Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Publications of Brochures & Leaflets licence (Activity Code 7310.13) actually cover
Activity Code 7310.13 covers the design, production, and publication of brochures, leaflets, and promotional print materials intended for commercial distribution. It sits under ISIC Division 73 — Advertising and is distinct from a general printing licence.
Permitted activities include designing and laying out promotional print collateral, publishing and distributing brochures on behalf of third-party clients, and producing brand communication materials for sectors such as events, retail, real estate, and hospitality.
Who needs a Publications of Brochures & Leaflets licence in Dubai
Businesses whose core commercial output involves creating and distributing printed promotional collateral require this licence. Typical applicants include advertising agencies, print studios, marketing consultancies, and corporate in-house publishing units.
If your work spans product launches, property marketing, or event promotion through physical print materials, Activity Code 7310.13 is the applicable classification. Using an incorrect activity code can cause issues at the approval stage.
What is the estimated cost to set up this licence in Dubai
Setup costs typically range from AED 12,000 to AED 25,000, depending on the jurisdiction chosen (mainland or free zone) and the legal structure of the business.
A mainland licence via the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) generally carries higher costs due to physical office requirements, while a free zone option such as Meydan Free Zone can reduce initial overhead through flexi-desk arrangements.
What is the difference between a mainland and free zone licence for this activity
A mainland licence issued by the DED allows you to service clients directly across Dubai and the wider UAE without restrictions. It is the preferred route for agencies working with government entities or large corporates that require a mainland-registered vendor. It requires a physical office registered under Ejari and compliance with MOHRE staffing ratios.
A free zone licence — such as one issued through Meydan Free Zone — offers 100% foreign ownership, lower initial costs, and faster incorporation. However, free zone entities cannot contract directly with mainland clients without a local distributor or branch arrangement.
Which regulatory bodies oversee this licence and published materials
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DED) handles mainland commercial licence and activity approvals. Their e-services portal is available at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae.
The UAE Media Council oversees content compliance for all published materials distributed publicly in the UAE. This requirement applies regardless of whether your business is on the mainland or in a free zone. Their portal is at uaemc.gov.ae. VAT matters are handled by the Federal Tax Authority at tax.gov.ae.
Does the UAE Media Council apply to free zone businesses publishing brochures
Yes. The UAE Media Council's content compliance requirements apply to all businesses publishing materials for public distribution in the UAE — mainland and free zone alike.
Any company producing brochures or leaflets intended for commercial distribution must ensure its content meets the council's regulatory standards. This is a federal-level requirement and is not jurisdiction-dependent.
What is the VAT registration threshold for businesses holding this licence
Businesses operating under this licence must register for VAT with the Federal Tax Authority once their annual turnover exceeds AED 375,000.
VAT registration is managed through the Federal Tax Authority portal at tax.gov.ae. Businesses approaching this threshold should monitor their turnover carefully to ensure timely registration and avoid penalties.
Can additional activity codes be added to a Publications of Brochures & Leaflets licence
Yes. If your operation includes related services such as graphic design or general advertising, additional activity codes can be added at the application stage. It is important to confirm this during the initial activity mapping step before submitting your licence application.
Accurately mapping all intended activities from the outset avoids complications during approval and ensures your licence fully reflects the scope of your commercial operations.
Publications of Brochures & Leaflets License in Dubai
Print is not dead in Dubai. Retail launches, real estate projects, hotels, and events all still lean on brochures and leaflets to reach buyers, and someone has to design, produce, and publish that material for them.
This guide covers what the Publications of Brochures and Leaflets license, activity code 7310.13, lets you do, who needs it, how you set it up, and roughly what it costs.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Activity code | 7310.13 |
|---|---|
| Activity name | Publications of Brochures and Leaflets |
| Sector code | ISIC Division 73, Advertising |
| License type | Commercial |
| Jurisdiction | Dubai Mainland (DET) or Free Zone (Meydan Free Zone) |
| Main regulator | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) |
| Content regulator | UAE Media Council |
| Estimated setup cost | AED 12,000 to AED 25,000, depending on jurisdiction and structure |
| VAT threshold | AED 375,000 taxable turnover a year – Federal Tax Authority |
What This License Covers
Activity code 7310.13 sits under the advertising sector code, ISIC Division 73. It covers designing, producing, and publishing brochures, leaflets, and promotional print material meant for commercial distribution. It is not a general printing license, and that difference matters when your application gets reviewed.
