Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Dubai Maritime Authority approval for a ship repair business?
Not at the trade license stage, but DMA operational sign-off comes into play once you set up a yard. DMA looks at safety systems, environmental controls, waste handling, and technical competence of your team before you can accept jobs.
Can I build new ships under this license?
No. Code 3315.88 covers repair and maintenance only. Ship construction, newbuilding, and large-scale vessel conversion all sit under separate codes and need their own approvals from DMA and Dubai Municipality.
How long does setup take with Meydan Free Zone?
You can get your license in under 60 minutes via Fawri, through a fully online process. Setting up a physical yard, hiring your team, and getting DMA operational sign-off takes longer, but the trade license itself is quick.
Do I need class-society certifications for my team?
For serious commercial and offshore work, yes. Welders, coating inspectors, and marine engineers should hold certifications recognised by DNV, Lloyd's Register, ABS, or Bureau Veritas. Client audits will check this. Yacht and small-boat work is more flexible.
Can foreigners own a ship repair business in Dubai?
Yes. You get 100% foreign ownership when you set up with Meydan Free Zone, and the same is true for most mainland activities registered through DET.
Ships and Boats Repairing Business Setup in Dubai
Dubai is the maritime repair capital of the Middle East. Drydocks World alone handles around 350 vessels a year across three graving docks and a million square metres of yard space. Port Rashid, Jebel Ali, and Dubai Maritime City host the rest of the ecosystem, from VLCC hull work down to yacht refits. Activity code 3315.88 is the license that lets you sell that repair capacity.
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This guide covers what the code permits, the DMA rules that come with running a marine yard, the jurisdiction choice, and how to get set up.
Key Stats at a Glance
Sources: 6Wresearch, Dataintelo, Drydocks World
What This License Covers
Code 3315.88 authorises repair and maintenance of ships and boats across commercial, offshore, and leisure segments:
- Hull repair, blasting, and coating on dry dock or afloat
- Engine, propeller, and shaft repair
- Electrical and electronic system repair, including navigation and communication kit
- HVAC, plumbing, and interior refit work on vessels
- Emergency and voyage repair for vessels calling at UAE ports
- Yacht refit and pleasure-craft maintenance
- Retrofit work such as scrubber installation and ballast water system upgrades
This is a repair and maintenance license, not a newbuild one. Ship construction, offshore rig fabrication, and vessel conversion at a scale that changes the vessel type all fall outside it and need separate codes. That boundary is the one most likely to catch you out, because clients who like your repair work will ask you to build the next vessel too.
Who Your Clients Will Be
- Shipping lines running tankers, bulkers, and container vessels through Gulf ports
- Offshore oil and gas operators servicing supply vessels, tugs, and rigs
- Cruise operators calling at Port Rashid and Abu Dhabi cruise terminals
- Yacht owners and superyacht managers based at Dubai Marina and Port Rashid
- UAE Navy, coastguard, and government fleet operators
- Fishing fleet operators along the UAE coast
- Marine leasing and asset-management companies running mixed fleets
Work is a mix of scheduled dry-dock windows, emergency repair contracts, and long-term framework agreements. That is a large part of why this license is workable: repeat business from fleet operators is the norm, and the technical barrier keeps competition rational.
Mainland or Free Zone
This is the biggest choice you will make when setting up. Let your clients decide it, not the price.
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Step-by-Step Setup Guide
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Compliance and What You Need in Place
Dubai Maritime Authority operational sign-off
DMA is the primary marine regulator. Once your yard is set up, DMA looks at safety systems, environmental controls, waste handling, and technical competence. Keep an up-to-date operational file with all standard operating procedures, permits, and inspection records.
Dubai Municipality environmental standards
Ship repair generates waste oil, sludge, blast grit, paint residues, and chemical run-off. Dubai Municipality sets rules on containment, disposal, and reporting. Non-compliance carries fines and can suspend operations. Bring in a licensed waste handler from day one.
Safety, health, and quality management
Marine repair is high-risk work. Working at height, confined-space entry, hot work, and lifting operations all need documented safe systems of work. ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental certification are strong signals to serious clients and often tender requirements.
Insurance
Public liability, ship repairers' liability, and employer's liability cover are all standard. Serious clients will ask for proof before they let you board. Do not skip this.
Technical qualifications
Class-approved welders, coating inspectors, and marine engineers should hold current certifications recognised by the major classification societies such as DNV, Lloyd's Register, ABS, and Bureau Veritas. Client audits will check this.
Tax
VAT registration is required once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000, and ship repair services supplied within the UAE are standard-rated at 5%. Exports of services to international vessels may qualify for zero-rating. Take proper advice.
Visas
Quota follows your setup. A flexi-desk typically supports one to three visas, and a dedicated yard unlocks the numbers you need for a full technical team.
Renewal
Annual and mandatory for both the trade license and DMA operational sign-off. Non-renewal brings fines and can suspend your ability to accept jobs.
Market Opportunity
The UAE ship building and repairing market is projected to grow from around USD 434 million in 2025 to USD 760 million by 2032 at 9.6% CAGR, per 6Wresearch. Middle East and Africa is the fastest-growing region in the global market at 6.2% CAGR through 2034, per Dataintelo, driven by dense tanker and container ship traffic through the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Suez Canal corridor.
Drydocks World Dubai anchors the top of the market with around 350 vessels a year, but the mid-tier and yacht-refit segments are where new entrants find room. Retrofit work driven by EU Green Deal rules, scrubber installations, and ballast water system upgrades will keep MRO demand high through the forecast period.
Conclusion
A ships and boats repairing license under 3315.88 is a well-defined industrial category suited to technical service firms, mid-tier repair yards, and yacht refit specialists working in one of the fastest-growing marine service markets in the world.
Three decisions shape your setup: jurisdiction, scope clarity, and how quickly you can get your Dubai Maritime Authority operational sign-off in place. Settle those at the outset and the rest follows a predictable path.
Use the cost calculator for an estimate, or speak to the Meydan Free Zone team to confirm the right activity code before you commit.
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