Key takeaways
- The business license lets your company organise events; each event still needs its own permit through DET's event eLicensing system.
- On the mainland, DET licenses the company, and u.ae says every business needs a physical address, with the lease registered with Ejari in Dubai.
- DWTC's website says its Event Management license covers events in all of Dubai's free zones, but its Rules (6.9) say a license is valid in the Free Zone only, so confirm with DWTC first.
- The ePermits dataset on Dubai Pulse (last updated October 2023) says an event must start at least 5 days after you apply, or 30 days if it needs technical approval.
- Breaking Dubai's event decree can mean a fine of AED 100 to AED 20,000, doubled for a repeat within a year, up to AED 100,000.
Business license vs event permit
You need two different things. The business license lets your company trade as an event organiser; DET issues it on the mainland, and a free zone authority issues it inside its zone. The event permit covers one event, and you apply for it each time.
Dubai's Decree No. 25 of 2013 defines an event broadly, from conferences and exhibitions to concerts and festivals, "regardless of the venue where it is conducted." Article 8 makes any entity organising an event subscribe to the eLicensing system, and an event company can't be licensed or renewed without subscribing to eLicensing, eTicketing or both. The decree names the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing; DET took over its rights and obligations under Law No. 20 of 2021.
Mainland or free zone: how the routes compare
| Point | Dubai mainland | DWTC Free Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Who licenses the company | DET | Dubai World Trade Centre Authority |
| License | The activity you choose; u.ae says the legal form must match it | Event Management, a license category in DWTC's Rules (6.2(d)) |
| Where you can work | Across mainland Dubai | DWTC's website: events in all of Dubai's free zones; its Rules (6.9): valid in the Free Zone only, so confirm with DWTC |
| Mainland clients and venues | Yes | DWTC's rules: no business in mainland UAE without a license from the appropriate authority |
| Office | A physical address, with the lease registered with Ejari | Office solutions are part of DWTC's setup steps |
| Permit for each event | Yes, through DET's eLicensing system | Yes, through DET's eLicensing system |
Free zone companies have two official routes to the mainland. Since October 2025, Dubai Unified License holders can apply on Invest in Dubai for a mainland operating permit (AED 5,000 for six months at launch, renewable at the same fee); its first phase covered non-regulated activities such as consultancy, design and trading, so ask DET whether event management qualifies. Dubai.ae also describes dual licensing with five free zones. See dwtc free zone setup.
How to set up an event management company in Dubai
- 1. Choose your route and activity. On the mainland, pick the event activity with DET; u.ae says the legal form must match it. Already licensed? See how to add activities.
- 2. Reserve a trade name and get initial approval. u.ae says initial approval means the government has no objection, but it doesn't let you start work.
- 3. Check whether you need a local service agent. u.ae says Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 removed the local agent requirement for most activities, but non-UAE nationals licensed for professional activities need one (Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011, Article 15(b)). DET confirms which applies. See our professional license guide.
- 4. Lease premises and register the lease. In Dubai the lease goes on Ejari. See ejari registration.
- 5. Subscribe, pay and collect the license. Subscribe to DET's event eLicensing system; Article 8(e) of Decree No. 25 of 2013 makes it a condition of licensing and renewal. u.ae says you pay within 30 days of DET's payment voucher, or the application is cancelled.
Global Sky PRO prepares and submits your company setup and licensing paperwork and follows up; DET or the free zone authority decides. See mainland company formation.
Event permits: who applies, lead time and other approvals
The ePermits dataset on Dubai Pulse, Dubai's government open-data platform, says organisers apply to DTCM (now DET) for an event permit, 5 days to 6 months ahead. The event must start at least 5 days after you apply, or 30 days if the permit needs technical approval. The dataset was last updated on 4 October 2023, so confirm current rules in ePermits.
Some areas add their own permit:
| Where | Authority | What its official page says |
|---|---|---|
| DDA free zone areas (TECOM areas) | Dubai Development Authority | Needs the event organiser's trade license, the master developer's NOC, NOCs from relevant authorities, an emergency and evacuation plan, the agenda and a layout; estimated 3 working days; DDA lists the requester as a contractor |
| Expo City Dubai | Expo City Dubai Authority | An Event Operation Permit, valid from 1 day to 12 months; it issues NOCs for controlled activities, and government approvals may also apply |
Security is regulated too. Under Resolution No. 1 of 2018 of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), guarding and visitor entry and exit services at public events must come from a SIRA-licensed security service provider. Dubai's Law No. 2 of 2026 on Public Safety, in force since 1 June 2026, has Dubai Municipality's Environment, Health and Safety Agency issue permits to licensed public event venues, requires a public safety management plan there, and sets fines of AED 500 to AED 1,000,000. We help prepare and track permit applications; the authorities decide.
Costs and penalties
For the mainland business license, DET shows the total on its payment voucher; see dubai trade license cost. For event permits, Decree No. 5 of 2023 rewrote the fee article: DET charges annual subscription fees set by a resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council, and the 2013 ticket fee of 10% of a paid ticket's value is no longer in it. DET's system shows what you pay.
Published area fees at the time of writing: DDA charges AED 500 for a non-commercial event permit and AED 5,000 for a commercial one, plus AED 1,000 structural fees if applicable and AED 20 per transaction (Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams). Expo City Dubai's permit starts from AED 235, depending on event duration.
Under Article 13 of Decree No. 25 of 2013, a violation carries a fine of AED 100 to AED 20,000. A repeat within one year doubles it, up to AED 100,000, and DET may also suspend the company for up to six months or revoke its trade license. Executive Council Resolution No. 1 of 2015 sets AED 10,000 for holding an event before its data is entered in the eLicensing system and the approval is issued.
Sources
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Decree No. 25 of 2013 concerning the Event eLicensing and eTicketing System
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. 2 of 2026 concerning Public Safety
- Dubai Pulse: Event e-permits dataset
- u.ae: Steps to start a business on the mainland
- DWTC: Free Zone Rules and Regulations V15
- Dubai Development Authority: Event permit
- Dubai Legislation Portal: SIRA Resolution No. 1 of 2018
Official sources checked on 13 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.