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Manufacture, process, assemble, or package goods in Dubai with full regulatory compliance. Get your industrial license for food production, cosmetics, building materials, metal fabrication, and more.
Get Your Industrial License Quote →An Industrial License allows companies to engage in manufacturing, processing, assembling, packaging, fabrication, and industrial production activities in Dubai. If your business changes the physical form of a product through machinery, transformation, or factory operations, you need this specialized license.
Cost depends on location, facility size, business activity, and regulatory approvals required. Here's a detailed breakdown for both mainland and free zone options.
| Feature | Mainland | Free Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Sell inside UAE | ✔ Yes | ✘ Through distributor only |
| Export globally | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Industrial land availability | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Setup cost | Medium–High | Medium |
| Regulatory approvals | More required | Zone handles most |
| Visa quota | Unlimited | Facility size-based |
| Customs duties | Standard applicable | Duty-free zone to zone |
| Bank account opening | Easier with mainland | Requires more documentation |
| Operational flexibility | High | Very high |
| Tax benefits | 0% corporate tax (with conditions) | 0% corporate tax guaranteed |
Choose Mainland Industrial License if you want to sell directly to UAE customers, need unlimited visa capacity, require strong local banking relationships, or plan long-term factory scalability with retail distribution.
Choose Free Zone Industrial License if you focus on exports, want bonded warehouse benefits, prefer lower operational costs, don't need UAE retail distribution, or require duty-free import/export operations.
⚠️ Important Note: Some activities require additional regulatory approvals from authorities like Dubai Municipality, Ministry of Health (MOHAP), or Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Department. We'll help identify and obtain all necessary approvals for your specific industrial activity.
Depending on your specific industrial activity, you'll need approvals from various government authorities. We handle all coordination and documentation to ensure smooth approval processing.
Required for industries involving consumer products, food safety, and public health compliance.
Mandatory for all industrial facilities to ensure fire safety compliance and emergency preparedness.
Essential for factories with emissions, waste production, noise pollution, or chemical processing.
Needed for agriculture-related, food production, water processing, or animal-based industries.
Mandatory approval for health-related products, pharmaceuticals, supplements, and medical equipment.
Required for regulated consumer goods to ensure quality standards and product safety compliance.
For an industrial license, you must have an industrial warehouse, factory space, or production facility that meets Dubai's regulatory standards. Here are the key requirements your facility must satisfy.
Facility must be in an area designated for industrial/manufacturing activities with proper zoning classification.
Full Civil Defense compliance including fire extinguishers, emergency exits, alarm systems, and sprinklers.
Approved waste disposal plan for industrial waste, chemicals, packaging materials, and production byproducts.
Proper air circulation and ventilation to meet health and safety standards for worker protection.
Detailed factory floor plan showing machinery placement, storage areas, production flow, and safety zones.
Complete inventory of production equipment, machinery specifications, and installation documentation.
Worker housing facilities if required for production staff, meeting labor law accommodation standards.
EHS Department clearance for emissions, noise levels, and environmental impact assessment.
Facility size depends on your industrial activity. Typical requirements range from 500 to 2,000 square feet minimum. Larger production facilities may require 5,000+ sq ft. We'll help determine the exact size needed for your specific manufacturing operation.
Follow this proven process to get your industrial license quickly and efficiently.
Determine your business model: Do you need to sell directly in UAE (mainland) or focus on exports and wholesale (free zone)?
Your DED or free zone activity code must precisely match your manufacturing process. We ensure accurate activity selection to avoid license rejection.
Prepare and submit your initial application with business plan and passport documentation.
Critical step: Detailed 2D layout showing machinery placement, fire exits, ventilation, storage, and production flow.
Obtain required approvals from Dubai Municipality, Civil Defense, EHS, MOHAP, or other relevant authorities based on your activity.
Lease and register your factory or warehouse facility. Ejari (tenancy contract) or free zone lease agreement is mandatory.
Once all approvals and documents are cleared, your industrial license is issued by DED or your chosen free zone.
This allows you to process employee and investor visas for your industrial operation.
Industrial companies require staff. Plan your visa quota early based on facility size and operational needs.
Banks require detailed documentation for industrial companies.
Industrial companies typically require larger workforces for production operations. Understanding visa quotas and requirements is essential for workforce planning.
No fixed cap on employee visas. Quota based on facility size and business justification.
Easy to add more visas as production grows without facility restrictions.
Must provide approved accommodation for labor visa holders per UAE law.
Visa quota tied directly to warehouse/factory square footage.
Expand warehouse space to increase available visa allocation.
Free zone handles most visa paperwork with faster turnaround times.
Banks require more detailed documentation for industrial companies due to operational complexity, equipment financing needs, and trade transactions.
Banks perform enhanced due diligence for industrial licenses because of larger transaction volumes, equipment financing, import/export activities, and supplier payment requirements. Having complete documentation speeds up approval significantly.
Choosing a business activity that doesn't accurately match your production process leads to license rejection and delays.
Renting a warehouse before getting layout approval from authorities can result in costly lease commitments for non-compliant spaces.
Not preparing environmental impact assessments and EHS documentation upfront causes significant approval delays.
Ignoring fire safety requirements like extinguishers, alarms, emergency exits, and sprinkler systems leads to failed inspections.
Not planning workforce and visa requirements early causes production delays when you can't hire needed staff.
Choosing a free zone not suited for industrial activities results in higher costs, limited space, or operational restrictions.
Our team has helped hundreds of industrial companies navigate Dubai's licensing process. We identify potential issues before they become problems, saving you time, money, and frustration.
| Feature | Industrial License | Commercial License |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing allowed | ✔ Yes | ✘ No |
| Trading allowed | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Warehouse required | ✔ Yes (industrial space) | Optional |
| External approvals | High (multiple authorities) | Low (minimal) |
| Visa capacity | High (production staff) | Medium |
| Setup complexity | Complex | Simple |
| Equipment requirements | Production machinery | None |
| Layout plan needed | Detailed factory layout | No |
| Best for | Manufacturing, processing, assembly, fabrication | Trading, retail, services, distribution |
You produce or process goods, operate machinery, transform materials, run a factory, assemble products, package items for resale, or change the physical form of products.
You buy and sell finished goods, provide services, operate retail business, run e-commerce, manage distribution networks, or conduct trading activities without manufacturing.
Tell us your industrial activity (cosmetics? food? packaging? fabrication?) and we'll provide:
✓ Best location recommendation • ✓ Exact cost breakdown • ✓ Required approvals list • ✓ Facility size guidance • ✓ Complete timeline
Tell us about your manufacturing project and receive a complete setup plan with costs, timeline, and requirements within 24 hours.
Have questions? Reach us at [email protected]
📞 WhatsApp: +971 XX XXX XXXX
Specialized experience in industrial license setups across all manufacturing sectors from food to fabrication.
Streamlined processes and established authority relationships ensure quick license approvals.
Clear cost breakdowns with no hidden fees. You'll know exactly what you're paying for.
We handle all regulatory approvals including Dubai Municipality, Civil Defense, and EHS clearances.
From facility selection to bank account opening and visa processing—we handle everything.
Custom recommendations based on your specific manufacturing activity and business goals.
