Legal consultancy
Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
HIGH RISK
Consultancy setup 2026
Consultancy company setup in Dubai
A consultancy runs on a professional licence. The activity code shapes cost and approvals.
- Professional licence, not commercial
- Code 7020, management consultancy
- No local service agent
- Mainland 7020 can bid on tenders
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What is a consultancy license in Dubai?
A consultancy license is a professional license carrying a consultancy activity code, not a commercial one. Management consultancy (code 7020) is the most common and needs no special approval.
Legal, financial, engineering, health and education consultancy each need a second regulator sign-off on top of the DET license.
ProfessionalThe license type, not commercial
7020Core management consultancy code
100%Foreign ownership, most activities
The decision that comes first
Consultancy is not one activity: get the code right
The activity code sets your licence type, your ownership rule, and which contracts you can sign.
Management consultancy is a clean professional license
Management, HR, marketing, strategy and IT consultancy sit in the 7020 family. This is a professional license, needs no external approval.
Advising plus selling a product may need a second activity
A consultancy that also resells software or tools crosses from professional into commercial. That can need dual-activity registration or a second entity.
Professional vs commercial licenseRegulated consultancy needs a named approval first
Legal, financial, engineering, health and education consultancy each need a specific regulator's sign-off before you can operate.
5
Related activities allowed on one professional license, amendment about AED 1,020
Extra approvals by field
Which consultancy fields need extra approval?
Standard management consultancy needs no external approval. Five regulated fields each need a sign-off.
Financial / investment
CMA (was SCA), or DFSA in DIFC
HIGH RISK
Engineering
Dubai Municipality classification
HIGH RISK
Health / medical
Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
HIGH RISK
Education / training
KHDA
MEDIUM RISK
Straight answers
Ownership and the LSA, corrected
The ownership myths that cost consultants time and a misfiled license.
Myth
A consultancy needs a 51% local partner
Reality
100% foreign ownership for most mainland professional activities since 2021, under Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021.
Myth
Every consultancy needs a Local Service Agent
Reality
Removed for management consultancy. Where an LSA still applies to a professional activity, it holds 0% equity.
Myth
An LSA is a sponsor who controls the company
Reality
No. An LSA cannot block your bank account, remove you as manager, or take any share of profit. It is admin liaison only.
Myth
Free zone consultancies need an agent too
Reality
Never. Free zones give 100% ownership with no Local Service Agent. The agent question only arises on certain mainland forms.
Myth
A license guarantees a corporate bank account
Reality
Banking is a separate review. The bank assesses your activity, ownership and client profile on its own terms.
Myth
A free zone consultancy is automatically 0% tax
Reality
Only on qualifying income under strict conditions. It is not applied by default, and FTA registration is still required.
Which is right for you
Mainland vs free zone
Both are legitimate for a consultancy. The right answer depends on where your clients are, and whether you want government work. Here is the honest side-by-side.
Best for UAE clients
MainlandDET professional license
Free zoneZone authority license
Foreign ownershipWho holds the shares
100% on most activities
100%, always
Serve UAE clientsDirect local contracts
Direct across the UAE
Depends on activity and model
Government tendersDubai Tenders Portal
Code 7020 can bid, no extra layer
Generally not eligible
Local Service AgentUAE national, 0% equity
Some professional activities
Never required
OfficePresence requirement
Ejari commercial premises
Flexi-desk accepted
Visa capacityResidence visas
Scales with office size
Capped by package
Entry costTypical first year
Higher
30 to 50% lower
Corporate tax9% above AED 375k
9% standard rate
0% on qualifying income only
Best for
UAE-facing consultancies, larger teams, and firms bidding on government work.
Solo, international, and B2B advisers who want the leanest cost and no local office.
The honest verdict
If your clients are UAE-based or you want government tenders, mainland wins. If you serve international or B2B clients and want the leanest cost, a free zone is usually smarter.
Real ranges
How much does a consultancy license in Dubai cost in 2026?
Three cost pictures, not one blended figure: free zone leanest, mainland for direct UAE access, regulated adds an approval.
Leanest for foreign founders
Free zone professional license
100% ownership, a flexi-desk, one activity and one visa. Best for solo and international advisers.
100% ownership, no LSA
Flexi-desk satisfies presence
Single activity, one visa
Direct UAE access
Mainland DET professional license
Serve UAE clients directly and bid on government tenders. Ejari office, visa quota by office size.
Direct UAE-client contracts
Government tender eligibility
Ejari office required
If your field is regulated
Regulated consultancy add-on
Legal, financial, engineering, health or education adds a regulator approval and attested credentials on top.
