Key Highlights
A study abroad consultancy is generally classified under an education advisory activity, issued as a Professional (Service) licence rather than a Commercial one.
This covers admissions guidance, visa process advisory, and overseas placement support, but it doesn’t cover teaching, tutoring, or running a training center.
Several UAE business setup platforms reference activity code 8550.12 for Education Consultancy.
But the exact code and its permitted scope for your specific service list should be confirmed directly with DET’s business activity portal, since third-party listings can lag behind official updates.
Picking the wrong activity code at this stage is one of the more common reasons company formation gets delayed in Dubai. It affects licensing approval, visa eligibility, and what you can legally invoice for later.
Keep reading the article to learn more.
This is genuinely unresolved for advisory only businesses, and you shouldn’t treat either position as settled.
KHDA’s own published guides address permits for schools, early learning centers, and training institutes that deliver courses or curriculum, requiring a no objection certificate tied to premises, faculty, and course material review.
Nothing in KHDA’s current public service catalogue explicitly states whether placement only advisory, with no teaching component, falls inside or outside that scope.
Position | What it claims | Source type |
|---|---|---|
Advisory only is exempt | A consultancy that only advises on admissions and visas, without teaching, doesn’t need a KHDA NOC | Informal forum opinion, not confirmed by KHDA |
Any education related business needs KHDA | Any business connected to education requires a KHDA NOC regardless of whether it teaches | Informal forum opinion, not confirmed by KHDA |
KHDA’s published permit guides | Cover Training Institute Permits and school related NOCs tied to premises, faculty, and course delivery | KHDA’s own service pages |
Because KHDA’s public guidance doesn’t explicitly rule placement only advisory in or out, get a written scope determination from KHDA or DET before you finalize your activity selection.
Mainland suits consultancies that want unrestricted walk-in client access across the UAE and eligibility for government tenders.
Free zones such as IFZA suit remote first or online consultancies that want a lower upfront cost and faster issuance without needing a physical office outside the zone. Neither is universally better. It depends on how you plan to acquire clients.
Factor | Mainland | Free zone (example: IFZA) |
Ownership | Up to 100% foreign ownership for most activities | Up to 100% foreign ownership |
Office requirement | Ejari registered tenancy typically required | Flexi-desk options available on entry-level packages |
Approval timeline | Generally longer, tied to DET and Ejari processing | Generally faster; some approvals within a few working days |
Client access | Unrestricted UAE-wide walk-in access | Best suited to remote or B2B client models |
Visa eligibility | Tied to office size and licence category | Tied to visa allocation in the package |
The 100% foreign ownership rule for most mainland commercial activities was confirmed under the UAE’s Commercial Companies Law reforms, with a short list of strategic impact sectors, defense, telecommunications, currency printing, and similar activities, still carrying ownership conditions. A study abroad consultancy doesn’t fall into that restricted list.
One additional development worth knowing about is Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025. It amended the Commercial Companies Law, took effect on 1 October 2025, and now allows companies to transfer their commercial registration between emirates and between free zones and the mainland without reincorporating.
It also lets free zone companies open mainland branches or representative offices. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism confirmed this in an official briefing. For a first-time study abroad business owner, this mainly matters as long-term flexibility, not as a factor in your initial licence choice.
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Also Read: Free Zone or Mainland: Which UAE Company Structure Fits Your Business?
Entry-level free zone packages for a zero-visa consultancy licence start in the low to mid five figures in AED, with per-visa costs adding on top.
Mainland setups carry additional Ejari and DET fees on top of the licence itself. Treat these as ranges tied to your jurisdiction and visa count, not as a single universal number.
Costs and regulations are subject to change. Confirm current figures with the relevant UAE government authority or with JSB before making decisions.
Package | Standard price (inclusive of VAT) | What’s typically included | Visa allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
Zero-visa, 1-year licence | AED 11,900 | Trade license, up to three business activities, up to three shareholders | No visa allocation |
1-visa, 1-year licence | AED 14,900 | Same as above, plus one visa allocation | One residence visa, AED 3,750 government fee |
Zero-visa, 3-year licence | AED 35,700 | Multi-year discount of roughly 20 percent versus three annual renewals | No visa allocation |
Establishment card | AED 2,000 | Required government add-on across most packages | Not visa-linked |
These figures reflect current Free Zone Authority pricing and Ministry of Economy and Tourism free zone guidance.
Standard requirements include passport copies of all shareholders, a no objection certificate if you’re currently employed on a UAE visa, a proposed trade name, a written description of your business activity, and, for mainland setups, an Ejari registered tenancy contract.
Free zone applications typically skip the tenancy requirement if you opt for a flexi desk package, though your visa quota and eligible activities still depend on which office type you choose.
