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A professional services business is run by individuals or companies providing human or intellectual capital, including expert advice, bespoke services, consulting, or creative talent rather than selling physical, manufactured goods. The target clientele of such businesses are often other firms or individuals that require external assistance with such services and cannot do it internally.
Use our cost calculator to estimate your setup costs based on activities, visa requirements, and optional services.
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Search SPC Free Zone's full business activity list in a new tab, or expand the cards below to review the key professional services activity groups.
This covers the planning, coordination, monitoring, and oversight of projects from inception to completion on behalf of clients. It includes defining project scope, scheduling, resource allocation, risk management, quality control, and budget management to achieve specific project objectives. It does not include physical construction works, direct engineering design, or hands-on operational execution of the project deliverables.
This covers the provision of advisory, guidance, and operational assistance to businesses and other organizations on management issues. It includes strategic planning, organizational design, financial planning, operational improvement, change management, and business process re-engineering. It does not include executive recruitment services, legal representation, or day-to-day administrative management of client companies.
This covers specialized consulting aimed at assisting corporate leadership with long-term decision-making, competitive positioning, and growth strategies. It includes market analysis, corporate restructuring advice, merger and acquisition strategies, portfolio optimization, and strategic risk assessment. It does not include executing routine business operations, underwriting financial investments, or legal counsel.
This covers advising organizations on brand positioning, market presence, media relations, and corporate communication strategies. It includes market research analysis, campaign planning, reputation management, crisis communication planning, and public relations strategy development. It does not include direct media buying, printing advertising materials, or operating full-scale digital advertising agencies.
This covers providing operational advisory services to private enterprises and public sector entities to enhance organizational structure, operational efficiency, and control systems. It includes workflow optimization, policy design, performance evaluation, administrative system streamlining, and organizational benchmarking. It does not include civil service administration or direct operational management of public agencies.
This covers advising individuals and corporate clients on legal procedures, entry requirements, visa applications, residency permits, and citizenship processes. It includes document preparation support, compliance guidance for foreign worker mobility, and representation in administrative application filings. It does not include issuing official government visas, providing legal representation in judicial courtrooms, or operating recruitment agencies.
This covers strategic advice, planning, and management of digital media assets and content ecosystems for organizations. It includes defining content strategy, taxonomy organization, digital asset archiving, content workflow optimization, and brand asset management across web and social channels. It does not include software development, web hosting infrastructure, or producing commercial film and music.
This covers providing managerial, strategic, and operational advisory services to healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics, and health institutions. It includes healthcare workflow optimization, facility capacity planning, operational compliance, patient flow management, and healthcare quality assurance programs. It does not include practicing medicine, providing clinical treatments, or operating pharmacy facilities.
This covers advisory services focused on optimizing supply chain operations, transportation networks, warehousing, and inventory management. It includes supply chain route planning, warehouse layout design, distribution network optimization, and vendor management advice. It does not include operating freight transport vehicles, physically running warehouses, or providing courier services.
This covers strategic advice and assistance on purchasing procedures, vendor selection, supply chain sourcing, and contract negotiations. It includes procurement policy auditing, spend analysis, cost-reduction strategies, vendor management assessment, and e-procurement integration. It does not include acting as a merchant distributor, purchasing goods on own account, or direct import-export trading.
This covers specialized advisory services for the hotel, resort, restaurant, and leisure industries. It includes operational audits, concept development, service quality standardization, revenue management advice, and guest experience optimization strategies. It does not include day-to-day hotel operations, food preparation and catering, or real estate property brokerage.
This covers managing external communications, public image, and stakeholder relations for businesses, public figures, and institutions. It includes drafting press releases, organizing media conferences, managing press inquiries, corporate social responsibility advice, and crisis communication implementation. It does not include direct media ad placement or graphic design production.
This covers advising and structuring financial frameworks, internal control systems, cost accounting methods, and budgetary planning models for organizations. It includes designing management accounting policies, expenditure tracking systems, and financial control procedures. It does not include statutory auditing of accounts, tax return preparation, or routine bookkeeping services.
