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Professional License in Dubai, UAE

A professional license is the business license required for individuals  in Dubai offering specialized services. The professionals include doctors, engineers, teachers, lawyers, accountants, artists, consultants, and other skilled experts who provide legal services directly to clients. Also, companies engaged in service-oriented activities must get a professional license to operate legally in the UAE.

Professional license is strictly for specific service-based businesses. Even architects and architectural firms that offer design and consultancy services need this license. To qualify for getting this license, individuals must prove they have the specified qualification, training, and experience in their respective fields. Moreover, IT professionals, media specialists, and consultants also apply for a professional license to start their businesses legally in the UAE.

Types of Business Structures for a Professional License in Dubai

Businesses operating under a professional license in Dubai can have different legal structures. It solely depends upon the ownership and company setup. Here are the most common forms:

1
Sole Proprietorship
In a sole proprietorship, there will be a single business owner who holds a professional license in the UAE. This is the structure that is most common among freelancers, consultants, doctors, accountants, and other skilled professionals who wish to operate business independently.
2
Civil Company
In a civil company, there will be two or more partners, who are professionals and the partnership is shared between them legally. Each of the partners must possess a Dubai professional license in their respective fields. This structure allows specialists like lawyers, engineers, and architects to collaborate and offer services under a shared entity. Foreign professionals establishing a sole proprietorship or civil company in the UAE must appoint a local service agent to comply with UAE regulations. However, the local agent has no ownership in the company, and the business remains 100% owned by the professionals.
3
Other Business Entities
In addition to sole proprietorships and civil companies, some of the other business structures can also engage in professional services in Dubai, they include:
  • Public Shareholding Companies (PJSCs)
  • Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
  • Branches of Foreign Companies
  • Branches of Free Zone Companies

Each of these structures may have certain restrictions on the types of professional services they can offer in the UAE. It is essential to check the regulations applicable to each industry before setting up a business.

Applying for a Professional License in Dubai

While getting a professional license in Dubai can be described as simple, there are certain components that make it complex. For instance, various documents such as proof of education, professional qualifications, and experience are required to be submitted. Moreover, the verification processes of authority credentials approvals can also be blended together and end up wasting a lot of time.

Seeking help from business consultants can make the application process much simpler for professionals. These consultants can help make the process more efficient, in turn avoiding wasting time dealing with excessive paperwork in adopting UAE law compliance procedures.
Advantages of having a Professional License in the UA

Having a professional license in Dubai has certain advantages like:

  • No minimum capital requirement
  • Tax exemptions (no corporate or personal income tax)
  • Total return of capital and profits
  • No restriction on foreign exchange.
  • Freedom to work inside and outside the UAE
  • Eligibility for a 10-year Golden Visa (for highly skilled professionals who meet certain criteria)

Steps to Get a Professional License in Dubai

Here are the steps to follow to own a professional license in Dubai:

1
Hire a local service agent and execute an agreement, which should be authenticated by a notary.
2
Prepare a Memorandum of Association (MOA) with the local service agent.
3
Sign a court agreement before a notary public.
4
Obtain approval of tenancy agreement from the Dubai Municipality.
5
Forward the documents to the Department of Economic Development (DED).
6
Pay the license fee and get the payment voucher.

Once you have gone through all of these steps, your professional license in Dubai will be granted, and you are legally allowed to operate your business in the UAE.

Facing difficulty in applying for Dubai professional license? Reach out to experienced business consultants who will simplify the process of application and facilitate smooth setup.