DMCC Activity List and Licence Activity Selection

The DMCC activity list is the approved set of business activities you choose from when setting up a company in DMCC. It determines what your company can do, which licence category applies, and whether extra approval is needed before the licence is issued.

This decision needs to come before the application, office selection and bank account planning. A DMCC licence gives the company its legal operating scope. If the activity does not match the business model, the company can face delays, amendment costs, banking questions or approval issues after setup.

DMCC offers more than 1,000 approved activities across 20 sectors, including trading, consulting, crypto, AI and commodities. Each company must operate under at least one approved activity. The selected activity then connects to a licence category, such as service, trading, commercial or industrial. Businesses planning a wider Dubai setup can also compare this route with broader business setup in Dubai options before choosing a jurisdiction.

What is the DMCC Activity List?

The DMCC activity list is the licensing framework that connects a proposed business model to an approved activity in DMCC. It is not a general list of business ideas. It decides what the company is licensed to do once the licence is active.

A consultancy company needs a service activity that reflects the advice it provides. A trading company needs an activity that covers the goods it buys, sells, imports or exports. The activity must match the work, invoices and expected transaction profile.

What a DMCC Business Activity Allows

A DMCC business activity defines the commercial work your company can carry out under its licence.

If the company sells software, the activity needs to support that software model. If it trades goods, the activity needs to cover those goods. If it provides advisory services, the activity needs to reflect the type of advice being sold.

The activity gives the company its operating scope. It needs to be clear enough for DMCC, banks, suppliers and clients to understand what the company does.

Why Activity Selection Matters Before You Apply

Activity selection affects the licence type, approval route, office requirement and future amendment options.

It also affects commercial credibility. Banks and clients often compare a company’s licence with its actual work. If the licence says one thing and the invoices say another, the company can be asked to explain the mismatch or amend the licence.

A correct activity at the start reduces the risk of paying for an amendment soon after incorporation.

Where To Find the Official DMCC Activity List

The official DMCC activity list is available through DMCC’s business setup document templates as the List of Approved Activities.

The activity selected for the application should match the wording and scope in that list. Similar activity names can sit under different licence types, carry different approval requirements, or affect how easily activities can be combined.

DMCC Activity List By Category

The DMCC activity list covers more than 1,000 approved activities across 20 sectors. Most applicants can narrow the list by first identifying whether the business is service-based, trading-based, industrial, regulated or linked to a specialist sector.

This table should be used as a starting point rather than a substitute for the official activity wording. The selected activity still needs to match the company’s revenue model, invoices, contracts and expected transactions. Some activities also require external approval, a specific property type or a separate licence before the company can operate.

Companies still comparing locations can review wider UAE free zone company setup options alongside DMCC before making a final choice.

Trading Activities

Trading activities apply where the company buys and sells goods. This can include import, export, wholesale, distribution and product-specific trading.

The product category is important. A company trading electronics, food products, precious metals or machinery needs wording that reflects the actual goods. A broad trading activity is not always the right choice. If the business has a narrow product line, a more specific activity can be cleaner and easier to justify.

Service Activities

Service activities suit companies that sell expertise, professional support or technical work.

Common examples include consultancy, IT services, marketing services, management services and business support. The activity needs to match the contracts the company expects to sign. A consultancy company should not rely on vague service wording if its work is specialised.

Commodity and Precious Metal Activities

DMCC has strong activity coverage for commodities, precious metals, diamonds, energy and agricultural commodities.

For these businesses, wording needs particular care. Gold, diamonds, agricultural commodities and energy products can carry different operating and approval implications. Select the activity that matches the product class before applying.

Technology, Crypto and Web3 Activities

Technology businesses need to separate the service they provide from the technology they use.

Software development, IT consultancy, AI services, blockchain-related services and virtual asset activities can require different licensing treatment. Crypto and virtual asset businesses need early review because approval requirements can apply.

The licence activity needs to match the exact role of the business, especially where the company handles platforms, tokens, custody, exchange functions or related advisory work.

Industrial and Manufacturing Activities

Industrial activities apply to companies that manufacture, process, assemble or alter goods.

These activities can carry premises and operational requirements. Retail, industrial and regulated activities can also have specific limitations during licence amendments. The office choice should follow the activity review because a flexi desk will not suit every operational, retail or industrial activity.

Holding Company and Special Purpose Vehicle Activities

Holding company and special purpose vehicle structures are different from standard trading or service companies.

These structures support ownership, asset holding, investment structuring and group planning. They are not designed for ordinary product trading or standard consultancy work unless the licence activity clearly allows that model. The activity needs to support the ownership or investment structure being created.

