IT services Dubai —
DED + TDRA where applicable.
Open a Dubai IT services or software development company. DED commercial or professional + TDRA approval if any telecom-adjacent service. Software, cloud, cybersecurity, integrations.
- Timeline
- 7–14 d
- From
- AED 18k
- Authorities
- 1–2
- Activity codes
- 6
Dubai it services — full stack.
A Dubai IT services business operates under DED activity codes covering software development (6201), data hosting (6311), computer consultancy (6202), and IT systems integration. Most pure software/IT activities require only DED licensing. Telecom-adjacent activities (VoIP services, ISP, telecom infrastructure, mobile applications with calling/messaging) require TDRA (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority) approval. Cybersecurity firms providing penetration testing or selling security services to government entities may need additional ministry approvals.
Dubai DED activity codes covered
6201 — Computer programming activitiesSoftware development — primary IT activity
6202 — Computer consultancy activitiesIT consulting and advisory
6311 — Data processing and hostingCloud services, hosting, SaaS
6209 — Other IT and computer service activitiesSpecialised IT services not elsewhere classified
5829 — Other software publishingSoftware product publishing and licensing
IT services setup — competitor pricing.
Includes DED IT activity, flexi-desk Ejari, MoA, Establishment Card, 1 investor visa. Excludes payment-gateway approval timeline (5–14 days post-licence).
| Provider | Setup price | TDRA notification (if needed) | Cloud hosting partner intro |
|---|---|---|---|
| YABS | AED 18,000 | Included if applicable | AWS / Azure / G42 intro |
| Shuraa | AED 21,500+ | Add-on | Not offered |
| Virtuzone | AED 24,000+ | Add-on | Not offered |
| Creative Zone | AED 20,000+ | Add-on | Limited |
| Adam Global | AED 27,000+ | Add-on | Not offered |
6 steps, 7–14 d.
Trade name + DED activity selection
Reserve trade name. Choose IT activity codes — 6201 primary for software dev.
TDRA pre-check (if applicable)
If activity is telecom-adjacent, TDRA notification or licensing required. Most pure software dev/consultancy: skip this.
DED initial approval
DED 1–2 days, AED 235.
MoA + Ejari
Professional or commercial licence — flexi-desk allowed for professional. AED 1,100 MoA + AED 220 Ejari.
Final trade licence
DED licence fee AED 9,500–11,500 typical.
Establishment Card + immigration file
AED 2,600 combined. Visa quota appropriate to office/team size.
What you actually pay.
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
Trade name + DED initial approval | 855 |
MoA notarisation | 1,100 |
Ejari (flexi-desk) | 220 |
Trade licence fee (IT services) | 10,500 |
Establishment Card + immigration file | 2,600 |
| Government fees subtotal | 15,275 |
| YABS service fee | 6,500 |
| 5% VAT (on YABS service fee) | 325 |
| Total | 22,100 |
Government fees vary by activity and approval requirements. Final quote confirmed after activity selection.
Where people get this wrong.
Pulled from 500+ YABS engagements. Each pitfall has a knock-on cost in time or AED — knowing them up front is half the value of using a PRO.
Listing 'IT services' on the licence without specifying SaaS, hosting, or development activities
Cost: Limited operational scope; clients reject contracts citing licence-activity mismatch
YABS fix: We map every revenue line (software dev, SaaS, hosting, cybersecurity, training) to its specific DED code at activity-finder stage.
Hosting customer data on personal cloud accounts pre-licence
Cost: GDPR / UAE PDPL compliance risk; customer churn on data-residency review
YABS fix: We introduce active YABS clients to UAE-region cloud (AWS Bahrain, Azure UAE, G42) for data-residency-sensitive workloads.
Skipping VAT registration when reselling SaaS licences to UAE customers
Cost: FTA assessment; back-VAT + 14% APR on undeclared invoices
YABS fix: We register for VAT in parallel with DED licence whenever the projected UAE-side revenue exceeds AED 187,500.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need TDRA approval for an IT services company?
Only if your activities are telecom-adjacent: VoIP services, ISP, telecom infrastructure, mobile applications offering voice/messaging. Pure software development, cloud services, IT consulting, cybersecurity products: no TDRA approval needed. TDRA notification may apply for some categories — light-touch versus full licensing.
Can I run a SaaS business from a Dubai mainland licence?
Yes — DED activity 6311 (data processing and hosting) covers SaaS. Combined with 6201 (software development), this allows you to build, host, and sell software-as-a-service from Dubai. Payment gateway integration for recurring billing (Stripe, Paddle, Recurly) is post-licence.
How much does a Dubai IT services licence cost?
Total typical AED 18,000–32,000 fully delivered: DED IT services licence + flexi-desk Ejari + MoA + Establishment Card + YABS + 5% VAT. Software-only and IT consulting are among the cheapest mainland setups. SaaS businesses with significant data hosting infrastructure may need more substantial office and capacity, increasing operational cost.
Can I sponsor developer visas under a Dubai IT licence?
Yes. IT services licences typically support 4–8 employment visas at flexi-desk size and 12–25+ at dedicated office sizes. MOHRE classifies software developers in skilled professional category — straightforward sponsorship for foreign developers from any nationality. Indian, Pakistani, and Filipino developers comprise most of the UAE IT workforce.
Do I need MOHRE approval for the type of work my IT company does?
MOHRE doesn't pre-approve work content; they approve labour contracts. You're free to do any IT work that falls under your DED activity codes. If your activities scope grows beyond licensed activities (e.g., adding telecom services later), you'd need to add the activity to your DED licence first, then potentially TDRA approval. Working outside licensed activities is a violation.
Apply for the it services package
Apply online in 4 steps. Itemised AED quote, no sales-call gate.
This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.