Regulator approval fee
Attested degree and certificates
Longer timeline
Not sure which route is genuinely cheapest for your field?
Tell us your activity, office and visa count and we return an itemized quote by route, renewal included.
An activity amendment is about AED 1,020. A low headline that excludes your actual activity, your visa, or a required approval is not cheaper, it is incomplete. Ask for a written quote before you commit.
The process
How to set up a consultancy in Dubai
Seven steps. An unregulated consultancy is operational in about 14 to 21 days. A regulated field takes longer: the approval comes first.
- Critical stage
Confirm activity and license type
Pick the right consultancy code and confirm it is professional, not commercial.
Choose mainland or free zone
Decide by where your clients are and whether you want government tenders.
Reserve your trade name
Submit name options that follow UAE naming rules and match your activity.
Get initial approval
The authority confirms no objection to your proposed company and activity.
- Critical stage
Secure any regulator approval
Legal, financial, engineering, health or education needs its named sign-off first.
Get your license issued
Submit the MOA and office agreement, pay the fees, receive the professional license.
- Critical stage
Open a bank account and process visas
Corporate account, establishment card, then investor and staff visas.
What you bring
Documents for a consultancy licence
For most consultancy license files6 items
- Passport copies of the shareholders and manager
- Proof of address and passport-size photos
- Three trade name options and your chosen activity codes
- Attested degree and experience certificates for regulated or credentialed fields
- A No Objection Certificate from your current UAE employer, if applicable
- MOA for a mainland company, and a flexi-desk or Ejari office agreement
Avoid these
Common mistakes when setting up a consultancy in Dubai
The expensive errors are about the activity code and license type, not the paperwork.
License type
Taking a commercial license
Consultancy is professional. A commercial license fails contract vetting and can flag bank and DET audits.
Do this instead: confirm the professional license before you file.
Activity code
Choosing the wrong or narrow code
The code decides what you can invoice and bank. Too narrow restricts revenue, wrong triggers rejection.
Do this instead: map codes to your real services first.
Regulated
Filing regulated work as management
Legal, financial, engineering, health and education need a named approval. Authorities and banks check.
Do this instead: clear the regulator before you file.
Cost
Buying on the lowest package
A cheap headline often excludes your activity, your visa, or a required approval, so it is not cheaper.
Do this instead: compare inclusions, not headline prices.
Tax
Assuming automatic 0% in a free zone
Free zone 0% applies to qualifying income only, under conditions. FTA registration is still required.
Do this instead: confirm qualifying status before relying on 0%.
Banking
Under-planning the account and PI cover
The bank account is a separate review, and professional indemnity protects you against advice claims.
Do this instead: prepare both alongside the license.
Why DMCS
Set up your consultancy with DMCS
Most consultancy pages come from a generalist that treats every consultancy the same. We confirm your exact activity code and whether it is regulated before you file.
Where consultancy setups go wrong
We confirm the code and the regulator before you file
A commercial licence where you needed professional, or a code too narrow to invoice your real work.
01
The right code, first time
We map your real services to the correct professional activity code and confirm whether it is regulated, so your license matches what you actually invoice.
02
Regulated approvals handled in order
For legal, financial, engineering, health or education consultancy, we sequence the regulator approval before license issuance so nothing stalls mid-process.
03
One desk, an itemized quote
The same team handles license, bank account and visas, with government lines and our fee separated and confirmed before you commit, renewal included.
Real results from our clients
What our clients say about working with us
Real Google reviews from founders we have set up and kept compliant on the Dubai mainland.
A
Abdul Sami3 months ago
Thank you to the team for supporting us with our company setup. Our case was not straightforward, especially the bank account opening, but they stayed committed and got it done.
P
Paolo Chua8 months ago
I had a great experience opening a corporate bank account. The process was smooth and efficient. The staff were friendly, professional, and explained everything clearly.
A
Amy Elliott Dunne4 months ago
The accounting and bookkeeping service has been exceptional. Attention to detail is impressive, and communication is always clear. Tasks are handled promptly.
R
Rashed Al Falasi5 months ago
They confirmed our activity grouping before filing and flagged an issue the bank would have raised. Licensed in under two weeks with no surprises on the invoice.
M
Marwa Khalil2 months ago
We came for a mainland LLC and stayed for renewals and PRO work. The same team answers the phone after the license is issued, which is rare here.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Get your consultancy setup quote
Tell us the advice you sell and who your clients are. We confirm the activity code, whether it is regulated, and the right route with an itemized quote. No obligation.
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