UAQ — Umm Al Quwain Free Zone
- Company setup from
8,000 AED
Registration in 3-5 days
Flexi-desks, offices, warehouses
UAQ Free Zone offers a wide range of business activities, including creative and unique categories not found in other free zones.…
Why licensing is essential for project managers in Dubai
Project management activities in Dubai are licensed as standard professional or service activities through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) on the mainland or through the relevant free zone authority. There is no separate stand-alone “project management law”. Instead, you select suitable service activities, such as project management consultancy, from the official activity list of DET or your chosen free zone.
The licensing process includes choosing the right project management activity description, complying with visa and labour rules, and meeting any sector-specific technical approvals, especially in areas like construction or engineering. Failure to comply with these general business regulations can lead to penalties, fines, or even license revocation.
Types of project management licenses available
The project management license grants the right to offer consultancy and project management services within the emirate.
On the Dubai mainland, project management activities are usually set up as a professional Sole Establishment or an LLC with a relevant DET activity code, for example “project management services” or “project management consultancy”.
In free zones, they are typically registered as FZ-LLC or similar legal forms offered by the respective authority, rather than as a separate “individual license” category. This means that in practice you choose a legal form (sole establishment, LLC, free zone company) and add the appropriate project management activity to it, instead of applying for a completely different “individual vs company” project management licence type.
General project management license
The general project management license is the most versatile, allowing businesses to operate across multiple industries. This license is ideal for professionals managing projects in diverse fields, such as real estate, hospitality, or general consultancy.
A general project management consultancy license allows you to work with clients in different industries, such as real estate, hospitality or IT, under one broad service activity. Your ability to serve clients across Dubai or the wider UAE depends on where your company is licensed: a mainland DET license lets you contract directly with clients throughout Dubai, whereas a free zone company is registered inside its zone and may face additional conditions when targeting mainland projects.
Specialized licenses by industry
Dubai offers industry-specific project management licenses tailored to meet the unique requirements of various sectors.
Construction project management license
Construction projects in Dubai often involve large budgets, strict timelines, and stringent regulatory requirements. A construction project management license ensures compliance with safety standards, labor laws, and environmental regulations, enabling you to oversee projects ranging from skyscrapers to infrastructure developments.
IT project management license
As Dubai positions itself as a global technology hub, the IT sector requires skilled project managers to implement advanced solutions. This license allows professionals to manage software development, IT infrastructure, and digital transformation projects, ensuring alignment with Dubai’s smart city initiatives.
Event management project license
Dubai is renowned for hosting international exhibitions, trade shows, and cultural events. The event management project license is tailored for professionals managing event logistics, vendor coordination, and execution. This license is essential for adhering to local laws and providing seamless experiences for global audiences.
RAKEZ company formation process
Business setup in Ras Al Khaimah can be done within about 1 week. Your personal visit will be required, but you don’t have to go all the way to Ras Al Khaimah - you can visit the zone’s representative office in Dubai.
Determine the business activities of your future company and the corresponding license type. This is a key aspect of business setup, as choosing the wrong activity and license can lead to errors during company registration, creating problems with opening a bank account or even making such opening impossible.
In RAKEZ, you can choose from different legal entities and free zone license types. Decide on the business activity and prepare a business plan. The legal entities you can form include:
- Free Zone Establishment (FZE) - One shareholder
- Free Zone Company (FZC) - 2-5 shareholders
- Branch of a local company
- Branch of a foreign company
RAKEZ requires a minimal documentation package:
- Passport copy
- Passport-size photo
- Residential address, phone number, and email
- Company name
- Business activity
You also need to pay all the registration and processing fees at this step.
After the registration is completed, you will receive your set of corporate documents, which include:
- License
- Chamber of Commerce registration certificate
- Lease agreement
- Memorandum of Association (for companies with multiple partners)
These documents will enable you to apply for a corporate bank account.
It contains information about your company and makes it eligible to sponsor residency visas.
If you apply from inside the UAE, you have to change your visa status from the previous visa to a residence visa of the required type. If you are outside the UAE, then arrive in the country, get your entry permit stamped and then proceed with the rest of the residence visa process, submitting the necessary documents.
Undergo a medical checkup and submit documents for a residence visa. Complete biometrics procedure in one of the Emirates ID centers. Once you have the results of your medical test and biometrics you can submit all the details for a visa approval. Your electronic visa will be sent to you by email. You can also find it in the UAEICP app.
After the residence visa is issued, the Government prepares a plastic identity card which is an important document that is required to open a bank account, rent an apartment, pay bills or fines, etc. It also entitles you to many local services and discounts.
Apply to a UAE bank to open a corporate bank account. The approval may take a few weeks. After receiving the account details, you can start running your business in the UAE.
The Ras Al Khaimah company register is not open to the public and is kept confidential. In case your setup is rejected due to any force majeure reason after you have made the payment to the free zone, you will be granted a 100% refund. This adds up to the RAKEZ free zone benefits and explains why entrepreneurs from around the globe choose to set up companies in RAKEZ.
With us you can navigate this process quickly and effortlessly. You don`t even have to arrive in Dubai — the registration procedure can be completed remotely. However, you will need to visit the UAE for medical checkups, visa formalities, and account opening.
RAKEZ license cost
The most affordable RAKEZ license package starts from AED 6,000 and allows up to six business activities. While cost-effective, this package does not have visa allocations. At Emirabiz, we don’t just recommend the lowest RAKEZ company setup cost for the sake of a low headline price. We review your business model, structure, and visa needs to select the setup that’s actually optimal for your company.
| TYPE OF LICENCE | COST, AED |
|---|---|
| Zero-visa License + Flexi-desk | 6,000 |
| 1-visa License + Flexi-desk (1 shareholder) | 12,000 |
| 2-visa License + Flexi-desk (up to 3 shareholders) | 25,000 |
| All-inclusive (1 visa) | 16,560 |
| All-inclusive (2 visas) | 20,060 |
For multi-year packages, an instalment facility is available.
Elena O.
We'll find the ideal free zone for your business!
RAKEZ Company Formation
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Smooth and speedy process from the initial contact to the final visa approval. Wale was super helpful and professional and always answered promptly all my questions.
Emirabiz is a red carpet service worth paying for and I want to thank Helen and her team for her dedicated support and her amazing follow-through. To launch a business in UAE and get…
Hi, I am Eric, from France. I am very satisfied by the work performed for me by Emirabiz. I was based in Saudi Arabia last year and I wanted to create my Company in UAE. I did everything…
Local Consultancy is quite simply excellent at what they do and the services that they provide. Business owner Elena is completely hands on, looking after my needs as a client personally,…
Strongly recommended! I needed to setup a company in the free zone and I ended up in the right place. Natela and Natalia were super helpful in assisting me in the process from the beginning…
Amazing company to work with. Very fast and efficient. Got all of our Paperwork done and visas + Emirates IDs in a very timely manner. Princess was wonderful and always followed up with me…
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From a scale from 0-10 in which 10 is out if this world amazing, Timi and her team deserve a 11! I decided to move to Dubai with my family and Working with Timi was by far the best decision…
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Assisted me in obtaining my Golden Visa. A big thank you to Parul Parikh for guiding me through the process and for ensuring that my application was successful. Craig
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Thank you very much for your service. All was done in a short time and in a very comfortable conditions. The level of Anna Soloviova is high. All her explanations and details of new company…
Your Service was fantastic and flawless! And a very, very special „Thank You“ for Nadia! She provided assistance to solve problems, responded immediately to E-Mails, amazing customer…
I am satisfied with the process, steps and speed of my company incorporation also you helped me a lot and very quickly.Turkey
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