The DED activity list is the catalogue of business activities used for Dubai mainland licensing, now administered by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Each activity has an official name and activity number, and the activity selected should match what the company will actually sell, provide or produce.
If you are searching the DED activity list because you are choosing a Dubai business licence, you do not necessarily need a mainland company. Depending on your activity and where you plan to operate, a DUQE Free Zone licence may also be suitable.
Before choosing a Dubai business activity:
- Match the activity to the company’s revenue-generating work
- Check the full activity description before applying
- Confirm whether several activities can sit on one licence
- Identify any additional approval required for a regulated activity
- Decide whether mainland or free zone licensing better fits the business
If you are considering setting up with us, start with our DUQE business activities directory to see the activities available within DUQE Free Zone.
The DED Activity List Is Now Managed by DET
The DED activity list is now managed within the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, commonly abbreviated to DET.
DED referred to Dubai’s former Department of Economic Development. Law No. 20 of 2021 established the Department of Economy and Tourism and transferred the relevant duties and functions of the former Department of Economic Development to DET.
What a Business Activity Defines
A business activity identifies the economic work a company is licensed to conduct.
A founder might describe a proposed company as “technology”, “consulting” or “e-commerce”, but those labels can cover several commercial models.
For example, a technology company could:
- Develop software for clients
- Provide IT consultancy
- Operate an online platform
- Sell technology products
The activity should reflect the work that generates revenue, rather than a broad industry label.
What a DED Activity Code Means
A DED activity code, also referred to as an activity number, identifies a specific business activity within Dubai’s mainland licensing framework.
The code should always be considered alongside the official activity name and description.
A number copied from an older article, spreadsheet or another licensing jurisdiction does not establish that the activity is current or suitable for the proposed company.
How to Verify a Dubai Business Activity Before Applying
You can verify a Dubai business activity by defining the company’s commercial model first, then matching that model against the current activity records.
1. Describe What the Business Will Sell
Start with a short description of the business in ordinary language.
Include:
- What the company will sell or provide
- Who will buy it
- How the company will earn revenue
- Whether the company owns or handles physical goods
- Whether it provides advice
- Whether it requires specialist premises
Avoid broad descriptions such as “marketing company” or “online business”.
A more useful description would be:
A company provides marketing strategy and campaign management services to other businesses and charges clients a monthly service fee.
That identifies the service, customer and revenue model.
2. Search Several Related Activity Terms
Search more than one term when the correct classification is not obvious.
A marketing company might compare activities connected with marketing, advertising and public relations. A technology founder might search software, information technology, programming and consultancy.
The objective is to identify the activity or combination of activities that corresponds with the work the company intends to perform.
3. Compare the Activity With the Work Being Sold
Compare each potential activity with the products or services that will appear on:
- Contracts
- Proposals
- Invoices
- The company website
- Sales material
If the activity and commercial documents describe materially different businesses, review the activity before proceeding.
4. Confirm the Licensing Jurisdiction
Establish which authority will issue the company licence before relying on an activity code.
A DET activity belongs to the Dubai mainland licensing framework. DUQE Free Zone has its own approved activity catalogue.
Similar activities can be available through both routes, but their names, numbers or licensing conditions should not be assumed to be identical.
5. Check Whether Another Authority Regulates the Activity
Healthcare, real estate, food, education and other regulated sectors can involve another government authority.
Identify those requirements before finalising premises, staffing or operational plans.
6. Check Whether Several Activities Can Be Combined
A company can conduct more than one type of business activity where the proposed combination is permitted.
Related activities may form part of one commercial model. Activities subject to different regulatory or operational requirements can require further review.
7. Keep a Record of the Approved Activity
Retain the exact activity name, activity number, licensing jurisdiction and relevant approval information.
This provides a clear reference if the company later adds or changes products or services.
How Dubai Business Activities Are Classified
Dubai business activities are classified according to the type of economic work performed.
The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism identifies six principal economic licence types:
- Commercial
- Professional
- Industrial
- Tourism
- Agricultural
- Occupational
An economic licence can contain several activities, subject to the applicable licensing requirements.
Commercial Activities
Commercial activities cover business models centred on trade and commerce.
Depending on the activity, a company might buy and resell goods, import or export products, distribute goods or sell them through retail or online channels.
The product and the company’s role in the transaction both matter.
An online retailer purchasing and reselling physical products performs a different function from a marketplace connecting independent sellers with customers.
Professional Activities
Professional activities cover service-based businesses where customers pay for expertise, skills or professional work.
These can include consultancy, marketing, design and technology services where the corresponding activity is available.
A general professional activity does not automatically permit work within a separately regulated profession. The precise service determines whether another authority is involved.
Industrial Activities
Industrial activities relate to manufacturing, processing or production.
