What to Check Before Choosing an Activity
The DED activity list helps you identify the business activity to use when applying for a Dubai mainland licence. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) manages mainland business licensing, while “DED activity list” remains a common search term.
Start with the official activity search, then check that the activity description matches what your company will actually sell or provide. This guide explains how to find a code, compare licence options and prepare your shortlist.
DED Activity List Dubai: Key Points
- Use the current Invest in Dubai search to look up an activity name or number.
- Check the full description, not just the code or a familiar business label.
- Confirm the licence route, company structure and any additional approvals before applying.
- Do not assume that activities can share a licence simply because their names sound related.
- Dubai mainland and free-zone licensing are different routes. Check your chosen authority’s requirements.
- This article is a guide to using the official search, not a complete activity-code directory.
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Business activity | The official name, number and description fit your revenue-generating work. |
| Licence route | The activity is available under the licence and jurisdiction you intend to use. |
| Company structure | Your proposed legal form is suitable for the activity. |
| Approvals | Identify any additional authority approvals, qualifications or premises requirements. |
| Combined activities | Confirm whether your full shortlist can be included on the same licence. |
| Total cost | Request an itemised quote covering licensing, premises, approvals and any visa-related services you need. |
What Is the DED Activity List?
For Dubai mainland setup, the activity list is the starting point for describing the work your company intends to carry out. An activity number identifies the relevant entry; its description helps you check whether that entry fits your business.
A broad label such as “consultancy” or “trading” is not a substitute for checking the specific activity. Two businesses with similar names may need different activities because they provide different services or sell different products.
Choosing the activity is one part of Dubai mainland company formation. The legal structure, premises and approval requirements also need to be considered.
How to Find the Right DED Activity Code
Use the official search rather than copying a number from a blog or an old PDF. Search by an activity name or number, then compare the result with a plain-language description of your business.
For example, a company developing software should investigate the relevant development activity rather than assume a general IT-related label covers the work. A business selling goods should check the activity for its product category and operating model.
Save the exact name and number of each candidate activity. Before submitting an application, confirm its current description and suitability through the licensing authority. The examples below are search starting points, not verified activity names or codes.
Business Activity Examples: Where to Start Your Search
| What your business plans to do | Search starting point | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Build software for clients | Software development | Does the description cover development, advisory work or both? |
| Provide business advice | Management consultancy | Does it cover your specific service and customer needs? |
| Sell products | Your product category plus “trading” | Does the scope match the goods and sales model? |
| Prepare and sell food | Restaurant or the relevant food activity | What premises and additional approvals are required? |
| Manufacture products | The product and manufacturing process | What facility and approval requirements apply? |
Which licence types should you compare?
Invest in Dubai lists commercial, professional and industrial mainland licences, alongside e-trader and dual-licence routes. The appropriate route depends on the proposed business and its eligibility. Check the current official mainland licence information before choosing.
How to Search the Official Dubai DED/DET Activity List
- Open the official search. Visit Invest in Dubai — Search Business Activities.
- Enter an activity name or number. Start with the service you provide or the product you sell. The search also accepts an existing facility name.
- Compare relevant results. Try a more specific term if the first search is too broad. Do not select a result based on its name alone.
- Record your shortlist. Keep the activity name, number and description together so they can be checked against your business plan.
- Confirm requirements before applying. Ask the licensing authority to confirm the suitable licence route, legal form, compatible activities and any extra approvals.
Looking for a DED activity list PDF? A downloaded copy may be useful for reference, but verify your chosen activity in the current official search before relying on it for an application.
How to Choose Activities That Match Your Business
- Describe what customers will pay you for. Write a short list of your products and services, rather than choosing a code from a general business name.
- Separate different services. Development, advice, product sales and training may require different activity coverage. Ask which entries fit the work you intend to do.
- Check the operating model. Explain whether you will sell online, work from premises, manufacture products or deliver services at client locations.
- Confirm combinations. Ask whether your shortlisted activities can sit on the same licence and what additional conditions apply.
- Request a scope-based quotation. Confirm which government fees, approvals, premises and optional services are included.
The activity code alone does not establish the full setup cost or guarantee a visa allocation. For a broader budget checklist, see our Dubai mainland company formation cost guide.
Can You Add or Change Activities Later?
If your business model changes, check the required licence amendment with DET before starting the new activity. Explain the new work, confirm whether it can be added to the existing licence, and request the applicable requirements and charges.
Do not assume an amendment will cover every change of scope. A different activity or operating model may need further approvals or a different licensing arrangement.
Need Help Shortlisting Your Dubai Business Activities?
Tell Momentum what your business will sell, how it will operate and which activities you want to combine. Our team can help you prepare a shortlist, identify questions to confirm with the licensing authority and plan the next steps for company formation.
