Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the activity code for Quantity Surveyors in Dubai and what does it cover
The activity code for Quantity Surveyors in Dubai is 7490.06, classified under ISIC Division 74 — Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities. It authorises a business to provide professional quantity surveying services across the construction and real estate sectors.
Permitted activities include cost estimation and budgeting, preparation of bills of quantities and tender documentation, contract administration, interim valuation, value engineering, and procurement strategy advisory. Clients typically include property developers, main contractors, government project offices, and project management consultancies.
It is important to note that this is a consultancy licence covering advisory and professional services only. If your firm intends to carry out physical surveying works on site as a contractor, a separate contractor classification is required.
Can a foreign national own 100% of a Quantity Surveyors business in Dubai
Yes. 100% foreign ownership is available for quantity surveying businesses in Dubai through both mainland and free zone structures.
On the mainland, the 2021 amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law removed the previous requirement for a local Emirati partner holding 51%, meaning foreign investors can now fully own a professional services company registered with the DED for most activities, including quantity surveying.
In free zones such as Meydan Free Zone, 100% foreign ownership has always been standard. This makes both jurisdictions viable options depending on your commercial priorities.
What is the estimated cost to set up a Quantity Surveyors licence in Dubai
Setup costs vary depending on the jurisdiction chosen. As a general guide, costs start from approximately AED 12,000 for a free zone licence and rise to AED 25,000 or more for a mainland (DED) licence.
These figures typically cover licence fees and basic registration but may not include costs for office space, visa fees, or additional regulatory approvals. For example, engineering and surveying activities may require approval from Dubai Municipality or another relevant technical authority, which can add to the overall cost and timeline.
Free zone options such as Meydan Free Zone offer flexible workspace arrangements including virtual offices and flexi-desks, helping sole practitioners and small consultancies keep overheads lean during the early stages of operation.
What is the difference between setting up on Dubai Mainland versus a Free Zone for a QS firm
The jurisdiction decision is commercial, not just administrative, and affects who you can contract with, your overhead structure, and how quickly you can mobilise. Both options permit 100% foreign ownership, but they serve different business models.
Mainland (DED) is required if you intend to bid directly on government tenders, sign contracts with UAE public-sector clients, or operate from a client-facing office in Dubai without intermediary arrangements. It provides unrestricted access to the local market.
Free zones such as Meydan Free Zone offer lower setup costs, faster incorporation, and are well-suited to QS consultancies targeting private developers, international clients, or remote project work. However, free zone entities working on mainland construction sites typically need a mainland entity or a service agent arrangement to contract directly with mainland clients.
Why is there strong demand for quantity surveyors in Dubai
Dubai's construction pipeline runs into hundreds of billions of dirhams across infrastructure, real estate, and mega-projects, creating sustained and structural demand for qualified quantity surveyors. This scale of development requires rigorous cost management, procurement oversight, and contract administration at every project stage.
QS professionals serve a wide range of clients in this environment, including property developers, main contractors, government project offices, and project management consultancies. The breadth of permitted activities under licence code 7490.06 — from feasibility budgeting through to value engineering — means QS firms can engage across the full project lifecycle.
Does a Quantity Surveyors licence in Dubai require any additional regulatory approvals
Yes, in some cases. The standard licence is issued by the DED (mainland) or the relevant free zone authority, but engineering and surveying activities may also require additional approval from Dubai Municipality or another relevant technical authority before the business can operate fully.
This is particularly relevant for firms whose work involves technical assessments, site-related services, or activities that fall within the regulatory scope of Dubai's built environment authorities. It is advisable to confirm the specific approval requirements for your intended scope of services during the setup process to avoid delays.
What is the first step in the licence setup process for a Quantity Surveyors firm in Dubai
The first step in setting up a Quantity Surveyors licence in Dubai is trade name reservation. This involves checking the availability of your preferred business name and reserving it through the relevant authority — the DED eServices portal for mainland applicants or the free zone's own registration platform.
The overall process is consistent whether you choose a mainland or free zone structure. The key variables are which authority manages each step and whether any external approvals — such as those from Dubai Municipality — are triggered by your specific activity scope.
Is Meydan Free Zone a good option for small or solo Quantity Surveying consultancies
Yes. Meydan Free Zone is highlighted as a particularly cost-efficient entry point for sole practitioners and small QS consultancies, especially those with regional or international project pipelines rather than a focus on UAE government contracts.
It offers competitive licence fees and flexible workspace options including virtual office and flexi-desk arrangements, which allow businesses to keep overheads lean while building their client base. Combined with fast incorporation timelines and 100% foreign ownership as standard, it represents a practical starting point for QS professionals entering the Dubai market.
Firms that later need to contract directly with mainland clients can explore adding a mainland entity or service agent arrangement as their business grows.
Quantity Surveyors Activities License in Dubai
Dubai's construction pipeline runs into hundreds of billions of dirhams across infrastructure, real estate, and mega-projects, and every one of those projects needs someone counting the cost properly. That is steady, structural demand for qualified quantity surveyors, not a passing trend.