A company manufacturing a product performs a different economic function from one purchasing finished products for resale.
Industrial businesses can also require premises and operational approvals that do not apply to an office-based professional company.
Tourism Activities
Tourism activities relate to companies operating within Dubai’s tourism sector.
The appropriate activity depends on the service provided. Travel services, tourism operations and accommodation businesses should therefore be assessed according to their specific operating model.
Agricultural Activities
Agricultural licences apply to economic activities within the agricultural sector.
The appropriate activity and operating requirements depend on what the company intends to produce or provide.
Occupational Activities
Occupational licences apply to specified skilled occupations and craft-based activities.
The official activity description determines whether the proposed work belongs within this category.
Do You Need a DED Mainland Activity or a DUQE Free Zone Activity?
If you establish a Dubai mainland company, its economic activity is selected through the DET licensing framework. If the proposed business can operate through a free zone structure, an activity available through DUQE may provide another route.
The right decision depends on what the business does, where it needs to operate and whether its activity has sector-specific requirements.
When a Mainland Activity May Be Required
A mainland structure may need to be considered where the proposed operating model, premises or regulated activity cannot be accommodated through the intended free zone structure.
The business model should determine the jurisdiction rather than the fact that a founder first discovered the activity through a DED search.
When a DUQE Free Zone Activity May Suit the Business
Many founders searching the DED activity list are actually trying to answer a broader question:
Which licence do I need to operate my business in Dubai?
For eligible professional, digital, consulting, trading and other businesses, we can check whether the required activity is available through DUQE before you commit to a mainland structure.
A DUQE licence may be suitable where the company’s activities and operating requirements fit our free zone framework.
You can compare our available commercial, professional and industrial options through DUQE business licences.
Do Not Choose the Jurisdiction From the Activity Name Alone
Finding an activity in the DED activity list does not establish that mainland is the only way to license that type of business.
An equivalent or closely related activity may also be available through DUQE.
When we review a proposed setup, we consider:
- How the business earns revenue
- Where customers are located
- Where the work will be performed
- Whether physical premises are required
- Whether goods will be traded
- Whether another government authority regulates the activity
- Whether mainland operations form part of the plan
This provides a clearer basis for choosing the licensing structure.
Can One Dubai Licence Include More Than One Activity?
Yes. A Dubai business licence can include multiple activities where the proposed combination meets the requirements of the relevant licensing authority.
Related Activities May Fit One Business Model
Some companies naturally perform several connected functions.
A technology company might develop software and provide related IT consultancy. A professional services company may offer several connected services.
The complete activity combination should still be confirmed before the application is submitted.
Different Activities Can Trigger Different Requirements
A proposed combination needs closer review where activities involve:
- Different forms of commercial work
- Specialist premises
- Separate professional requirements
- Another government regulator
Checking the complete business model is more useful than considering each activity in isolation.
Activities Can Be Added After Formation
Companies can change after their initial licence is issued.
Where a new product or service falls outside the existing licensed activities, the company can investigate amending the licence.
Our guide to adding activities to a UAE trade licence explains what to consider when expanding an existing business.
Popular DED Activities and Codes by Business Type
Many people searching the DED activity list already know what type of business they want to start but do not know the official activity name or code.
The examples below provide useful starting points. Always confirm the current activity name, code, scope and approval requirements through the official Invest in Dubai business activity search before submitting an application. The official search accepts both activity names and activity numbers.
A similar activity offered through DUQE may have a different activity name, code or licensing conditions.
Consulting and Professional Services
Consultancies should select an activity that reflects the specific service they provide rather than relying on “consulting” as a general description.
Common activities to investigate include:
- Management Consultancies, activity code 7020003
- Marketing Management, activity code 7320002
- Project Management Services, activity code 8211015
A management consultant advising companies on organisational structure performs different work from a company managing client projects or providing marketing services.
The licensed activity should correspond with the work described in proposals, contracts and invoices.
If you are establishing a consultancy with us, we can also check whether the corresponding activity is available through DUQE before you decide that a mainland licence is necessary.
Technology and Digital Businesses
Technology is particularly broad within Dubai’s business activity system. There is no single activity that covers every technology company.
Examples to search for include:
- Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Design, activity code 6201001
- Web-Design, activity code 6201005
- Social Media Applications Development & Management, activity code 6201009
- Portal, activity code 6312004
A software studio building applications for clients performs different work from a company operating an online portal.
These examples show why a founder should distinguish between software development, web design, application services and portal operation before choosing an activity.
If you find the activity you need on the mainland list, we can also check whether an appropriate activity is available through DUQE.
Trading and E-Commerce
Trading and e-commerce activities should reflect both what the company sells and how it conducts the transaction.
