Open a salon, spa, or barber shop —
DED + Municipality + DHA sorted.
Dubai DED commercial licence + Dubai Municipality Health & Hygiene permit + DHA occupational health cards for staff. Gender-segregation rules, sterilization compliance, mall vs standalone — all handled.
- Total timeline
- 21–45 d
- From
- AED 22k
- Authorities
- 3
- Activity codes
- 4
Dubai DED salon & spa activities.
The YABS Salon & Spa package covers Dubai DED activity codes 960210 (Ladies Salon), 960220 (Gents Salon and Barber), 960205 (Spa and Wellness Centre), and 960299 (Beauty Treatments). Dubai Municipality strictly enforces gender separation — ladies salon activity cannot share premises with gents salon activity unless physically partitioned with separate entrances and staff. Spa activity (which includes massage) requires additional DHA practitioner permits beyond standard salon licensing.
960210 — Ladies SalonHair, nail, makeup services for female clients (women-only premises)
960220 — Gents Salon / BarberMen's grooming, haircuts, beard services (men-only premises)
960205 — Spa & Wellness CentreMassage, body treatments, facials. DHA permit needed for massage.
960299 — Beauty TreatmentsEyebrow threading, henna, brow tinting, lash extensions
8 steps, 21–45 working days.
DED activity selection + trade name reservation
Choose ladies salon (960210) or gents salon (960220). Spa adds 960205. Beauty treatments add 960299. Trade name AED 620. Salon names must indicate gender segregation in Arabic and English.
Initial DED approval + premises selection
Dubai DED approves activity and shareholder structure (1–2 days, AED 235). Salon premises must be in commercial zones permitting personal-care services. Mall-based salons follow mall management approval first.
Dubai Municipality Health & Hygiene pre-approval
Submit premises layout, sterilization equipment list (autoclave for non-disposable tools), waste disposal plan, water/drainage spec. Inspection scheduled. 7–14 working days.
Tenancy + Ejari
Salon tenancy registered with Dubai Land Department Ejari. AED 220 + typing centre. Premises must have separate male/female zones if licensed for both, or single-gender layout if specialised.
MoA notarisation
Memorandum of Association at Dubai Notary Public. AED 1,100. Activity scope and premises gender designation embedded in MoA.
DHA occupational health cards for staff
All therapists, stylists, beauticians touching clients require DHA health card: medical fitness + 1-day infection control course. AED 450/staff. Annual renewal.
Sterilisation equipment installation + inspection
Autoclave installation for reusable tools. Dubai Municipality inspector verifies sterilization log practices and equipment compliance.
Final licence issuance + opening
Dubai DED issues final trade licence after Municipality and DHA approvals are filed. Establishment Card, immigration file opening, salon ready to operate. Total 21–45 working days.
What you actually pay.
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
Trade name + DED initial approval | 855 |
MoA notarisation | 1,100 |
Ejari registration | 220 |
Trade licence fee (personal-care category) | 9,500 |
Dubai Municipality Health & Hygiene approval | 3,200 |
DHA occupational health cards (3 staff × AED 450) | 1,350 |
Sterilization equipment compliance review | 800 |
Establishment Card + immigration file | 2,600 |
| Government fees subtotal | 19,625 |
| YABS service fee | 7,500 |
| 5% VAT (on YABS service fee) | 375 |
| Total | 27,500 |
Government fees vary by activity and approval requirements. Final quote confirmed after activity selection.
Frequently asked questions
How much to open a salon in Dubai?
Total typical cost AED 22,000–35,000 fully delivered: Dubai DED licence + Dubai Municipality permit + DHA health cards for 3 staff + MoA notarisation + Ejari + YABS service fee + 5% VAT. Premium spa with multiple treatment rooms or specialised services (laser hair removal, medical aesthetics) costs AED 45,000–80,000 due to additional DHA medical permit requirements.
Can a man work in a ladies salon in Dubai?
No. Dubai Municipality strictly enforces gender separation in personal-care premises. Ladies salons (activity code 960210) cannot have male staff in service areas; gents salons (960220) cannot have female staff in service areas. Cleaning and maintenance staff outside service hours can be any gender. Violation triggers immediate licence suspension and AED 5,000–25,000 fines.
What is a DHA permit for salons in Dubai?
DHA (Dubai Health Authority) issues occupational health cards for all salon staff who physically touch clients — stylists, therapists, nail technicians, beauticians. The card requires medical fitness test plus a 1-day infection control and hygiene course. AED 450 per staff member, annual renewal. Without DHA cards, staff cannot legally provide services and the salon faces inspection penalties.
How long does a Dubai salon licence take?
Salon licensing in Dubai takes 21–45 working days from initial DED application to opening. Standard timeline: DED initial approval (1–2 days), Dubai Municipality Health & Hygiene approval (7–14 days), Ejari and MoA (3 days), DHA card processing for staff (5 days), sterilization equipment review and final inspection (3–5 days). Salons in approved mall locations sometimes complete faster due to shared infrastructure compliance.
Can I run a unisex salon in Dubai?
Effectively no in service operations. Dubai Municipality permits separate ladies and gents activities under one premises only if physically separated (separate entrances, separate service areas, separate staff). True unisex operations where men and women are serviced in the same room by mixed-gender staff are not permitted under current Dubai Municipality regulations. Family salons in tourism zones sometimes secure exemptions but the default rule is segregation.
What sterilization equipment is required for a Dubai salon?
Dubai Municipality requires autoclave sterilization for all reusable tools that contact skin or hair (combs, scissors, manicure tools, threading equipment, body waxing implements). Disposable single-use tools are acceptable for some services. Salons must maintain a daily sterilization log subject to inspection. Autoclave equipment AED 3,000–8,000 capital cost; some smaller salons use UV sterilizers as supplementary, but autoclave remains mandatory for invasive tools.
Do I need health cards for salon staff in Dubai?
Yes. Every staff member touching clients in a Dubai salon — stylists, nail technicians, beauticians, massage therapists, threading specialists — must hold a current DHA occupational health card. Medical fitness test plus 1-day infection control course. AED 450 per staff member, renewable annually. Without active health cards, staff cannot legally provide services and the salon faces inspection penalties up to AED 10,000 per violation.
Can I open a spa with massage services on a salon licence?
Generally no — massage requires Dubai Municipality activity code 960205 (Spa & Wellness Centre) plus DHA permit for massage practitioners. Salon licence (960210/960220) covers hair, nails, beauty treatments but excludes massage. Combining both activities is possible but requires registering both codes, both DHA permits, and physically separating the spa zone from the salon. Most YABS clients structure as combined salon + spa from day one.
What is the difference between a salon licence and a spa licence in Dubai?
Salon licence (960210 ladies, 960220 gents) covers hair, nails, makeup, threading, hair colouring. Spa licence (960205) covers massage, body treatments, facials, and wellness services requiring practitioner certifications and DHA-approved equipment. Spa premises must meet additional Dubai Municipality requirements: hygienic shower/changing facilities, treatment-room privacy, certified product sourcing. Spa licence costs AED 4,000–6,000 more than salon licence.
Can I run a salon from a residential apartment in Dubai?
No. Dubai Municipality requires salon premises to be in commercial-zoned buildings approved for personal-care services. Home salons operating from residential apartments are illegal under Dubai Municipality and Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) rules. Penalties include AED 25,000–50,000 fines, immediate cessation order, and tenant eviction by RERA. The home-based licence (Intelaq) does not extend to salon services.
Open your Dubai salon
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.