This guide covers what the Quantity Surveyors activity license, code 7490.06, lets you do, where to set up, the step-by-step process, and what it costs to get moving.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Activity code | 7490.06 |
|---|---|
| Sector code | ISIC Division 74, Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities |
| License type | Professional |
| Jurisdiction | Dubai Mainland (DET) or Free Zone (Meydan Free Zone) |
| Estimated setup cost | From AED 12,000 in a free zone to AED 25,000 or more on the mainland |
| Foreign ownership | 100% available, mainland since the 2021 reforms and in every free zone |
| Extra approval | Engineering and surveying work may need sign-off from Dubai Municipality or the relevant technical authority |
What This License Covers
Activity code 7490.06 lets you offer professional quantity surveying services across construction and real estate. The scope is wide and squarely relevant to Dubai's project-heavy market.
Work under this code includes:
- Cost estimation and budgeting at feasibility, design, and construction stages
- Preparing bills of quantities and tender documentation
- Contract administration and interim valuation
- Value engineering and cost optimisation advice
- Procurement strategy and contractor selection support
One line worth remembering: this is a consultancy license. If you plan to carry out physical surveying work on site as a contractor, you need a separate contractor code. Code 7490.06 covers advisory and professional services only.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Your clients are typically property developers, main contractors, government project offices, and project management consultancies. Each one needs a different flavour of cost advice, from early feasibility numbers through to final account settlement.
A developer wants a realistic budget before land breaks ground. A main contractor wants a tight bill of quantities that protects their margin during the tender. A government project office wants a set of numbers it can defend if a project runs over. Knowing which client wants what keeps your advice sharp instead of generic.
Mainland or Free Zone
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone (Meydan Free Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Government tenders | Direct bidding | Needs a mainland entity or agent |
| Foreign ownership | 100% for most professional activities since 2021 | 100% as standard |
| Setup cost | Higher | Lower |
| Best fit for | Government and public-sector clients | Private developers, international, or remote project work |
Your jurisdiction choice is commercial, not just paperwork. It shapes who you can contract with, what your overheads look like, and how fast you can get moving. A mainland license is what you need to bid directly on government tenders or sign with UAE public-sector clients, and the 2021 changes to the Commercial Companies Law now let you keep 100% foreign ownership on the mainland for most professional activities, quantity surveying included, so you no longer need a local Emirati partner holding the majority share.
Meydan Free Zone keeps your setup cost lower, your setup process faster, and your ownership at 100% as standard, with virtual office and flexi-desk arrangements that suit a sole practitioner or a small QS consultancy well. If you plan to work on mainland construction sites, you will likely need a mainland entity or a service agent to contract directly with those clients. Let your client base decide it, not the price.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, book your trade name: Check availability through DET e-Services or your free zone's portal. Names must follow UAE naming rules, so avoid anything offensive or referencing religions or ruling families without approval.
- Step 2, get initial approval: Submit activity code 7490.06, passport copies of every shareholder, and your proposed structure to DET or your free zone authority.
- Step 3, clear any extra approvals: Dubai Municipality or a relevant technical body may want to check your credentials for engineering-adjacent work. Have your qualifications, membership certificates such as RICS, and your CV ready.
- Step 4, lease your office and register Ejari: Mainland needs a physical address with a registered Ejari contract. Free zones accept flexi-desk or virtual office arrangements, which keeps costs down for an early-stage firm.
- Step 5, get your license and allocate visas: Professional licenses typically carry a visa quota of two to six, depending on your office space. Once issued, GDRFA processes employee and investor visas.
- Step 6, open your bank account: Pick a UAE bank comfortable with professional services firms, and have your Memorandum of Association, trade license, shareholder passports, and proof of address ready. Some banks ask for a minimum deposit or average balance.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
License renewal
Renew every year, usually starting 30 to 60 days before expiry. A late renewal brings fines and can affect your visa validity too.
VAT and the Federal Tax Authority
Register once your taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 a year. QS services sold to UAE-based clients are standard-rated at 5%. Handle registration and filing through the Federal Tax Authority.
MOHRE and staffing
Mainland firms need to register employees with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and meet Emiratisation targets once headcount passes the relevant threshold.
Professional indemnity insurance
UAE law does not force this on you, but it is standard commercial practice in this trade. Most developers and contractors will not award you a contract without proof of cover.
Market Opportunity
Dubai's construction pipeline, worth hundreds of billions of dirhams across infrastructure, real estate, and mega-projects, is the engine behind this opportunity. Every stage of every project, from feasibility through final account, needs a quantity surveyor's numbers to stay honest.
The 2021 ownership reforms make this an easier market to enter than it used to be, since you can hold your firm outright on the mainland or in a free zone. Engineering and surveying work that touches Dubai Municipality's remit may need extra sign-off, so build credential checks into your setup timeline rather than treating them as an afterthought.
A project rarely has just one quantity surveyor on it either. Developers, contractors, and sometimes lenders each want their own independent cost check, which means one project can support several separate consultancy contracts rather than a single winner-takes-all bid.
Conclusion
A Quantity Surveyors Activities license under code 7490.06 suits cost consultants, estimators, and contract administrators serving Dubai's active construction and real estate market. Mainland setup gets you direct access to government and large developer contracts. Free zone setup suits a leaner consultancy with lower overhead and a faster start. Either route is simple once your documents are in order and your extra approvals are sorted upfront.
Speak to a setup adviser to confirm your jurisdiction, activity scope, and current fee schedule before you commit to a structure.
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