Examples to investigate include:
- General Trading, activity code 4690018
- Online Seller, activity code 6312009
These activities should not be treated as interchangeable.
A general trading company buying and reselling goods has a different commercial model from an online seller.
Consider three businesses:
A retailer purchases physical products and sells them through its own website.
A marketplace provides a platform that connects independent sellers with buyers.
A digital agency manages online advertising for retailers but does not own or sell their products.
All three operate online, but the appropriate activity can differ.
Do not assume that an online selling activity automatically covers every product the company intends to sell. Product-specific trading activities or additional approvals may also apply.
Food and Hospitality
Food businesses should search according to the service being provided rather than looking for one generic food activity.
Relevant searches might include:
- Restaurant
- Coffee shop or café
- Catering
- Foodstuff trading
- Online food trading
- Food manufacturing
A restaurant preparing meals performs a different activity from a foodstuff trader importing packaged products or a manufacturer producing food for wholesale distribution.
For food activities, verify the exact live activity record rather than relying on a generic sector code.
Real Estate Businesses
Real estate activities can be highly specific, particularly where a company acts for property owners, buyers or tenants.
One activity founders may search for is:
- Real Estate Buying & Selling Brokerage, activity code 6820004
Other services should be searched separately, including real estate leasing brokerage, property management, real estate consultancy, valuation and development.
A brokerage arranging property transactions performs a different function from a property manager administering buildings on behalf of owners.
Real estate businesses also need to consider Dubai Land Department requirements in addition to the economic activity.
Healthcare and Education Businesses
Healthcare and education activities require particular care because an economic licence can sit alongside separate facility, practitioner or educational approvals.
A founder might search for activities relating to:
- Medical clinics
- Specialist healthcare facilities
- Physiotherapy
- Healthcare consultancy
- Training institutes
- Professional education
- Educational support services
A technology company selling software to a clinic is not operating a healthcare facility. Likewise, a consultancy advising schools performs different work from a training institute teaching students directly.
For regulated healthcare and education businesses, check the exact activity and regulator requirements rather than relying on a generic sector code.
Activities That Require External Approval
Some Dubai business activities require approval from another government authority in addition to economic licensing.
The requirement depends on the exact activity and operating model.
Healthcare Facilities and Medical Services
Healthcare facilities within the jurisdiction of the Dubai Health Authority require DHA facility licensing.
A new healthcare facility licence is initially inactive. The facility must complete the activation process before providing healthcare services. Healthcare professionals also have separate professional licensing requirements.
Current requirements are available through the Dubai Health Authority healthcare facility licensing service.
A clinic setup therefore involves separate questions about the company activity, facility approval and professional licences.
Real Estate Services
Specified real estate activities involve Dubai Land Department professional requirements.
Professional practice requirements apply to specified roles including real estate brokerage, consultancy, property management and valuation.
The Dubai Land Department professional practice card service provides the current requirements for regulated real estate professionals.
Restaurants and Food Businesses
Food businesses can require Dubai Municipality approval in addition to economic licensing.
Requirements can apply to food-establishment layouts and food-related operational permissions.
A restaurant or other food establishment should therefore consider its premises requirements alongside the proposed economic activity.
Current regulatory information is available through Dubai Municipality’s food establishment guidance.
Education and Training
A business operating a training institute in Dubai can require an Educational Services Permit from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
Specialised courses can also require approval from another competent authority where the subject falls within a regulated field.
Current requirements are available through KHDA’s training institute permit guidance.
Other Regulated Activities
Additional authorities can regulate activities in sectors such as financial services, legal services, telecommunications, transport, media, engineering and security.
Check the exact activity rather than inferring the requirement from the broad industry name.
Can a DUQE Free Zone Company Operate on the Dubai Mainland?
Eligible Dubai free zone companies have routes for conducting specified activities outside their free zone, subject to DET requirements, activity eligibility and any relevant sector approval.
Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 established a framework for specified free zone establishments to obtain licences or permits to conduct activities elsewhere in Dubai.
The framework provides for:
- A licence for a branch within Dubai
- A licence for a branch operating out of the free zone
- A permit to conduct specified activities within Dubai
The resolution also requires separate financial records for activities conducted outside the free zone.
The legal framework is set out in Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025.
If mainland operations form part of your business plan, our Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit guide explains this route in more detail.
A free zone licence should not be assumed to provide unrestricted mainland operating rights. We can review the proposed activity and operating model before formation so that mainland requirements are considered from the start.
Review Your Business Activities When the Company Changes
New products and services can change what a company actually does.
If your business introduces a new revenue stream, check whether the existing licensed activities cover that work before launching it.
For example, a professional services company that begins buying and reselling physical products should not assume that its existing service activities also cover the new trading operation.
The licence should continue to reflect the operating business, rather than only the business model that existed when the company was formed.
