Topic Summary
What the License Actually Covers
A cargo and freight consultancy license in Dubai permits firms to charge fees for logistics advice, freight routing, carrier selection, and supply chain cost planning. It does not cover physical cargo handling, warehousing, or freight forwarding, which each require a separate permit.
Who Must Hold This License
Any individual or firm billing UAE clients for freight routing advice, supply chain consulting, or strategic logistics planning must hold this license before sending a single invoice. This includes foreign consultants, such as a US-based advisor opening a UAE office to serve Gulf importers and exporters.
Free Zone vs. Mainland: Choose Wisely
A free zone license, such as one from Dubai South Business Hub, allows 100% foreign ownership and suits firms focused on international clients. A mainland license issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism opens the full UAE domestic market.
Key Benefits Worth Knowing
Free zone setup grants 100% foreign ownership with no local partner required, and a Qualifying Free Zone Person may pay 0% corporate tax if FTA conditions are met. Your company license also comes with UAE residency visa rights for you and eligible staff.
Six Steps to Get Licensed
The process involves choosing your setup type, booking a trade name, confirming your activity code, submitting documents, paying fees, and collecting your license. At Dubai South Business Hub, the entire process takes just 3 to 5 working days once your paperwork is in order.
Why Dubai's Location Gives Real Advantage
Dubai sits at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe trade lanes, with Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port both accessible from Dubai South. A freight consultancy registered there can advise clients across three continents without leaving the UAE.
The Scale of Dubai's Cargo Market
Dubai handles over 16 million tonnes of air freight per year, and Jebel Ali Port trades with more than 200 countries, making it the largest port in the Middle East. The UAE also ranked 13th globally on the World Bank Logistics Performance Index in 2023.
In 2026, Dubai handles over 16 million tonnes of air freight per year, making it one of the busiest cargo hubs on the planet (Dubai Airports, 2026). The UAE ranked 13th globally on the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (World Bank, 2023). Jebel Ali Port is the largest port in the Middle East, handling trade with over 200 countries. A cargo and freight consultancy license in Dubai is the legal document that lets you bill clients for logistics advice in this market. Without it, you cannot invoice. This guide covers what the license is, who needs one, how to get it, what it costs, and what rules apply once you are live.
What Is a Cargo and Freight Consultancy License in Dubai
A cargo and freight consultancy license in Dubai lets a firm give paid advice on shipping, logistics, supply chain planning, and freight routing. It does not cover physical cargo handling. The license is issued by a UAE free zone authority or the mainland regulator, and you must hold it before you take on any client work.
This license covers advisory work only: advising clients on freight routes and carrier selection, consulting on customs duty planning and trade compliance, and supply chain cost-reduction advice for third-party clients. It does not cover physical cargo handling, warehousing, or freight forwarding, which needs a separate permit.
Dubai South sits next to Al Maktoum International Airport, the world's largest airport by planned capacity, so the location adds real operational weight to the registration address. For more detail, see our guide on businesses near Al Maktoum International Airport.
Who Needs This License
You need this license if you charge fees for freight routing or carrier negotiation advice, supply chain consulting for Gulf importers or exporters, strategic logistics planning billed to a third-party client, or opening a UAE advisory office to serve regional trade clients.
A Chicago-based supply chain consultant who wants to bill UAE clients for freight work must hold this license before sending a single invoice. A free zone license, such as one issued by Dubai South Business Hub (DSBH), allows 100% foreign ownership and suits firms focused on international clients. A mainland license issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) opens the full UAE market. You can explore the full range of business activities in Dubai to confirm this activity code fits your work.
Key Benefits of This License
A Dubai cargo and freight consultancy license gives you legal standing to bill clients for logistics advice, access to a major global trade hub, 100% foreign ownership in a free zone, and a UAE residency visa tied to your company. Setup at DSBH takes 3 to 5 working days.
Dubai sits at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe trade lanes. Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port are both within easy reach of Dubai South. A freight consultancy based there can advise a Kenyan importer on Asia-to-Africa air freight routing without leaving the UAE.
On ownership and tax: free zone companies allow 100% foreign ownership with no local partner needed. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% corporate tax if they meet the FTA conditions. Your company license comes with residency visa rights for you and eligible staff. A sole US founder can own 100% of a freight consultancy at DSBH and sponsor their own UAE residency visa through the same company.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your License
Getting a cargo and freight consultancy license in Dubai takes 6 main steps: choose your setup type, book a trade name, pick your activity code, submit your papers, pay your fees, and collect your license. At DSBH the process runs 3 to 5 working days from the point your papers are in order.
