UAE Free Zone Company Activity Code Lookup Guide 2026
UAE free zones use specific activity codes for licences. Choosing the right activity codes determines what your company can legally do. Here is the 2026 guide to navigating activity codes.
In this guide:
How Activity Codes Work
- Each free zone: Has its own activity list with hundreds to thousands of options
- Licence: Shows which activities your company is licensed to conduct
- Violation: Conducting unlicensed activities is a regulatory violation; can lead to fines
- Add activities: You can add more activities to your licence; usually AED 500-2,000 per addition
Major Activity Categories
- Consulting: Management, IT, HR, financial, marketing, etc.
- Trading: General trading, specific product categories
- Services: Professional services, business services
- Manufacturing: Light and heavy manufacturing; usually industrial free zones
- Media: Content creation, publishing, broadcasting
- Education: Training, e-learning, tutoring
Tips for Choosing the Right Activity
- Be specific: “IT Consulting” is clearer for banking than just “Consulting”
- Cover your bases: If you consult AND develop software, add both activities
- Avoid over-broad: “General Trading” can raise questions if you actually do professional services
- Banking view: Banks review your licence activities; activities should match your actual transactions
Activity Codes for Common Businesses
- SaaS company: Software Development + IT Consulting + E-Commerce
- Marketing agency: Marketing and Advertising + Digital Marketing + Social Media Management
- Finance consultant: Financial Advisory + Management Consulting + Investment Consulting
- Online seller: E-Commerce + General Trading (specify if product category is specific)