Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Activity Code 7110.74 and what does it permit in Dubai
Activity Code 7110.74 refers to Metal Engineering Services and falls under ISIC Division 71 – Architectural and Engineering Activities. It authorises engineering-led work related to metal systems and structures, including design, specification, analysis, and technical consultancy.
This licence is distinct from a manufacturing or fabrication licence. If your business designs or advises on metal structures rather than producing them at industrial scale, Activity Code 7110.74 is the correct classification. Large-scale metal production would require a separate industrial manufacturing licence.
What types of work are permitted under a Metal Engineering Services licence
The licence covers a range of engineering-led activities. Permitted work includes structural metal engineering design and specification, technical consulting on fabrication processes and material selection, and site inspection and quality assurance for metal installations.
Businesses can also provide engineering drawings, load calculations, compliance reporting, and advisory services for metal-based construction and industrial components. Relevant sectors include construction, oil and gas, infrastructure, commercial fit-out, heavy equipment, and industrial plant engineering.
Should I set up on the mainland or in a free zone for Metal Engineering Services
The right jurisdiction depends on your client base and operational model. A mainland licence issued by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) allows direct contracts with UAE government entities and private sector clients without restriction, making it the practical choice if your pipeline includes public infrastructure or large developer relationships.
A free zone setup such as Meydan Free Zone offers 100% foreign ownership, faster incorporation, and lower overhead. It suits consultancy-led operations, remote-capable teams, and businesses serving international or free zone-based clients. Note that free zone entities cannot directly execute onshore contracts without a local distributor or branch arrangement.
How long does it take to set up a Metal Engineering Services licence in Dubai
Setup timelines vary by jurisdiction. A free zone licence can typically be established in 3–7 working days when documentation is in order. A mainland licence through Dubai Economy and Tourism generally takes 2–4 weeks.
Having your documentation prepared in advance is the most reliable way to keep the process on the shorter end of these timelines. The overall process is described as straightforward once paperwork is correctly assembled.
Is there a minimum share capital requirement for this licence
For most free zone structures, there is no fixed minimum share capital requirement when setting up a Metal Engineering Services licence under Activity Code 7110.74. This makes entry relatively accessible for smaller consultancies and lean engineering teams.
Requirements can vary depending on the specific free zone or mainland authority involved, so it is worth confirming the current rules with the relevant authority — such as Meydan Free Zone or Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) — at the time of application.
Can foreign nationals own 100% of a Metal Engineering Services company in Dubai
Yes. 100% foreign ownership is available through free zone structures such as Meydan Free Zone, which has historically been one of the primary advantages of the free zone route for international investors and engineers.
Mainland companies also now permit full foreign ownership for most commercial and professional activities following the 2021 UAE Companies Law amendments. This means foreign nationals are no longer required to hold a local Emirati partner for the majority of business activities, including engineering consultancy.
Does a Metal Engineering Services licence make the holder eligible for UAE residence visas
Yes. Visa eligibility is available under a Metal Engineering Services licence. The number of visas a company can sponsor is typically determined by office or facility size rather than a fixed quota tied to the licence type itself.
Both mainland and free zone setups provide a pathway to UAE residence visas for the business owner and employees. If scaling headcount is a priority, it is worth confirming the visa allocation rules with your chosen jurisdiction — whether Meydan Free Zone or a mainland DET structure — before finalising your setup.
What VAT obligations apply to a Metal Engineering Services business in Dubai
The standard UAE VAT registration threshold of AED 375,000 in annual turnover applies to Metal Engineering Services businesses. This threshold applies equally whether the company is set up on the mainland or within a free zone.
Once turnover exceeds this threshold, registration with the Federal Tax Authority is mandatory. Businesses operating below the threshold may still register voluntarily. Engineering consultancies serving international clients should also consider the VAT treatment of cross-border services, which may qualify for zero-rating in certain circumstances.
Metal Engineering Services License in Dubai
Dubai keeps building, and everything it builds needs steel. Towers, refineries, bridges, plant rooms: someone has to design the metal, specify it, and sign off that it will hold. That work sits under activity code 7110.74.
This guide covers what a Metal Engineering Services license allows, who needs one, how to get it, and what the rules look like once you are trading.
Key Stats at a Glance
What the Metal Engineering Services License Covers
Activity code 7110.74 sits in ISIC Division 71, which covers architectural, engineering, and related technical consultancy. Applied to metal, it authorises engineering work rather than production.