How The DMCC Activity List Affects Your Licence

The DMCC activity list affects your licence because each approved activity sits within a licence structure. This structure determines whether your company needs a service, trading, commercial or industrial licence.

The selected activity needs to match how the company earns money. A service business sells expertise or work. A trading business buys and sells goods. An industrial business manufactures, processes or assembles products.

How Activities Connect To Licence Types

The licence type follows the work the company carries out. Consultancy, professional services, marketing, IT support and management services usually sit under a service licence. A business that imports, exports, distributes or sells goods usually needs a trading licence. Where the company manufactures, processes or assembles products, the activity moves into industrial territory.

This distinction is relevant during setup and later amendments. Added activities must come from the same licence type. If they do not, the company needs an additional licence rather than a standard activity amendment.

How Your Activity Defines What You Can Invoice

Your activity should support the invoices your company will issue.

A management consultancy should invoice for consultancy services. A commodity trader should invoice for the relevant commodity. An e-commerce company needs activity coverage for the goods it sells, not only the sales channel.

A well-chosen activity should make the company’s work clear across its contracts, invoices, website, product descriptions and bank account documents.

How the Wrong Activity Can Delay Setup

The wrong activity slows setup when the application needs clarification, additional documents or a different licence structure.

It can also create problems after setup. A bank can ask why the licence activity does not match the company’s transactions. A client can ask for a licence that covers a specific product or service. A regulator can require approval before the company carries out certain work.

When this happens, the company usually needs a licence activity amendment. That adds cost, time and another approval point.

How To Choose the Right DMCC Activity

Choosing the right DMCC activity starts with the business model, not the activity name.

The company needs to be able to explain what it sells, who it sells to, where the work takes place, how it gets paid and whether a regulator needs to approve the activity.

1. Start With Your Revenue Model

Start with how the company will earn revenue.

If the company earns fees for advice, start with service activities. If it earns profit from buying and selling goods, start with trading activities. If it produces, assembles or processes products, look at industrial activities.

This keeps the licence aligned with the commercial reality of the business.

2. Match the Activity To Your Products or Services

The selected activity needs to describe the product or service clearly enough.

For a consultancy, the activity should match the type of consultancy. For an e-commerce company, the activity should support the products being sold. For a trading company, the activity should cover the goods, not only the idea of trading.

Loose wording can create problems when the company applies for a bank account or signs a contract with a larger client.

3. Check Whether the Activity Needs External Approval

Some activities require approval from another authority before DMCC can complete or amend the licence.

This is especially relevant for financial, healthcare, crypto, energy, real estate, retail and industrial activities. A regulated activity can be available in the activity list without being automatically approved.

4. Check Whether the Activity Fits Your Office Requirement

The office solution must suit the activity.

The licence activity must be suitable for the chosen property type. A retail activity cannot be carried out from an office or flexi desk. A company also cannot move to a smaller unit if its existing visa use exceeds the quota allowed by the new address size.

Review the activity, office and visa plan together before submission. This is also important where the business needs UAE residence visas, as visa allocation can depend on the package, office or premises selected.

5. Check Whether the Activity Supports Banking and Compliance

Banks assess the nature of the business, the purpose of the banking relationship and the expected types and volumes of transactions.

They can ask for invoices, contracts, supplier details, customer details, a website, a business description and an explanation of expected transaction flows. The licensed activity needs to support those documents. If the licence covers consultancy but the company is receiving payments for product trading, the bank can ask for clarification or further evidence.

Can You Combine Activities On One DMCC Licence?

DMCC allows companies to add multiple activities, but the rules depend on the licence type, activity code and whether the activity is standalone.

Activity combinations need closer review because they affect licence type, cost and amendment options.

When Similar Activities Can Sit On One Licence

Similar activities are easier to combine when they sit within the same licence type and close activity code group.

For example, related trading activities are usually simpler to combine than a trading activity and an industrial activity. The closer the activities sit in DMCC’s activity coding structure, the simpler the licence position usually is.

Activity selection should not be treated as an administrative formality. The combination can affect annual licence costs and future amendments.

When Different Activity Types Need Separate Approval

Activities from different licence types cannot always be added through a normal amendment.

Activities from a different licence type, such as service, trading or industrial, require a new licence rather than a standard activity amendment.

This affects companies that begin as consultants and later want to trade goods. It also affects trading companies that want to add a service line.

When DMCC Requires an Additional Licence

An additional licence is required when the company wants to operate under another licence type or from another building.

Before adding an activity, determine whether it fits the existing licence or creates a new licence requirement.

