plan summary where required. DET initial approval usually takes one to three working days, and free zones are often faster.
- Step 3, choose your legal structure: Sole establishment, LLC or free zone entity. A mainland sole establishment under a professional license needs a local service agent agreement with a UAE national.
- Step 4, sort your office: A tenancy contract registered via Ejari for mainland, or a flexi-desk for free zone.
- Step 5, pay and collect your license: A mainland professional license typically runs AED 10,000 to AED 18,000 in year one, covering fees, name reservation, initial approval and Ejari registration. Renewals usually come in 20% to 30% lower.
- Step 6, apply for visas: Your quota activates once the license issues. Investor or partner visa first, then employment visas, adding two to three weeks to the timeline.
No special approvals from UAE maritime regulators are needed for a consultancy license, unlike operational maritime businesses. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure oversees maritime regulation, but advisory work under 7020.98 does not trigger its licensing requirements.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
Banking
Give this early attention. Account activation typically takes four to eight weeks, and several UAE banks are active with consultancy-category businesses and have workable onboarding for this license type.
Tax
VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000. Maritime consultancy delivered to overseas clients may qualify as zero-rated exports under UAE VAT law, but confirm the classification with a qualified UAE tax adviser before you file.
Scope
Because the excluded activities are commercially adjacent, watch for drift. A client who buys advisory today may ask you to broker or forward tomorrow, and that is a licensing decision rather than a commercial one.
Market Opportunity
The client density here is the argument. Few places put this many shipping companies, port operators and vessel owners within reach of one office, and Dubai's position on the East-West lanes means work flows through rather than depending on local demand alone.
The sector is also substantial in its own right, contributing around AED 150 billion to UAE GDP, and port efficiency in the global top 10 keeps the traffic coming.
For an advisory business the practical appeal is how little you need. There is no fleet, no yard and no stock, so a consultant with the right experience can be trading within a week on a flexi-desk license.
Conclusion
A maritime consultancy license under 7020.98 is a clean, low-barrier entry into one of the UAE's most active sectors.
Jurisdiction follows your client profile: free zone for international advisory mandates, mainland if you are targeting UAE port authorities or government-linked entities. Before you apply, satisfy yourself that 7020.98 rather than 7110.15 is the right code for the kind of advice you sell.
Use the cost calculator for a breakdown tailored to your structure, or speak to the Meydan Free Zone team to confirm your jurisdiction.
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