Always confirm the current checklist against your chosen free zone authority’s or DET’s official application requirements, since documentation lists get updated periodically.
JSB’s document preparation and PRO coordination service handles this step end-to-end, from your first submission to final approval.
Yes. Most licence packages include eligibility for an investor or partner residence visa tied to the trade license, valid for two years and renewable at licence renewal. Visa allocation depends on your chosen package and, for mainland companies, your office size.
This is a standard residence visa, distinct from the 10-year UAE Golden Visa, which applies to a different eligibility category tied to higher investment thresholds. Confirm the current UAE residence visa fee and renewal terms with ICP or GDRFA before budgeting, since government fees are periodically revised.
If your longer-term plan includes qualifying for the Golden Visa once your study abroad consultancy scales, JSB’s Golden Visa support team can map out that path separately for high-income professionals who later meet the investment threshold.
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Also Read: How to Start an Education Consultancy in Dubai, UAE: A Beginner’s Guide
Not directly from a residential address, but many free zones offer flexi-desk packages that meet the office requirement without a dedicated commercial space.
This works well for advisory only consultancies with no walk-in client need, though flexi-desk arrangements typically come with a lower visa quota than a full office. Confirm flexi-desk eligibility and visa allocation with your chosen free zone before applying.
2. Do I need a KHDA NOC if my business is purely advisory and doesn’t teach classes?
This is currently unresolved in KHDA’s public guidance, which addresses training institutes and schools explicitly but not placement only advisory.
Get a written scope determination from KHDA or DET before filing your licence application, rather than assuming either position.
3. Which free zone is best for a consultancy type business in Dubai?
There’s no single best option. It depends on your budget, visa needs, and whether you need a physical office.
Free zones like IFZA offer lower entry costs and flexi-desk options suited to advisory consultancies, while comparing several zones side by side can reveal a better fit for your specific activity. Compare visa allocation, activity scope, and renewal terms before deciding.
4. How much does a consulting business licence cost in Dubai, including visas?
Entry-level free zone packages for a zero visa Professional licence typically start in the low five figures in AED, with each residence visa adding a separate government fee, currently AED 3,750 for two years.
Mainland setups add Ejari and DET-related costs on top of the licence fee itself. Costs and regulations are subject to change.
5. Do I need a local UAE sponsor to open this business on the mainland?
No, for most activities. UAE Commercial Companies Law reforms allow up to 100% foreign ownership for the great majority of mainland activities, removing the previous 51% Emirati shareholder requirement.
A short list of strategic impact sectors still carries ownership conditions, but education consultancy isn’t among them.
6. When do I need to register for VAT or pay corporate tax on a small consultancy?
VAT registration becomes mandatory once your taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 in a rolling 12-month period, per the Federal Tax Authority’s published guidance.
The Federal Tax Authority applies corporate tax at 9 percent on taxable income above AED 375,000, with a 0 percent rate below that threshold. Confirm current figures with the Federal Tax Authority before making decisions.
7. Can I add visa processing or test prep coaching to the same licence later?
Adding activities later is possible but requires an activity amendment, which carries its own fee and may trigger additional approvals if the new activity involves actual teaching.
Confirm with your licensing authority before assuming a smooth add-on, since an incorrect activity choice can force a full licence reissuance.
8. How long does it typically take to get a consultancy licence approved in Dubai?
Free zone approvals can sometimes be completed within a few working days once documents are submitted correctly. Mainland approvals generally take longer because of Ejari registration and DET processing steps. Processing times vary by authority and are not guaranteed.
Reviewed by Gaurav Keswani, Founder, JSB Incorporation
Gaurav Keswani is the Founder of JSB Incorporation, a Dubai-based business setup and immigration consultancy. He appeared on Talk 100.3 FM answering live listener questions on UAE Golden Visa eligibility, citing GDRFA and ICP guidelines directly on air. JSB Incorporation handles documentation preparation and application coordination; all visa and license decisions rest with the relevant UAE government authorities, GDRFA, ICP, DET, and DLD.
Getting the activity code and the KHDA scope question wrong before you file can cost you weeks of rework and additional fees.
A free zone versus mainland setup consultation with JSB confirms the correct activity code for your exact service mix and pursues a written KHDA scope check before you commit to a licence package.
Our team also coordinates PRO services for your visa and document processing once your licence is issued, so you’re not juggling separate government touchpoints on your own.
This is the fastest way to avoid filing on assumptions pulled from forum threads and to move from research to an actual trade licence with confidence.
Contact JSB Incorporation to book your consultation and get started today.
Office 2505, 25th Floor, Regal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE P.O Box 27614.
+971 4 824 4842
info@jsbincorporation.com
