Author: Hanoof Al Naama
Published: May 8, 2024
Category: Business Setup in Dubai
The UAE is experiencing rapid development with an unmatched skyline, landscape, and infrastructure. The country is investing heavily in mega-projects, creating a booming demand for engineering services and consultancy. Specific demands exist for:
The growth of the engineering industry is being driven by the UAE's focus on renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power, as well as green buildings. This has created significant demand for sustainable design and construction expertise.
SPC Free Zone, described as the fastest free zone, offers instant business licenses for engineering activities. Key benefits include:
There are several business activities available for setting up an engineering firm in the UAE. Below are the most popular business licenses within this category.
This license covers numerous essential activities for engineering firms under the broad categories of:
Note: License codes 7110.02 and 7110.03 under this license enable subsections of activities specified below.
Engineering firms can undertake:
This enables firms to contribute uniquely to the developing UAE landscape.
This license is essential for firms conducting:
These services are critical for informed design decisions, construction safety, and legal compliance.
A vast majority of engineering design activities fall under this license. Engineering design specifically refers to the process of applying the physical laws and principles of engineering in the design of:
The following design activities and consultations are enabled:
Consultants with this specific license can be involved in:
These services are necessary for most indoor spaces, creating:
| Requirement Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Third-party Approval | Municipality approval – Technical Department is required for this business activity, post obtaining your trade license |
| Filing of Economic Substance Return | Business activity 7110.00 is exempt from this requirement |
| Anti-Money Laundering Compliance | Business activity 7110.00 is exempt from this requirement |
The following engineering and construction-related activities are prohibited with this license:
This license covers engineering consultancy services with multiple sub-categories (7110.13, 7110.17, 7110.18, 7110.20, 7110.2, 7110.22, 7110.24, 7110.25, 7110.26, 7110.27, 7110.28, 7110.31, 7110.32, 7110.33, 7110.34, 7110.38, 7110.39).
Access to reliable and innovative engineering consultancy solutions is imperative for completing projects with efficiency, safety, and according to the UAE's stringent regulations.
| Requirement Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Third-party Approval | Municipality approval – Technical Department is required for this business activity |
| Filing of Economic Substance Return | Business activity 7110.11 is exempt from this requirement |
| Anti-Money Laundering Compliance | Business activity 7110.11 is exempt from this requirement |
Important Note: Certain business activities require special third-party approvals based on the nature of the business activity. All approvals must be obtained after securing your trade license, not before.
The following business activities require no unique third-party approvals:
| License Code | Engineering Consultancy Type |
|---|---|
| 7110.17 | Mass Media Engineering |
| 7110.20 | Electronic Devices |
| 7110.18 | Engineering in Management Information Systems |
| 7110.22 | Manufacturing and Materials |
| 7110.24 | Raw Material Installation |
| 7110.26 | Illumination and External Lighting for Buildings |
| 7110.27 | Safety and Evacuation |
| 7110.28 | Engineering with 3D Printing Technology |
| 7110.31 | Communications Engineering |
Third-party approval from the Ports & Customs Department (Sharjah) is required:
| License Code | Engineering Consultancy Type |
|---|---|
| 7110.13 | Engineering for Ship Building |
Third-party approval from the Sharjah Municipality is required for these business activities:
| License Code | Engineering Consultancy Type |
|---|---|
| 7110.25 | Interior Design Engineering |
| 7110.32 | Civil Engineering |
| 7110.33 | Coastal Engineering |
| 7110.34 | Mechanical Engineering |
| 7110.38 | Electrical Network & Distribution |
| 7110.39 | Construction Engineering |
The following engineering and construction-related activities are prohibited with this license:
With consultancy in general facilities and services engineering, a firm can provide expertise in:
These consultancies can be involved in all stages of a building's life cycle:
General facilities and services engineering consultancies can be a valuable resource for businesses and organizations of all sizes. They help ensure that facilities are planned, designed, constructed, and operated in a way that is safe, efficient, and cost-effective.
Operations and maintenance are the core of this activity. This includes developing plans and procedures for the ongoing care and maintenance of the facility:
This license is distinctly separate from core business activities and primary operations. Key limitations include:
| Requirement Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Third-party Approval | Third-party approval from the Sharjah Municipality is required for this business activity, post obtaining your trade license |
| Filing of Economic Substance Return | Business activity 8110.09 is exempt from this requirement |
| Anti-Money Laundering Compliance | Business activity 8110.09 is exempt from this requirement |
With SPC Free Zone's instant business licenses, obtaining this license can be streamlined, along with:
| License Code | License Type | Key Services | Municipality Approval Required | Economic Substance Filing | AML Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7110.00 | Architectural and Engineering Activities | Architecture, surveying, engineering design, project management | Yes (Technical Department) | Exempt | Exempt |
| 7110.11 | Engineering Consultancy | Specialized engineering consultancy across multiple disciplines | Yes (Technical Department, varies by sub-category) | Exempt | Exempt |
| 8110.09 | General Facilities and Services Engineering | Facilities planning, design, operations, and maintenance | Yes (Sharjah Municipality) | Exempt | Exempt |
SPC Free Zone is positioned as the fastest free zone for business setup in the UAE, offering:
Contact Information:
This guide provides comprehensive information on setting up an engineering firm in the UAE through SPC Free Zone, covering the three main license types and their specific requirements, approvals, and permitted activities.