UAE Free Zone Activity Restrictions Checker 2026 — What Each Free Zone Allows
UAE free zones have different activity lists. Some activities are restricted or require additional approvals. Here is the 2026 activity restriction checker guide.
In this guide:
Activities Unrestricted at Most Free Zones
- Management and IT Consulting: Available at virtually all free zones
- Marketing and Advertising: Available at most free zones
- E-Commerce: Available at most free zones including SHAMS, IFZA, RAKEZ
- General Trading: Available at most free zones (subject to specific product restrictions)
- Software Development: Available at most free zones
- HR Consulting: Available at most free zones
Activities With Restrictions or NOC Requirements
- Healthcare (clinical): DHA/DOH NOC; only in designated healthcare zones (DHCC, Shams Healthcare)
- Education (formal): KHDA or ADEK approval; only in designated education zones
- Regulated financial services: DFSA (DIFC) or FSRA (ADGM) or SCA licence
- Audit and attest: Ministry of Economy registration; professional qualification required
- Pharmacy/Pharma trading: DHA NOC; specific requirements
- Arms and ammunition: Not permitted in most free zones
- Tobacco: Special licence; restricted
- Alcohol: Only in specific licensed areas
Trading-Specific Restrictions
- Food: Food trading requires Dubai Municipality (or emirate equivalent) food safety approval
- Chemicals: Chemical trading has safety and environmental requirements
- Precious metals and stones: DMCC is the appropriate free zone; special registration
- Textiles and garments: Generally unrestricted; some product categories need certificates of origin