Dubai Professional License Guide For Indian Consultants
December 9, 2025
December 9, 2025
Topic Summary
1. Understanding the Types of Professional Licenses
Dubai offers various professional licenses tailored for consultants, including management, IT, financial, and marketing consultancy. Indian consultants should select the license category that best fits their area of expertise to comply with UAE regulations and optimize business operations.
2. Choosing the Right Jurisdiction
Consultants can obtain professional licenses either in Dubai Mainland, Free Zones, or Offshore jurisdictions. Mainland licenses allow direct access to the local market; Free Zones provide 100% foreign ownership and tax benefits; Offshore setups support international consulting with confidentiality advantages.
3. Key Documentation and Application Process
Essential documents include a valid passport, UAE residence visa (if available), degree certificates, proof of professional experience, and a detailed business plan. Applications are submitted through the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) or relevant Free Zone authorities.
4. Partnering Requirements for Mainland Licenses
While Free Zones permit 100% foreign ownership, Mainland licenses for some activities may require a local Emirati sponsor or service agent. However, professional service businesses often benefit from 100% ownership under recent regulatory amendments.
5. Compliance and Renewals
Professional licenses typically require annual renewal. Consultants must ensure adherence to UAE laws, maintain updated documentation, and comply with VAT and other tax regulations under the UAE’s evolving fiscal framework to avoid penalties and ensure uninterrupted business operations.
For Indian consultants, whether you’re advising on strategy in Bengaluru, building digital playbooks in Mumbai, or offering IT and financial consultancy in Hyderabad or Delhi, Dubai has become a natural extension of the Indian professional ecosystem. The UAE’s advisory market is booming, its companies are maturing under new tax frameworks, and businesses increasingly seek experts who can blend a global perspective with deep technical skill.
And Indians already excel at this.
With decades of experience navigating India’s complex GST layers, MCA updates, tax filings and compliance cycles, Indian consultants step into the UAE with a skillset that’s not just valuable - it’s in demand.
But the first point of confusion usually starts with the search term itself:
“How do I get a professional license in Dubai?”
To answer that correctly, we need to understand what a “professional license” really means in the UAE - and how Indian consultants actually use a Dubai license to operate globally.
What a Professional License in Dubai Actually Means
In Dubai, you don’t need a license titled Professional License to work as a consultant.
You simply need a business license that includes professional or consultancy business activities such as:
- Management consultancy
- IT consultancy
- Marketing consultancy
- HR and organisational advisory
- Financial and tax consultancy
- Strategy, training, coaching, and development
So when Indian consultants say they want a “professional license,” what they actually need is a business license with consultancy activities - and that’s exactly what free zones like Meydan Free Zone are designed to support.
Why Indian Consultants Prefer the Business License Route
A business license that covers professional activities gives consultants the same functional capability as what people call a “professional license,” but with more flexibility, more freedom, and far simpler setup.
Here’s why this structure works so well for Indian consultants:
1. You can start from India - entirely online
Free zones such as Meydan Free Zone allow complete digital formation with just your passport. No attestation, no Indian paperwork, no physical presence required.
Explore setup with Meydan Free Zone
2. You can select from 2,500+ activities
Instead of fitting into a narrow business license type, you can choose activities that match your exact consulting niche, and add up to 3 business activity groups under one license.
3. No local partner or share restrictions
Your consultancy is fully owned and controlled by you.
4. Lower overheads compared to other licensing structures
Consultants rarely need physical offices. Free zones allow flexi-desk and remote-friendly options.
5. Better suited for global consulting work
Many Indian consultants operate across the GCC, India, UK, Africa, and the US. Free zone licenses are ideal for this cross-border model.
6. Banking becomes easier when your business activity is clear
Meydan Free Zone’s guaranteed IBAN pathway simplifies corporate account opening - which is one of the biggest concerns Indian professionals have when entering a new market.
7. Visa options when (and if) you’re ready
You don’t need a visa to start your consultancy. When you’re ready, Meydan Free Zone’s mResidency services streamline investor and dependent visas.
In short, a business license with professional activities gives Indian consultants freedom, flexibility, scalability, and a digital-first entry route.
How to Get a Professional Consultancy Business License in Dubai
1. Choose the consultancy activity that matches your work
Management consultancy, IT consultancy, HR consultancy, marketing consultancy, executive coaching, training services - each activity has a defined description.
The right choice helps with banking, compliance, and client clarity.
2. Submit your documents online
For Meydan Free Zone, you need:
- Passport
- Photograph
- Basic KYC
- Preferred company name
3. Receive your digital license
Business licenses are issued quickly through Meydan Free Zone, with fast-track options like Fawri delivered in under 60 minutes.
4. Open your corporate bank account
Banks will typically request:
- Passport
- Trade license
- Company profile
- Emirates ID (if applicable)
- Last 6 months of personal bank statements
- CV
- Proof of residence
Meydan Free Zone’s IBAN guarantee pathway greatly simplifies onboarding.
5. Apply for visas (optional)
You can get an investor visa later - or run your consultancy from India without one.
Why Dubai Has Become a Hub for Indian Consultants
Dubai’s consulting market is exploding due to:
- corporate tax implementation,
- SME growth,
- digital transformation,
- multinational expansion,
- regional demand for specialised expertise.
Indian consultants bring structured problem-solving, technical depth, and cross-market experience - all highly valued in the UAE.
Dubai offers what India cannot: a stable tax framework, no personal income tax, global access, and a business environment that removes friction instead of adding it.
Conclusion
Indian consultants need the right business license with the appropriate professional activities - the UAE’s modern, flexible way of empowering advisory professionals.
A free zone like Meydan Free Zone gives Indian consultants the perfect launchpad:
- fully digital setup
- MoFA-recognised and Dubai Chamber-recognised documents
- 2,500+ business activities to choose from
- banking support with guaranteed IBAN issuance
- visa flexibility when needed
Whether you’re scaling your consulting brand globally or starting a solo advisory practice, Dubai gives you the stability and reach that Indian consultants rarely find elsewhere.
Get started with a consultation or get an estimate of your costs with the Meydan Free Zone Cost Calculator.
FAQs
1. Do Indian consultants need a special “professional license” to operate in Dubai?
No. Indian consultants typically operate under a business license that includes professional or consultancy activities. This structure allows full ownership, remote operation and multiple activity options within one license.
2. Can I start a consultancy in Dubai without living there?
Yes. Through Meydan Free Zone, Indian consultants can form a Dubai company remotely using their passport and operate from India. A residency visa is optional and can be added later when you choose to live or work in the UAE.
3. How much does a professional consultancy license cost in Dubai?
Consultancy licenses in well-recognised free zones generally start around AED 12,500, with fast-track options like Meydan Free Zone’s Fawri license available for AED 15,000.
4. Can Indian consultants open a Dubai corporate bank account easily?
Yes. Once your consultancy license is issued, you can open a UAE business bank account. Free zones like Meydan Free Zone provide a guided IBAN pathway that speeds up onboarding with partner banks.
5. Do I need an office to get a professional license in Dubai?
Not necessarily. Many consultancy activities allow flexi-desk or remote-friendly structures, making it ideal for solopreneurs, coaches and advisory firms.
