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- Start with the work you will invoice, rather than a broad industry label.
- Confirm the exact activity code and permitted scope with the authority.
- Check additional approvals before paying for a package.
What will your first invoice actually say?
“Digital business” sounds clear until you try to put it on an application. Building websites, reselling software and delivering paid training describe different work. Write down your first three likely invoice descriptions. They give you a much better starting point than the name of your industry.
Keep the description plain: who pays you, what you deliver and whether you sell a product, a service or both. You can refine the marketing language later.
Match the work to an activity code
Dubai’s official setup process starts with selecting primary and, where needed, secondary activities. Ask the relevant authority to confirm the activity wording and code for each part of your plan. A similarly named activity may have a narrower scope than you expect.
- Does it cover your main paid service?
- Does it cover product sales or subscriptions, if you offer them?
- Can the proposed activities sit on the same licence?
- Are qualifications, facilities or outside approvals needed?
Test the activity against a real example
Suppose you plan to build AI chatbots and also teach corporate workshops. Describe both services when asking for a recommendation. Do not assume that an IT consulting activity covers every training service, or that adding a trading activity is necessary just because you use third-party software.
This is a scope check. It is not a reason to collect as many activities as possible. Ask which ones you need at launch and what an amendment would involve if the business changes.
Compare suitable routes after confirming the scope
Once the activity is clear, compare the mainland and free zone routes that can accommodate it. Include where the work happens, your customer locations, workspace and hiring plans. The activity list and operating permissions matter more than a familiar free zone name.
What should you ask for in writing?
Request the proposed activity codes, legal form, authority, required approvals and any excluded work with your quote. Save that explanation beside your business plan. It makes later discussions with a bank, partner or adviser easier because everyone is working from the same description.
