What the rules ask of an industrial activity
A trade licence, a fire classification and a registered lease all have to agree before a unit can open. This is the register underneath that: the licensing steps in order, the requirements the framework names, the authorities that sign them off, and the link between each requirement and the activity it lands on.
From naming the activity to holding the licence
- 1
Define activity (ISIC) & reserve trade name
Pick the ISIC-4 activity; reserve a compliant trade name with DET/DED or the free zone.
- 2
Initial approval
DET/DED (mainland) or free-zone authority confirms no objection to the activity.
- 3
Lease premises (physical facility)
Lease a warehouse/factory/land; Ejari for mainland (virtual offices not accepted for industrial).
- 4
External clearances
Municipality (environment/health/land use/waste), Civil Defence (UAE Fire Code), DEWA/utility; activity-specific: MoHAP (food/cosmetics/pharma), MOCCAE/EAD (environment), MOI (hazmat).
- 5
Local industrial/commercial licence issued
DET/DED (or free-zone authority) issues the licence after fees and clearances.
- 6
MoIAT federal registration (manufacturing)
Industrial Production Licence on the National Industrial Register; mainland: ≥10 employees, ≥AED 250,000 capital; unlocks customs-duty exemptions & ICV.
Every requirement, against the activity it applies to
- Requirement links
- 198
- Licensing types
- 25
- Mandatory
- 186
- Conditional
- 12
Catalogue version 1.0, prepared June 2026. The requirement set and the authorities come from published UAE sources. Their mapping to each activity is compiled by World Warehouse, and applicability to a specific premises is decided by the authority.
Food Manufacturing
- L-INDIndustrial / Manufacturing licenceLicenseMandatoryDept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
- EJARIRegistered tenancy + physical facility (Ejari/Tawtheeq)ConditionMandatoryDept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
- MOIAT-REGMoIAT industrial registration (Industrial Production Licence)RegistrationMandatoryMinistry of Industry & Advanced Technology
- COND-CAPITALMin capital AED 250k + >=10 employees (mainland mfg)ConditionMandatoryMinistry of Industry & Advanced Technology
- DEWA-UTILUtility capacity approval (power/water)ApprovalMandatoryUtility provider (DEWA/FEWA/AADC)
- CD-APPCivil Defence fire & life-safety approvalApprovalMandatoryCivil Defence (Ministry of Interior)
- COND-FIREFire-protection systems per hazard tierSystemMandatoryCivil Defence (Ministry of Interior)
- MUN-ENVMunicipality environmental/health/land-use clearanceApprovalMandatoryMunicipality
- MOHAP-FOODFood-safety approval (MoHAP/Municipality)ApprovalMandatoryMinistry of Health & Prevention
- COND-FOODHACCPHACCP / food-safety management systemConditionMandatoryMinistry of Health & Prevention
The named requirements, and who owns each one
Approval
14- CD-APPCivil Defence fire & life-safety approvalCivil Defence (Ministry of Interior)
- CD-HAZMATCivil Defence hazardous-materials approvalCivil Defence (Ministry of Interior)
- CUSTOMS-BONDCustoms bonded-warehouse approval + bank guaranteeCustoms / Federal Tax Authority
- DEWA-UTILUtility capacity approval (power/water)Utility provider (DEWA/FEWA/AADC)
- ENERGY-EHSEnergy/EHS regulator approval (oil/fuel)Energy / EHS regulator
- LABOUR-ACCLabour-accommodation facility permitLabour-accommodation regulator
- MEDIA-APPMedia / Publishing approvalMedia / Publishing regulator
- MOCCAE-ENVEnvironmental permit (MOCCAE/EAD); EIA if requiredMOCCAE / Environment Agency
- MOHAP-COSMCosmetics product registrationMinistry of Health & Prevention
- MOHAP-FOODFood-safety approval (MoHAP/Municipality)Ministry of Health & Prevention
- MOHAP-PHARMAPharma factory licence + GMP + product registrationMinistry of Health & Prevention
- MOI-HAZHazardous-materials clearance (Ministry of Interior)Ministry of Interior
- MUN-ENVMunicipality environmental/health/land-use clearanceMunicipality
- WASTE-PERMITWaste-management permitMunicipality
Condition
5- COND-CAPITALMin capital AED 250k + >=10 employees (mainland mfg)Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
- COND-FOODHACCPHACCP / food-safety management systemMinistry of Health & Prevention
- COND-GDPGood Distribution Practice (pharma cold-chain)Ministry of Health & Prevention
- EJARIRegistered tenancy + physical facility (Ejari/Tawtheeq)Dept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
- ESMA-CONFProduct conformity (UAE.S / MoIAT standards)Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
System
1- COND-FIREFire-protection systems per hazard tierCivil Defence (Ministry of Interior)
Registration
2- CUSTOMSCustoms registration / importer codeCustoms / Federal Tax Authority
- MOIAT-REGMoIAT industrial registration (Industrial Production Licence)Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology
License
3- L-COMCommercial trade/services licenceDept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
- L-INDIndustrial / Manufacturing licenceDept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
- L-STOCommercial storage/logistics licenceDept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
Who signs off, and at which level of government
Federal
7- CDCivil Defence (Ministry of Interior)
- CUSTOMSCustoms / Federal Tax Authority
- MEDIAMedia / Publishing regulator
- MOCCAEMOCCAE / Environment Agency
- MOHAPMinistry of Health & Prevention
- MOIMinistry of Interior
- MOIATMinistry of Industry & Advanced Technology
Emirate
5- DETDept. of Economy / DED (emirate licensing)
- ENERGYEnergy / EHS regulator
- LABOURLabour-accommodation regulator
- MUNMunicipality
- UTILUtility provider (DEWA/FEWA/AADC)
To read one activity end to end, with the zones it may operate in and the requirements held against it, use the selection tool.
Check one activity