This covers providing technical advisory services on quality management systems, ISO certification compliance, industrial standardization, and quality control frameworks. It includes auditing quality processes, establishing measurement procedures, and advising on regulatory compliance. It does not include laboratory testing services, product calibration services, or direct manufacturing control.
This covers advising logistics operators, shippers, and transport companies on freight movement, shipping routes, cargo handling efficiency, and customs compliance strategy. It includes transport mode selection, freight cost optimization, and supply chain route audits. It does not include freight forwarding execution, customs clearance brokerage, or operating transport fleets.
This covers advising pharmaceutical companies, healthcare firms, and biotech enterprises on regulatory compliance, drug registration processes, clinical trial management strategies, and quality assurance standards. It includes market access strategy and dossier filing assistance. It does not include the chemical manufacturing of drugs, clinical testing operations, or retail pharmacy dispensing.
This covers providing technical and operational advisory services to food producers, restaurants, and food service businesses. It includes menu engineering, kitchen workflow design, food safety and hygiene protocol design (such as HACCP compliance), and recipe standardization advice. It does not include catering operations, food manufacturing, or health inspection enforcement.
This covers advisory services across the lifecycle of commercial, industrial, or infrastructure development projects. It includes pre-feasibility analysis, project structuring, funding mechanism design, stakeholder coordination, and timeline development. It does not include architectural blueprinting, structural engineering, or physical building construction.
This covers advising organizations on corporate office administration, back-office operations, records management, and business support procedures. It includes conducting administrative workflow studies, operational efficiency assessments, and record retention policy design. It does not include providing outsourced office support staff, secretarial pooling, or temporary staffing agency services.
This covers strategic planning and policy advisory services for public health institutions, medical facilities, and corporate health programs. It includes community health needs assessment, healthcare facility expansion planning, and preventive health strategy design. It does not include clinical medical diagnosis, patient therapy, or emergency rescue services.
This covers conducting market demand research, financial modeling, cost-benefit analyses, and economic viability studies for business ventures, new investments, or infrastructure projects. It includes ROI estimation, risk assessment, and market entry analysis. It does not include providing financial underwriting, investment fund management, or loan brokerage.
This covers advisory services for tourism boards, municipal authorities, and private developers on tourism destination planning, recreational facility concepts, and leisure travel strategies. It includes eco-tourism planning, visitor experience design, and tourism market potential studies. It does not include operating travel agencies, running tour operator buses, or managing theme parks.
This covers providing advice, mentorship, workspace environment planning, business growth support, and networking access for early-stage startups and emerging businesses. It includes startup acceleration advisory, business model guidance, and investor pitch preparation services. It does not include direct equity investment funding, money lending, or operating commercial real estate leasing as a primary business.
This covers advisory services for the layout design, operational strategy, service menu development, and equipment selection for spas, wellness centers, and fitness clubs. It includes staff training strategy, service quality audits, and membership retention advisory. It does not include personal fitness training, operating spa facilities, or physical therapy treatments.
This covers providing expert technical guidance and advisory on the selection, evaluation, integration, and performance optimization of industrial and commercial technical equipment. It includes machinery selection guidance, technology integration studies, and equipment efficiency audits. It does not include equipment repair, physical maintenance, electrical installation, or machinery manufacturing.
This covers advisory services related to cultural heritage preservation, arts programming, museum exhibition curation, and cross-cultural communication strategies. It includes advising public and private organizations on cultural initiatives, community arts strategy, and heritage site promotion. It does not include art dealing, antique sales, or operating theater venues.
This covers providing strategic, operational, and financial advisory services to sports organizations, athletic clubs, event organizers, and sports facilities. It includes sports market research, facility utilization studies, tournament organization strategy, and sponsorship program advisory. It does not include direct sports coaching, operating professional sports teams, or athlete management agency services.
This covers technical and operational consulting regarding the planning, site selection, network management strategies, and operational oversight of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. It includes advising on station deployment, grid capacity integration strategies, and software management platform selection. It does not include electrical grid installation, physical civil works, or manufacturing charging hardware.
