Can a business do activities not on its licence?

No — only listed activities are permitted

A business may only carry out the activities recorded on its licence; to do a new one it must amend the licence to add that activity. Operating outside the listed activities risks penalties.

Source: dubaided.gov.ae· as of Jun 2026· Not legal or financial advice
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Do some activities need approvals from other authorities?Yes — certain activities need special approval firstHow do you add or change activities on a licence?Amend the licence (base fee AED 500)What are the main UAE licence types?Six: industrial, commercial, professional, tourism, agricultural, occupationalCan one licence hold multiple activities?Yes — a business can have more than one activityHow many business activities exist in the UAE?More than 2,000