Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does this activity cover?
It covers shaving and beard trimming, including wet shaves, beard trimming and shaping, line-ups, and the conditioning and finish that go with them.
2. Who are the typical clients?
Men in for a regular tidy-up, those after a clean traditional shave, and clients shaping a full beard, across the UAE.
3. Does this include beard shaping?
Yes. Beard trimming, shaping, and line-ups are part of this activity, alongside the traditional wet shave and the finish that goes with it.
4. Is this the same as a full hairdressing salon?
No. Full hairdressing, including cutting, colouring, and styling the hair, is a separate activity. This activity focuses on shaving and beard services.
5. Can products be sold alongside?
Yes. Selling shaving and beard care products alongside the shave and the trim is part of running this barber service.
How to Start a Shaving and Beard Trimming Business with Meydan Free Zone
The beard is back, and with it the art of the proper shave and trim. A hot towel, a sharp blade, a beard shaped to order: shaving and beard trimming is the part of grooming men still come in for, and come back for, week after week.
Men's grooming has grown into a serious market, and the shave and the beard sit at the heart of it. The global male grooming market was worth USD 72.5 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 170 billion by 2034, according to Custom Market Insights1.
Beard care is a fast-growing niche within it: the Middle East and Africa beard care market is set to rise from USD 0.22 billion in 2025 to USD 0.40 billion by 2033, according to Verified Market Reports2. For a barber, that is steady demand from men who treat the shave and the beard trim as part of the routine.
Sources: Custom Market Insights (2026); Verified Market Reports (2026).
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Picture a barber at the chair. A hot towel goes on while the next client waits. A blade follows the jaw in clean strokes, and a beard is trimmed and shaped to order. A line-up sharpens the edges, and a splash of aftershave finishes the job. The barber earns on each shave and trim, plus the products sold alongside, so the day is a steady run of bookings and walk-ins. In a market where the beard is part of the look, the barbers that win are the ones with a steady hand and a loyal chair.
Whether it is a clean traditional shave, a beard shaped to order, or a quick line-up, a shaving and beard trimming business keeps men sharp and well-groomed.
Who is this for?
- Barbers and shaving specialists: Businesses offering shaving and beard services to men in the UAE.
- Traditional shave and grooming bars: Operators providing wet shaves, trims, and beard shaping.
- Beard grooming studios: Firms specialising in the shave, the trim, and the finish.
Meydan Free Zone offers 100% foreign ownership, zero percent corporate tax on qualifying income, full profit repatriation, and a fully digital licensing process, providing a regulated and cost-efficient base from which to operate a shaving and beard trimming business in a region where the well-kept beard is part of the look.
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9602.02 - Shaving and Beard Trimming
Under this activity, your business is licensed to provide shaving and beard trimming services, including wet shaves, beard trimming and shaping, and line-ups.
A shaving and beard trimming business grooms men's facial hair. The work spans the wet shave with hot towels and a blade, beard trimming and shaping, line-ups, and the conditioning and finish that go with them.
The clients are mixed: men in for a regular tidy-up, those after a clean traditional shave, and clients shaping a full beard. It is a service business built on skill and routine: the barber is paid for the craft of the shave and the trim, and grows on the regulars who book in week after week.
The activity is specifically for shaving and beard trimming. Full hairdressing, including cutting, colouring, and styling the hair, falls under a separate activity, as does the manufacture of wigs and hairpieces (3290).
The line is precise. If your business shaves and trims and shapes men's facial hair, you are in. If you cut, colour, and style hair as a full hairdressing service, or manufacture wigs, a different activity applies.
Third-Party Approval
Approval from the Public Health Department at Dubai Municipality is required after the trade license is issued.
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.
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Citations
1 Custom Market Insights. Male Grooming Products Market Report. Custom Market Insights, 2026.
2 Verified Market Reports. Men's Beard Care Products Market Report. Verified Market Reports, 2026.