This covers providing advisory services to private collectors, corporate bodies, and institutions on art acquisition strategies, collection management, artwork authentication guidance, and exhibition planning. It includes valuation advice and art market research. It does not include operating art galleries for retail sales, art restoration, or auction house operations.
This covers strategic and operational advisory services specifically tailored for hotel owners, developers, and operators. It includes feasibility studies for hotel sites, operator selection guidance, brand affiliation strategy, yield management advice, and hotel service audits. It does not include operating hotel properties, managing front-desk operations, or running hotel food and beverage outlets.
Browse the full SPC Free Zone activity list before finalizing your trade name and license package.
Secure your business license quickly and move from application to operations faster.
Trade across multiple categories while keeping your structure simple.
Add the support services you need as your company grows.
Apply and set up your company without needing to visit the UAE.
SPC Free Zone is located in Sharjah, with convenient access to major UAE logistics routes and airports.
The free zone is just 15 minutes away from two major airports (Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport), making it an excellent choice for international entrepreneurs.
Get DirectionsA clear comparison of setup cost, activity flexibility, and estimated setup speed.
| Feature | SPC Free Zone | Average Free Zone | UAE Mainland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price without visas | From AED 5,750 * | AED 12,000+ | AED 15,000+ |
| Starting price with visas | From AED 13,175 | From AED 18,000 | From AED 20,000 |
| Activity groups per license | 5 | 3 | Usually 1 |
| Setup speed | Same day * | 2–5 working days | 7–14 working days |
Final timelines are subject to chosen activities and timely submission of documentation. Terms and conditions apply.
Speak with an SPC Free Zone advisor about pricing, activity groups, and visa options for your business.
Share your business goals with an SPC Free Zone advisor.
Select your preferred company name and trading activity groups.
Provide your passport copy, Emirates ID if applicable, and any additional documents.
Receive your license and start building your UAE trading operations.
SPC Free Zone offers business licenses across multiple categories of professional services: including consulting, IT services, outsourcing, management, marketing and sales, and tax and accountancy services. Each activity has its own defined scope and activity code, giving your business a specified operational framework from Day 1!
If you are a consultant, digital creator, tech expert, or a service provider, establishing a professional services company is an excellent choice to leverage your expertise into a thriving business. Unlike standard commercial frameworks designed around tangible, physical products, a professional services company prioritises intellectual capital.
With SPC Free Zone, you can enjoy unmatched operational flexibility with the option to add as many as 5 distinct activity groups on each business license, helping you to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach if needed. For example, you have the option to start a software development firm, and add digital marketing and corporate training activities on the same license, saving your venture thousands of dirhams in licensing fees!
A professional services business also happens to be one of the more overhead-efficient models: you do not necessarily need a dedicated office space! SPC Free Zone’s free co-working spaces mean that you don’t need to lease an office to stay compliant, helping you reinvest capital on talent acquisition, marketing expenses, and growing your business. Plus, with full foreign ownership, zero paid-up capital requirements, and a 100% remote setup process, it remains completely possible for you to run a global firm from the UAE without leaving your home country!
A professional services business is run by individuals or companies providing human or intellectual capital, including expert advice, bespoke services, consulting, or creative talent rather than selling physical, manufactured goods. The target clientele of such businesses are often other firms or individuals that require external assistance with such services and cannot do it internally.
There’s no single ‘professional services’ license that covers all professional services activities. You’ll need to choose up to 5 activity groups that cover your desired business activities when applying for your business license.
Yes. At SPC Free Zone, you can select up to 5 distinct activity groups under a single business license.
No. Certain free zones such as SPC Free Zone allow you to operate completely virtually, while providing access to both free and paid co-working spaces if necessary.
No. At SPC Free Zone, you can retain 100% ownership of your firm. You retain absolute control over your company shares, operations, and profits without any local sponsorship requirements.
It depends on your chosen activities. While a package with certain activities such as consulting starts from just AED 5,750, variables such as visas and value-added services can drive up your setup price significantly.
Speak with our Business Setup Advisor about activity selection, setup costs, visa allocations, and documentation requirements.