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Get the latest updates on compliance, certifications, and global business expansion from AB Nexis
Manage your subsidiaries, compliance, and governance across jurisdictions with a single, reliable partner.
We support international businesses operating in India, UAE, and key global markets with structured, end-to-end entity management.
The DED maintains an exhaustive list of over 2,000 permitted business activities, classified according to the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). When applying for a mainland license, you must explicitly state which activities you intend to perform.
You can typically group up to 10 similar activities under a single license (e.g., various types of IT consulting). However, you generally cannot mix activities from different primary groups (e.g., manufacturing and management consulting) on the same license without special approvals or holding a General Trading license.
General trading, real estate brokerage, retail stores, logistics, and specialized trading.
Consultancies, legal services, accounting, medical clinics, and educational institutes.
Manufacturing, processing, packaging, and heavy industries.
Travel agencies, inbound/outbound tour operators, and hospitality management.
Ensure Perfect Compliance
Tell us what your business does, and our experts will map it to the exact DED activity codes and identify any required external approvals.
We deliver integrated support across compliance, entity management, and global expansion. Our global model ensures consistent service across jurisdictions and industries.
Many mainland activities require No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from other government bodies before the DED will issue the license. For example, restaurants require Dubai Municipality approval, clinics require DHA approval, and contracting companies require Dubai Municipality engineering approval.