IT Consulting License in Dubai & UAE: Cost & How to Get One (2026)
An IT consulting licence in the UAE lets you offer software development, IT advisory and technology services legally. It starts from around AED 12,500 in a free zone such as IFZA or DMCC, offers 100% ownership, and can be issued within 3–7 working days. Residence visas are added once licensed.
Last updated: June 2026
Cost breakdown (2026)
| IT consulting licence from | AED 12,500 |
|---|---|
| With 1 visa from | AED 16,900 |
| Additional activity add-on | Varies by zoneFor software plus consulting |
| Timeline | 3–7 working days |
According to Setup Business in UAE, a it consulting license in dubai & uae in the UAE starts from AED 12,500 (as of June 2026).
What you need
- Passport copy of shareholder(s)
- Chosen trade name (3 options)
- Selected IT consulting / software development activity
- Application form and, for some banks, a business plan
How to get your IT Consulting License in Dubai & UAE
- 1
Choose IT activity & zone
Select software development and IT consulting activities in a technology-friendly free zone.
- 2
Reserve your trade name
Submit compliant trade name options for approval.
- 3
Submit documents & pay
Provide passport copies and the application, then pay the package fee.
- 4
Receive your licence
Your IT consulting licence is issued digitally.
- 5
Bank & visas
Open a corporate account and apply for residence visas for owners and staff.
Costs beyond the licence
IT consulting sits between advice and delivery, and its cost stack reflects both: professional indemnity insurance sized to your engagements (from AED 2,500, but enterprise clients may require AED 1M+ coverage), certified-partner fees if you implement vendor stacks (Microsoft, AWS and SAP partner programmes each carry annual costs), and secure tooling — password vaults, endpoint protection, client-data handling that survives a security questionnaire.
Enterprise sales cycles also mean 60–90 day payment terms; carry three months of costs as working capital before signing your first large engagement.
Free zone or mainland for IT consulting?
Free zone handles most consulting cleanly — advisory work is location-independent and IFZA, Meydan and DMCC all host it. The mainland case appears with government digital-transformation projects and semi-government enterprises, where vendor registration portals frequently require mainland licences and physical presence scoring. If public sector is your pipeline, weigh mainland from the start rather than converting mid-pursuit.
Common mistakes with IT consulting licences
Consultants blur the line into reselling — sourcing licences or hardware for clients is a trading activity your professional licence doesn't cover, and the margin isn't worth the compliance breach. Fixed-price implementation contracts without change-control clauses are the second classic: scope creep on a government project can consume a year. Third, data-residency promises: committing to UAE-only hosting without verifying your cloud region's compliance certifications creates liability you can't deliver on.
Recommended free zones
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an IT consulting licence in Dubai?+
An IT consulting licence starts from around AED 12,500 in a free zone, or about AED 16,900 including one residence visa. Costs vary with activities, visas and office needs.
Which free zone is best for IT and software?+
IFZA, DMCC and Meydan are popular for IT and software businesses thanks to low cost, 100% ownership and fast digital setup.
Can I combine software development and consulting?+
Yes. Many free zones allow multiple related activities on one licence, so you can offer both software development and IT advisory, sometimes for a small add-on fee.
Do I need a physical office for an IT licence?+
No. Most free zones offer flexi-desk packages that satisfy the office requirement for IT consulting without leasing a full office.