Which Activities Need to Stand Alone

Some activities cannot sit alongside other activities even if they fall under the same broad licence category.

Standalone activities include single-family office, real estate, DGCX and professional trader activities.

Standalone activities need careful review before setup because they can restrict how the company expands later.

Regulated Activities in the DMCC Activity List

For regulated activities, listing and approval are separate points. The activity can appear in the DMCC activity list and still require approval from another authority before the company can operate.

This is where the activity review needs to go beyond the name of the activity. The approval route, supporting documents and premises requirements all need to be checked before submission.

Which DMCC Activities Need External Approval

Activities involving financial services, investment, crypto or virtual assets, healthcare, medical services, oil, gas and energy can require additional approval.

Other activities can also require approval where the official activity list marks them as regulated. Review the activity for approval requirements before the application begins.

Which Documents Regulated Activities Need

Regulated activities can require a third-party No Objection Certificate, completed questionnaire, undertaking and Operational Fitness Certificate where applicable.

The exact requirements depend on the activity and the premises. A retail activity, industrial activity and office-based service activity will not always follow the same route. DMCC’s Licence Amendment Guidelines set out how these requirements apply when companies add, remove or change activities.

Which Authorities Review Regulated Activities

The relevant authority depends on the activity.

A virtual asset business, financial services firm, healthcare business or education provider will not follow the same approval path. Identify the activity first, then confirm the approval route before applying.

General Trading in the DMCC Activity List

General Trading is one of the most common areas of interest in the DMCC activity list because it offers wider trading coverage than a narrow product activity.

It suits businesses that intend to trade several product categories. However, it does not remove approval requirements and it is not always the most cost-effective option. For broader trading context outside DMCC, read our guide ‘general trading licence in Dubai‘.

What General Trading Can Cover

General Trading suits companies that need a broader trading scope rather than one narrow product activity.

This works where the company expects to trade different goods and wants a wider starting position. It should still match the business plan, supplier relationships and expected invoices.

What General Trading Does Not Cover

General Trading allows access to all activities except oil and gas activities and regulated activities that require third-party approvals.

This is the key limitation. General Trading does not override restrictions. It also does not remove the need for approval where the underlying product or sector is regulated.

When General Trading Is Not The Right Choice

General Trading is not always the right choice for a business with a narrow product line, a limited first-year budget, a regulated product or a service-based model.

The current annual fee for a DMCC General Trading Licence is AED 50,265. The current one-year renewal fee for a standard Trading and Service Licence is AED 20,265, excluding Business Centre, General Trading, Industrial and Refineries licences.

Choose General Trading only where the wider scope supports the actual trading model.

DMCC Activity List Costs and Amendment Fees

Activity selection can affect cost in several ways.

The chosen activity can affect the licence type. Additional activities can increase annual fees. A different licence type can require an additional licence. A regulated activity can add approval steps before the licence can move forward.

How Activity Choice Can Affect Licence Cost

The current annual fee for a standard one-year Trading and Service Licence renewal is AED 20,265. This pricing does not apply to Business Centre, General Trading, Industrial and Refineries.

That distinction matters because two companies in DMCC can have very different fee profiles. A standard service company, a General Trading company and an industrial company will not always pay the same licence fee.

Fees should be reviewed before submission because DMCC charges can change. The current official figures are listed in the DMCC Schedule of Charges.

How Additional Activities Can Increase Annual Fees

Additional activities can increase annual fees based on how the activity codes relate to each other.

Additional activities over six activities beginning with the same first two digits cost AED 1,500 per activity annually. Activities beginning with the same first digit cost AED 10,000 annually, allowing up to six activities from that division. Activities beginning with completely different first two digits cost AED 20,265 annually, allowing up to six activities from that division.

Activities from another licence type require a new licence rather than a lower-cost activity addition.

When an Activity Change Becomes a Licence Amendment

An activity change becomes a licence amendment when an existing DMCC company adds, removes, or adds and removes activities on its licence.

The Licence Activity Amendment or Addition fee is AED 1,515 per request. Other annual charges can apply depending on the activity grouping, licence type and selected activity.

How To Add or Change a DMCC Activity After Setup

A DMCC company can apply to amend its licence after setup, provided the company meets the amendment requirements.

Only companies with an active licence can request amendments through the standard route. The company must comply with the relevant regulations and clear any outstanding sanctions before applying. Companies with expired licences can apply, but they must submit a justification letter and the request remains subject to approval.

When a Company Needs To Amend Its Activity

A company needs to amend its activity when it adds a new service line, starts trading a new product, moves into a regulated sector, changes its revenue model, or needs the licence to match bank or client requirements.

