Changing Business Activities on a UAE Licence
Your UAE trade licence specifies the business activities your company is authorised to conduct. Operating outside your licensed activities is a regulatory violation. If your business evolves, you must formally amend your licence to add or remove activities.
When Would You Need to Change Activities?
- Expanding into a new service or product line
- Pivoting your business model
- Adding activities required for a new client contract or government tender
- Removing outdated activities to simplify your licence
Mainland (DED) Activity Change Process
- Identify the new activity code(s) — DED publishes a list of approved business activities; select the correct code(s) for your new activity
- Check for additional approvals — some activities require external approvals (e.g., financial services from CBUAE, healthcare from DHA, food from MOCCAE)
- Submit the amendment application via DED online portal
- Pay the amendment fee (typically AED 500–2,000 per activity; varies)
- Amend the MOA (Memorandum of Association) — required if the new activity changes the company's defined objects clause
- Receive the updated licence (3–7 business days)
Free Zone Activity Change
Each free zone has its own approved activity list. The process mirrors the mainland approach but is handled through your free zone authority's portal.
Activities Requiring Additional Approvals
Some activities are regulated and require a special licence or NOC from the relevant authority:
- Financial services — Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE)
- Healthcare — Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Abu Dhabi Department of Health
- Food and hospitality — Dubai Municipality or equivalent
- Education — KHDA or Ministry of Education
- Real estate — RERA
VAT and CT Implications
Adding or changing business activities may affect your VAT obligations (e.g. if you add an exempt activity) or your CT position (e.g. if you add a QFZP-qualifying activity). Kounted advises on these implications before any activity change is filed.