How We Help You Select the Right Business Activity at DUQE
At DUQE, we assess whether the proposed business fits our free zone framework and identify early where a mainland structure or additional regulatory approval is required.
The process starts with what the business will actually do.
We Start With the Business Model
When we review a proposed setup, we look at:
- What the company will sell
- Who its customers will be
- How it will earn revenue
- Whether it trades physical goods
- Whether it provides professional services
- Where it intends to operate
- Whether another authority regulates the activity
- Which related activities are required from launch
That gives us a clearer basis for matching the company with available DUQE activities.
We Check Whether DUQE Fits Before You Commit to Mainland
Searching the DED activity list does not necessarily mean a mainland company is the correct structure.
Where an appropriate activity is available through DUQE, we can assess whether our free zone framework supports the company’s planned operations.
Where the activity, premises or regulatory requirements point towards mainland or another approval route, we can identify that before formation.
We Confirm the Activity Set Before the Application
Where a company needs several activities, we can review the intended combination before formation.
The aim is a licence that reflects the company’s genuine operations from launch, without adding unrelated activities or relying on an activity that does not match the business model.
Choose the Activity and Jurisdiction That Fit the Business
The DED activity list answers one part of the company formation decision. It identifies activities available through Dubai’s mainland licensing framework.
The broader question is which activity and licensing jurisdiction best fit the business you intend to build.
Start with what the company will sell, who will buy it, how it will earn revenue and where it needs to operate. Then determine whether that model requires a DET mainland activity or can be licensed through DUQE Free Zone.
If you are considering a free zone setup, you can explore our DUQE business activities and compare the business licence options available through DUQE.
Where mainland access or external regulatory approval is required, identify it before formation rather than after the company has been established.
If you are unsure whether you need a DED mainland activity or a DUQE Free Zone activity, speak with our team before submitting an application. We can review your business model, compare the available activities and help you determine the licensing route that fits how your company intends to operate.
DED Activity List FAQs
Where Can I Find the Official DED Activity List?
Dubai mainland business activities can be searched through the official Invest in Dubai business activity search. You can search by activity name or activity number. Because activity names, codes and requirements can change, use the current official record before submitting a licence application.
What Is a DED Activity Code?
A DED activity code is the activity number used to identify a specific economic activity within Dubai’s mainland licensing framework. Check the code together with the official activity name and description rather than relying on the number alone.
Do I Need to Know My DED Activity Code Before Starting Company Formation?
No. Start by describing what your company will sell or provide and how it will earn revenue. The appropriate business activity and code can then be identified from the current activity list.
Can I Have More Than One DED Activity on a Dubai Trade Licence?
A Dubai business licence can include multiple activities where the proposed combination is permitted by the licensing authority. Activities that involve different licence categories, specialist premises or separate regulatory approvals may require additional review.
Does Finding My Activity on the DED List Mean I Need a Mainland Company?
No. Finding an activity on the Dubai mainland activity list does not mean the mainland is the only possible licensing route. A similar or equivalent activity may also be available through DUQE Free Zone. The appropriate structure depends on what the business does, where it needs to operate and whether additional regulatory approval is required.
Are DED Activity Codes the Same as DUQE Business Activity Codes?
Do not assume that they are. Dubai mainland and DUQE Free Zone operate under separate licensing frameworks. Similar activities may have different names, codes or licensing conditions.
If you are setting up with us, we can check the DUQE activity that best matches your proposed business.
What If I Cannot Find a DED Activity That Exactly Matches My Business?
Search using several terms that describe the company’s products, services and revenue model. If several activities appear relevant, compare their full descriptions before applying. Where the correct classification remains unclear, confirm the activity with the licensing authority or your business setup adviser.
Does My Dubai Business Activity Affect My Office or Premises Requirements?
It can. An office-based consultancy has different operating requirements from a restaurant, retail shop, healthcare facility or manufacturing business.
Where specialist premises are required, check those requirements before committing to a location.
Does Every Service My Company Offers Need a Separate Business Activity?
Not necessarily. Several services may fall within the scope of one licensed activity. If a new service falls outside the activities already on the licence, another activity may need to be added before the company provides it.
Can I Add a New Business Activity After My Dubai Licence Is Issued?
A company may be able to add another activity through a licence amendment. The new activity must still fit the licensing jurisdiction, existing activity combination and any external approval requirements.
Does My Business Activity Affect the Company’s Legal Form?
It can. The nature of the activity forms part of the company structure and licensing assessment. Regulated or specialist activities can also have additional requirements that affect the available setup options.
Which DED Activities Require External Approval?
Additional approval can apply to regulated activities such as healthcare, real estate, food, education and other specialist sectors. The relevant authority depends on the exact activity, so check the current requirements before applying.