Many companies need this once their services, products or client requirements change. The company should amend the licence before it signs contracts or begins invoicing for work outside its current scope.

How the DMCC Activity Amendment Process Works

To add a licence activity, the company uses the DMCC member portal and selects Licence Amendment under Licensing Services. It then selects the activities to be added, uploads any required No Objection Certificate, questionnaire or undertaking, finalises the service request, confirms payment and waits for review.

If an Operational Fitness Certificate is required, that sub-process must be completed before the amended licence is downloaded.

The process is straightforward when the activity fits the existing licence and does not require external approval. It becomes more involved when the activity is regulated, operational, retail, industrial or outside the current licence type.

The listed processing time for licence activity amendments is two business days, excluding Operational Fitness Certificate processing time.

What To Check Before Adding a New Activity

Before adding a new activity, confirm three points.

First, whether the activity belongs to the same licence type. Second, whether it needs third-party approval. Third, whether it affects office, visa or annual fee requirements.

These checks help avoid paying for an amendment that does not solve the business need.

DMCC Activity List Examples By Business Type

Activity selection becomes clearer when it is linked to the way the company earns revenue. These examples show how different business models should approach the DMCC activity list.

Consultancy Businesses

A consultancy business should choose an activity that reflects the advice it provides.

Management consultancy, marketing consultancy, IT consultancy and sector-specific advisory work can support different client contracts. The licence should match the work being sold, not a broad description of business support.

E-Commerce Businesses

An e-commerce business needs to consider both the sales channel and the product.

Selling goods online does not remove the need to cover the goods themselves. A company selling electronics, cosmetics, food items or jewellery often requires different activity wording.

Commodity Trading Businesses

A commodity trading business should choose an activity that matches the relevant product class.

Precious metals, diamonds, agricultural commodities, energy products and other goods should not be treated as interchangeable. The product wording can affect approvals, banking and trade documentation.

Software and Technology Businesses

A technology business should separate development, consultancy, support and platform services.

Software development is not the same as IT consultancy. Cybersecurity, AI and blockchain-related services can also require different activity wording. The licence should match the company’s contracts and delivery model.

Crypto and Virtual Asset Businesses

Crypto and virtual asset businesses need activity and approval checks before applying.

The review should consider what the business does, whether it handles client assets, whether it operates a platform, whether it provides advisory services, and whether another regulator needs to approve the activity.

Get the Right DMCC Activity Before You Apply

The DMCC activity list should be reviewed before any licence application, amendment or office decision. For businesses setting up in the DMCC free zone, the right activity gives the company a clear operating scope, supports banking and invoicing, and reduces the risk of delays after setup.

For businesses with multiple revenue lines, regulated activities or future expansion plans, activity selection needs careful review before submission.

Speak to Virtuzone to choose the right DMCC activity, check approval requirements and prepare your licence application with confidence.

DMCC Activity List Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the DMCC Activity List?

The DMCC activity list is the official list of approved business activities available to companies setting up in DMCC. It defines what a company can do under its licence.

Where Can I Find the Official DMCC Activity List?

The official DMCC activity list is available through DMCC’s business setup document templates under the List of Approved Activities.

How Do I Choose the Right DMCC Activity?

Choose the activity that matches your revenue model, products, services, contracts and expected transactions. Then review whether the activity needs external approval, a specific licence type or a particular property setup.

Can I Have More Than One Activity On a DMCC Licence?

Yes. A DMCC company can have more than one activity on its licence, provided the activities fit DMCC’s licence type and activity grouping rules. Additional activity fees can apply depending on the activity codes.

Can I Mix Service and Trading Activities In DMCC?

A standard activity amendment must use activities from the same licence type. If the activity falls under another licence type, DMCC requires an additional licence rather than a normal amendment.

Does DMCC Allow General Trading?

Yes. DMCC allows General Trading, but it excludes oil and gas activities and regulated activities that require third-party approvals.

Which DMCC Activities Need External Approval?

Regulated activities can require external approval. This can include activities linked to financial services, investment, crypto or virtual assets, healthcare, medical services, oil, gas and energy.

Can I Change My DMCC Activity Later?

Yes. A DMCC company can apply to add, remove, or add and remove activities through a licence amendment, subject to eligibility and approval requirements.

Does My DMCC Activity Affect My Office Requirement?

Yes. The activity must be suitable for the property type. A retail activity cannot be carried out from an office or flexi desk.

Does My DMCC Activity Affect Bank Account Opening?

Yes. Banks assess the nature of the company’s business, the purpose of the banking relationship and the expected transaction profile. The licensed activity should match the company’s invoices, contracts and expected transactions.