Work under this code includes:
- Designing and laying out promotional print for clients or your own brand
- Publishing and distributing brochures and leaflets for third-party clients
- Producing brand material for events, retail, real estate, and hospitality clients
Whatever your client sells, if the job is print collateral meant for public or commercial distribution, this is the code you need.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Your buyers are typically advertising agencies, print studios, marketing consultancies, and in-house publishing teams inside bigger companies. If your core output is designing and distributing printed promotional material, whether for a product launch, a property listing, or an event, this license fits your business.
The UAE Media Council watches content shown to the public across the UAE. Any business publishing material for public distribution has to meet its standards, and that rule applies the same way whether you sit on the mainland or in a free zone.
Some agencies also take on related work alongside brochures and leaflets, such as broader brand campaigns or general advertising design. If that describes your business, plan to add those activity codes at the same time you apply, rather than going back for them later.
Mainland or Free Zone
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone (Meydan Free Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Client access | Direct across Dubai and the wider UAE | Mainly regional and international clients |
| Foreign ownership | Set by DET rules for the activity | 100% yours |
| Office | Ejari-registered office needed | Flexi-desk usually works |
| Setup speed | Three to six weeks | Two to four weeks |
A DET mainland license lets you work with government bodies, large corporates, and any client that insists on a mainland-registered vendor, but you need an Ejari office and you have to follow MOHRE staffing rules once you hire. Meydan Free Zone gives you full ownership, a lower cost base, and a faster start, though you will need a local distributor or a branch arrangement to contract directly with mainland clients. Let your client base decide it, not the price.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, confirm your activity mapping: Check that code 7310.13 matches your real scope of work. If you also do graphic design or general advertising, add those codes now.
- Step 2, choose your jurisdiction and structure: Pick mainland or free zone, then an LLC or sole establishment for mainland, or an FZ-LLC or branch for a free zone.
- Step 3, book your trade name: Submit a trade name booking through DET or your free zone authority. Names must not clash with existing ones or break UAE naming rules.
- Step 4, send in your initial approval documents: You typically need passport copies of every shareholder, a short business plan summary, and a No Objection Certificate if you are sponsored by an employer.
- Step 5, secure your office: Mainland needs an Ejari tenancy agreement. Most free zones accept a flexi-desk or shared workspace for this activity.
- Step 6, register with the UAE Media Council: If you publish material for public distribution, get this registration in place before you start work.
- Step 7, pay your fees and collect your license: Once approvals clear, pay the license fees and collect your trade license. Register for VAT with the Federal Tax Authority if you expect to pass AED 375,000 in turnover.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
DET commercial license
Your mainland trade license comes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. It covers your commercial activity and stays valid through annual renewal.
UAE Media Council registration
The council checks content compliance for anything you publish for public distribution. This rule is federal and applies the same way to mainland and free zone businesses, so do not skip it because you sit in a free zone.
VAT and the Federal Tax Authority
Register once your yearly turnover passes AED 375,000. VAT at 5% applies to B2B advertising and publication work, so file through the Federal Tax Authority on schedule.
MOHRE and staffing
If you hire on the mainland, follow MOHRE rules on Emiratisation and wage protection. Free zone staffing rules are lighter but still need proper contracts.
Annual renewal
Budget every year for office lease renewal, visa renewals, and Media Council re-registration. Treat these as fixed costs in your plan, not surprises.
Market Opportunity
Retail, real estate, hospitality, and events all keep spending on print collateral, and each of those sectors needs an outside partner to design, produce, and publish it. Corporate in-house publishing teams add another steady stream of work, since many companies would rather outsource a print run than build the skill in house.
The setup cost sits in a modest AED 12,000 to AED 25,000 range, which keeps the barrier to entry low next to the recurring revenue a good publishing client relationship can bring. Because the UAE Media Council rule applies to every business publishing material for the public, whatever jurisdiction you pick, compliance is not a competitive edge you can dodge. It is simply the cost of doing business, and getting it right from day one is what lets you scale into bigger retail, real estate, and events accounts.
Conclusion
The Publications of Brochures and Leaflets license is a workable commercial activity inside Dubai's advertising sector code, but your jurisdiction choice, Media Council compliance, and VAT duties all need proper structuring from the start. Whether you set up on the mainland or in a free zone, the basics stay the same: the right activity code, the right approvals, and clean ongoing compliance.
Speak to a setup adviser to check the right jurisdiction and structure for your publishing business before you apply.
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