3,000+
Approved business activities on DET's official register, each with a unique code.
Activity guide · 2026
DED/DET Activity List Dubai
How DET's 3,000+ activities are coded, and which qualify for 100% ownership.
- Reviewed by UAE-licensed setup advisors.Activity selection and licensing since 2009.
The activity list
What is the DED/DET activity list?
DET's register lists more than 3,000 approved activities, each with its own code, split across commercial, professional, industrial and tourism.
3,000+Approved activities on the DET register
4License categories to choose between
7 digitsTypical code length, per ISIC Rev. 4
Start here
Introduction
At a glance
4
License categories your activity determines: Commercial, Professional, Industrial, Tourism.
ISIC Rev.4
The international classification standard DET's activity codes are based on.
AED 2,000
Fine commonly reported for changing or adding an activity without prior DET approval.
License categories
The four DET licence categories
Your activity sets your licence: Commercial, Professional, Industrial or Tourism, each with different approvals.
Compare all licenses
Commercial License
Trading, distribution, e-commerce, retail, import-export.
- Best for
- General trading and retail businesses
- Key consideration
- The broadest category, also where banks scrutinize activity/revenue match most closely.
Professional License
Consultancy, IT, design, and other skill-based services.
- Best for
- Consultants and service firms
- Key consideration
- Full ownership on most activities; a few still need a local service agent.
Industrial License
Manufacturing, processing, and production.
- Best for
- Manufacturers and processors
- Key consideration
- Requires suitable premises and often Dubai Municipality sign-off.
Tourism License
Travel agencies, tour operators, hospitality.
- Best for
- Travel and hospitality businesses
- Key consideration
- Coordinated with DTCM on top of standard DET approval.
- Activity-based, not one-size-fits-all
- e-Trader is a separate home-based route
- Some activities need external approval
Ready to pick your license?
Tell us your activity and we confirm the exact DET category, plus whether e-Trader fits better for a home-based start.
Code anatomy
What a DET Activity Code Actually Looks Like
Based on ISIC Rev. 4's four-level structure, though not every DET code maps to it exactly.
| ISIC Level | Digits in 6202010 | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Section | Digit 1 → Section J | Info & communication |
| Division | Digits 1–2 → 62 | Computer consultancy |
| Group | Digits 1–3 → 620 | Same, narrower group |
| Class | Digits 1–4 → 6202 | Facilities management |
| DET suffix | Digits 5–7 → 010 | DET's own sub-code |
The Mechanic That Matters
Can You Combine Multiple Activities on One License?
Yes, within limits, and mixing the wrong ones costs more than it saves.
Related activities group under one license
Activities within the same category, several types of trading under Commercial, for example, can usually sit on a single license without separate licensing.
DET caps how many activities you can add
Practical limits apply, commonly reported around 10 activities per license, and each addition carries its own fee.
Mismatched activities trigger real scrutiny
Adding unrelated activities for flexibility, when your actual revenue comes from just one of them, raises questions during bank KYC review and can force a license amendment later.
How to choose the right activityIf your activities don't share a category, expect either a second license or a formal amendment, not automatic approval.
External approvals
Which Activities Need Approval Beyond DET
DET issues the license; these authorities decide whether your specific activity gets a green light first.
Healthcare & Medical
Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
HIGH RISK
Education & Training
KHDA
HIGH RISK
Food & Beverage
Dubai Municipality
MEDIUM RISK
Travel & Tourism
DTCM
MEDIUM RISK
The fit check
Does your activity qualify for 100% ownership?
Most do. A specific list doesn't.
Recommended
Most activities4 signs
You likely qualify if
- Your activity is commercial or professionalThe large majority of DET activities qualify by default.
- Your activity isn't on the Strategic Impact listCabinet Decision 55 of 2021 sets the exceptions.
- You're forming a new mainland LLC or branchNo local partner needed on eligible activities.
- You want to confirm before you fileOne search on the DET register settles it either way.
Strategic impact4 signs
Check further if yours is
- Banking, finance, or insuranceCentral Bank of the UAE sets the limit here.
- Security or defence-relatedDefence and Interior ministries approve here.
- Telecom, or a few specialist categoriesA sector regulator, not DET, decides this.
- Healthcare, or medical servicesDHA or the health ministry approves before DET does.
This links directly to the reform covered on our 100% foreign ownership guide, read it for the full mechanism.
The process
How to Actually Choose the Right Activity
Six steps, in order, skipping ahead is where most amendments come from.
Define your core business precisely
Be specific, "fashion apparel retail," not "trading." Vague terms match the wrong code.
Search the DET activity register
Use the Invest in Dubai portal to find your activity code, license category, and any approval notes.
Check for external approval
Health activities need DHA, education needs KHDA, food needs Dubai Municipality, tourism needs DTCM.
Check group compatibility
Confirm any additional activities share your primary category before adding them to one license.
Confirm ownership eligibility
Verify your activity isn't on the Strategic Impact list before assuming 100% ownership applies.
Finalise and file
Submit your chosen activity and code as part of your license application, not as an afterthought.
Straight answers
DET Activity List Myths, Corrected
The misreadings that cost founders time and amendment fees.
Myth
Any close-enough activity will work
Reality
It won't. A mismatch between your license and your actual operations is a compliance issue, not a technicality.
Myth
You can't change your activity later
Reality
You can, through a formal DET amendment, it just costs a fee and takes time you could have avoided.
Myth
Every activity allows 100% foreign ownership
Reality
Most do, not all. Strategic Impact activities under Cabinet Decision 55 of 2021 are the exception.
Myth
One license means exactly one activity
Reality
You can combine related ones. The limit is on unrelated combinations, not multiple activities entirely.
Myth
You can freely bundle any activities you like
Reality
Not quite. Unrelated activities that don't match your revenue can trigger bank scrutiny or a forced amendment.
Myth
DET codes map onto the international standard.
Reality
They are based on ISIC Rev. 4, but not as a strict 1:1 mapping. The code on DET's own register is the one your licence and your bank are read against.
Why choose us
From activity code to licence
We Match Activities to Reality
We map your actual revenue model to the activity code banks expect to see, instead of the closest-sounding option.
We Check the Ownership Link Too
Every activity we recommend is checked against the current Strategic Impact list before you assume 100% ownership applies.
One Desk, From Code to License
Activity selection, external approvals, and license filing are handled by the same team, start to finish.
We Flag Amendment Costs Upfront
If your business will likely need a second activity later, we say so now, not after you've paid for one amendment already.
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What our clients say about working with us
Real Google reviews from founders we have set up and kept compliant on the Dubai mainland.
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Rashed Al Falasi5 months ago
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Marwa Khalil2 months ago
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Get the Right Activity Code, First Time
Tell us what your business actually does and we confirm the exact DET activity, license category, and any external approvals, before you file, not after a rejection. No obligation.
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