Author: Hanoof Al Naama
Published: May 27, 2024
With the increasing urbanization in the UAE, there is a rising demand for effective cleaning services. As people's lives get busier, services that free up their time and create a clean environment to live and work in are becoming more coveted.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a greater awareness of cleanliness to prevent the spread of diseases has gripped the UAE. Similarly, the rise of disposable income and the real estate boom have fueled a demand for cleaning services.
The industry is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate of roughly 5%, driven by these diverse factors.
The cleaning services market in the UAE is segmented into:
SPC Free Zone recommends a range of business licenses for cleaning companies, all of which can be taken under an instant license from SPC.
Cleaning services require:
This license covers general cleaning services for houses and commercial office cleaning services.
This license is recommended for entrepreneurs targeting:
General cleaning of all building types falls under this license.
This license covers general cleaning of:
It mainly focuses on internal spaces, but might also include windows, hallways, and other outside areas that are right next to the building.
This license mostly covers general cleaning—not specialized interior cleaning activities. The following activities are prohibited:
For those looking to conduct these activities, see license 8129.00.
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Third-party Approval | No third-party approvals required |
| Filing of Economic Substance Return | Business activity 8120.00 is exempt |
| Anti-Money Laundering Compliance | Business activity 8120.00 is exempt |
Under the broad arm of building completion and finishing, primarily carried out by construction crews and engineers, comes the cleaning of new buildings after construction. Cleaning companies are hired during the end of the process, working in tandem with other experts.
This is a crucial step before a building can be occupied. It involves:
By following a thorough cleaning process, cleaning companies ensure that new buildings are ready for occupants to move in and enjoy a clean, healthy, and functional space.
For cleaning companies who wish to carry out specialized interior and exterior cleaning of such buildings, obtaining license 8129.00 is recommended as well, since this license prohibits the mentioned activity.
Companies with this license cannot engage in:
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Third-party Approval | Third-party approval from Sharjah Municipality/Dubai Civil Defense is required for this business activity, post obtaining your business license |
| Filing of Economic Substance Return | Business activity 4330.10 is exempt |
| Anti-Money Laundering Compliance | Business activity 4330.10 is exempt |
If you're looking to provide clients with a host of combined support services, including general interior cleaning and maintenance, this activity is the way to go.
This license enables companies to carry out:
In short, the operations required to keep a facility running on the ground level.
As a company that provides the above services, including cleaning, you will provide a team of competent staff to carry out these activities within a client's space. These employees cannot contribute to the core business activities carried out within this facility.
This category focuses on companies providing a combination of support services to keep facilities running smoothly. Companies cannot:
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Third-party Approval | No third-party approvals required |
| Filing of Economic Substance Return | Business activity 8110.01 is exempt |
| Anti-Money Laundering Compliance | Business activity 8110.01 is exempt |
| License Code | License Type | Third-Party Approval Required | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8121.00 (8121.01, 8121.02) | General Cleaning of Buildings | No | Houses, offices, apartments, factories, shops, general building cleaning |
| 4330.10 | Cleaning of New Buildings After Construction | Yes (Sharjah Municipality/Dubai Civil Defense) | Post-construction cleaning, debris removal |
| 8110.01 | Provision of Combination of Support Services | No | Combined facility support services including cleaning, maintenance, security, reception |