Step 1, choose free zone or mainland: Free zone suits international advisory work. Mainland suits direct UAE-market client work.
Step 2, book your trade name: Use the DSBH portal for a free zone company. Check your trade name availability before you commit. The whole process is online.
Step 3, confirm your activity code: The ISIC-aligned code for cargo and freight consultancy sits under transportation support services. Confirm the code is approved at DSBH before you go further.
Step 4, gather your papers: Passport copy valid for at least 6 months, a passport photo on a white background, and proof of your home address.
Step 5, pay your fees: License fee, registration fee, and any visa package cost are paid here. Use the business setup cost calculator to get your exact figure before you commit.
Step 6, collect your license and open a bank account: Your trade license arrives digitally. Then open a UAE business account to start billing clients. After submitting papers on a Monday, a DSBH applicant typically receives their digital license by Thursday of the same week.
Costs and Timelines
A cargo and freight consultancy license at DSBH typically costs from AED 6,000 to AED 15,000 depending on the package, visa count, and office option chosen. The setup timeline is 3 to 5 working days. Renewal falls due annually and costs less than the first-year setup fee.
Cost item | What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
License fee | Right to trade under your chosen activity | From AED 6,000 |
Registration fee | One-time charge at setup | Included in most packages |
Visa package | Rises with the number of visas needed | Varies by headcount |
Flexi-desk or office | Workspace; often needed for visa quotas | Adds to annual cost |
Year-one total (solo founder) | License, 1 visa, flexi-desk | AED 10,000 to AED 12,000 |
Name approval takes the same day in most cases via the DSBH portal. License issuance takes 3 to 5 working days once papers are submitted. Residency visa processing takes 7 to 14 working days after the license is issued. Bank account opening takes 1 to 3 weeks depending on the bank. A founder who submits papers on the 1st of the month can realistically have a license in hand and a visa in process within 3 weeks.
Rules and Duties You Must Know
A cargo and freight consultancy license in Dubai comes with annual renewal duties, corporate tax sign-up with the FTA, and VAT rules if your revenue passes AED 375,000. You must also keep financial records for 7 years.
Free Zone vs Mainland Comparison
Feature | Free Zone (DSBH) | Mainland (DET) |
|---|---|---|
Foreign ownership | 100% foreign ownership, no local partner needed | 100% foreign ownership now permitted for most activities under UAE Commercial Companies Law reforms |
Setup timeline | 3 to 5 working days, fully online | Typically longer; physical office address often needed from the start |
Client access | Best for international clients and other free zone firms | Direct access to UAE government bodies and mainland firms without a distributor |
Office requirement | Flexi-desk options available; private office also available | Physical office lease typically required |
Corporate tax | 0% if you meet the FTA Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions | Standard 9% rate above AED 375,000 taxable income applies |
Ideal for | Foreign founders serving international or cross-border clients | Firms billing UAE government agencies or local mainland businesses directly |
Corporate tax. Every UAE company must sign up for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) once the company exists. Your turnover does not change this duty. A Qualifying Free Zone Person can pay 0% corporate tax if they meet the FTA conditions.
VAT. VAT at 5% applies if your taxable revenue passes AED 375,000 in a 12-month period. The FTA charges a fixed fine of AED 10,000 for late VAT registration, regardless of how long you have been over the threshold. Register as soon as your 12-month taxable revenue crosses that figure.
Keep financial records for 7 years. Your trade license renews annually; missing the renewal date brings late fees. Staff contracts must be filed with MOHRE if you hire employees on UAE work permits. You can find more detail on banking and taxation services at Dubai South.
How Dubai South Business Hub Makes the Process Simple
Dubai South Business Hub is a free zone authority next to Al Maktoum International Airport. It issues cargo and freight consultancy licenses online in 3 to 5 working days and bundles the license, visa, and office option into one package with a single point of contact for the whole setup.
A founder based in Texas can complete the entire DSBH application online, receive the digital license in 4 days, and then fly in to open the bank account. DSBH offers flexi-desk and private office options to meet visa quota needs, residency visa packages tied to the company license, and PRO services for government transactions after setup. Banking referrals help you open a UAE business account faster, and annual renewal goes through the same portal as your original application.
Choose a free zone if most of your clients are outside the UAE, you want a fast online setup, or you plan to sponsor your own UAE residency visa through the company. Choose a mainland DET license if you need to bill UAE government bodies directly or require a physical office in a specific Dubai district. You can also look at a professional consultancy license in Dubai if your work spans more than one advisory discipline.
References
Dubai Airports (dubaiairports.ae)
World Bank (worldbank.org)
Federal Tax Authority (FTA) (tax.gov.ae)
Frequently Asked Questions