That line matters. If you design, specify, analyse, or advise on metal structures, this is your code. If you fabricate metal at scale, you need a separate industrial manufacturing license.
Here is what you can do under it:
- Structural metal engineering design and specification
- Technical consulting on fabrication processes and material selection
- Site inspection and quality assurance for metal installations
- Engineering drawings, load calculations, and compliance reporting
- Advisory work on metal-based construction and industrial components
Your clients will come from construction, oil and gas, infrastructure, commercial fit-out, heavy equipment, and industrial plant engineering. All of those are busy in the UAE right now.
Mainland vs Free Zone: Choosing the Right Jurisdiction
This is the biggest choice you will make when setting up. It decides who you can sign contracts with, what you pay, and how fast you can add staff.
A mainland license from Dubai Economy and Tourism lets you sign directly with UAE government bodies and private clients. If municipality contracts, public infrastructure, or big developer relationships are in your pipeline, go mainland.
A free zone gives you full foreign ownership, faster setup, and lower cost. It fits consultancy work, remote-capable teams, and clients who are international or free zone based. If you need physical fabrication, warehousing, or direct onshore delivery, look at the mainland or a free zone with industrial units.
Two more points worth knowing: the mainland now permits full foreign ownership on most commercial and professional activities under the 2021 UAE Companies Law amendments, and the VAT registration threshold of AED 375,000 applies the same way in both jurisdictions.
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Step-by-Step License Setup Guide
Setup is simple once your paperwork is in order. The steps below apply broadly, with small differences between mainland and free zone authorities.
- Step 1, define your legal structure: Sole establishment, LLC on the mainland, or a free zone company. This choice affects liability, ownership, and your banking options.
- Step 2, book your trade name: Submit your preferred name through DET or your free zone portal. It must follow UAE naming rules.
- Step 3, file for initial approval: State activity code 7110.74 on the application. This starts the authority's internal review.
- Step 4, secure your registered address: A physical office, flexi-desk, or virtual office, depending on your jurisdiction and how many visas you need.
- Step 5, submit supporting documents: MOA and AOA, passport copies for all shareholders and managers, and any professional qualification papers the authority asks for.
- Step 6, pay the fees and collect your trade license: Free zone timelines run 3 to 7 working days once documents are complete.
- Step 7, apply for your establishment card, then visas: Investor and employee visas are processed after the license is issued.
For mainland applications through DET, expect to be asked for engineering qualifications. Get your degree certificates attested before you submit, not after.
Documents you will usually need
- Passport copies of all shareholders and managers
- A no-objection letter if you are currently employed elsewhere in the UAE
- Attested engineering qualifications for mainland, assessed case by case
- Tenancy contract or Ejari registration for mainland office space
Costs, Visas, and Ongoing Compliance
License fees
Free zone packages for metal engineering start at roughly AED 12,000 to 18,000 a year, depending on the package and how many visas are included. Meydan Free Zone prices its entry-level packages competitively for consultancy work. Mainland DET fees vary with activity and office size, usually AED 15,000 to 25,000 a year.
Visas
Your quota follows your office. A flexi-desk usually supports one to three visas. A dedicated office scales up with the floor area you take.
Renewals
Annual renewal is compulsory. Let the license lapse and you get fines, and visas for sponsored staff can be cancelled.
Tax
VAT registration kicks in once turnover passes AED 375,000, and engineering services are standard-rated at 5% under Federal Tax Authority rules. Corporate tax of 9% applies to taxable income above AED 375,000 from June 2023, per the UAE Ministry of Finance. Keep proper books from day one, because both filings depend on them.
Conclusion
A Metal Engineering Services license under activity code 7110.74 is a workable structure for engineers, technical consultants, and project firms working across Dubai's construction and industrial sectors. The activity is clearly defined, the rules are stable, and infrastructure, real estate, and energy projects keep generating work for people who know what they are doing.
Jurisdiction is the decision that matters most: mainland for direct government and private contracts, free zone for leaner consultancy work. Setup itself is simple with the right paperwork. Compliance, especially VAT and corporate tax, needs proper accounting from the start.
If you want to confirm activity eligibility, compare costs, or get your license issued without back and forth, speak to the Meydan Free Zone setup team.
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