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Many founders don’t run just one type of business. You might want to sell products online (e-commerce), import goods (general trading), run a directory website (web portal) and offer a service such as document clearing, all under one company name.
Can you put all of that on one UAE trade licence? Often yes, if you pick the right free zone. Here is how activity rules work when you apply.
1. Commercial vs professional activities
UAE activities fall into broad categories:
- Commercial (trading): buying, importing and selling physical goods, including online stores that sell physical products.
- Professional (services): selling expertise, such as marketing, design, IT consultancy or a web portal that connects buyers and sellers without holding stock.
A business that does both needs a combination of approved activities on one licence, or two licences. On the mainland, mixing trading and services can mean separate licences or extra fees. Several free zones let you mix activities on one licence:
| Free zone | Activities | From |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman NuVentures | Up to 10 | AED 4,888 |
| Ajman Media City | Up to 10 | AED 4,999 |
| RAKEZ | Up to 10 | AED 6,000 |
| SRTI Park (Sharjah) | Up to 5 | AED 5,500 |
| SPC Free Zone | 5 groups | AED 5,750 |
| Shams (Sharjah Media City) | Up to 5 | AED 5,760 |
Each free zone’s own published figures for its starter licence, checked November 2026. Ajman Media City confirmed that general trading and freelancer activities are not part of its 10-activity package.
For example, RAKEZ quoted us a general trading licence (FZ-LLC, networking facility) that combines four activities:
- Products and Services E-Trading (code 4791013): selling online, with electronic payments.
- General Trading (code 521904): importing, trading and re-exporting goods, except goods that need special approval.
- Documents Clearing Services (code 749906): submitting documents to government and other bodies on behalf of clients.
- Portal (code 724003): a website linking buyers and sellers. It is for brokerage only, so the portal company can’t sell goods itself under this activity.
Always ask the zone to confirm in writing that your exact mix fits one licence before you pay.
2. Watch for activities that need outside approval
Most standard activities, such as IT consultancy, marketing or a web portal, are approved by the free zone itself. Regulated activities need approval from another authority before the licence is issued:
- Car rental and transport: the emirate’s transport authority, such as the RTA in Dubai.
- Clinics and healthcare: the health authority, such as the DHA in Dubai or the DoH in Abu Dhabi.
- Restaurants and food: the municipality’s food safety department.
- Water tank cleaning and pest control: strict municipality or public health approval. Because the work happens at customers’ buildings, these usually need a mainland licence.
- Warehouses and land: at RAKEZ, leasing a warehouse or land needs a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the RAK Municipality Public Health Department, and third-party fees may apply.
Selling to customers in mainland UAE from a free zone has its own rules too: services may need a local agent or mainland authorisation, and goods may need a mainland distributor and customs clearance. The activity search shows which approvals each zone lists for your activity.
3. Check the exact activity name, not just the code
Each free zone uses its own activity codes. At RAKEZ, for example, Portal is code 724003, while other zones number it differently. Ajman Media City confirmed that its printed licence shows the exact activity names only; the codes on its list are for reference.
Before you confirm your application, ask for the written activity list and check that every activity name you need appears on the draft licence. Banks often check those exact words when you apply for a business account. Ajman Media City, for example, asks you to review and confirm the draft application before any payment.
Search your business activity to compare which free zones allow it.
Sources
- Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone
- Ajman Media City Free Zone
- RAKEZ – Biz Starter
- RAKEZ – free zone business activity list
- Shams Free Zone
- SPC Free Zone
- Written confirmations and quotations to startwith.ae from Ajman Media City, RAKEZ and UAQ Free Trade Zone, November 2026
startwith.ae is independent and not a government body. Prices are each free zone’s own published or quoted figures, checked on the date shown; fees and offers change, so always confirm with the free zone before you pay.