Many people use “work from home” to cover very different realities: selling homemade products online from a flat in Dubai, providing design or consulting services as an independent professional, or living in Dubai while still employed by a company abroad. Under UAE and Dubai rules, each of these scenarios is treated differently and may require a specific home-based business licence, freelance permit or residence visa.
Economic activity is not exempt from regulation simply because it is carried out from a private residence rather than a commercial office. In Dubai, the Intelaq home business licence is available exclusively to Emirati nationals, while freelance permits are regulated under federal frameworks. In addition, the UAE offers a federal remote work (virtual work) residence visa for foreign employees working for overseas employers. This article explains how these options fit together, when a formal trade licence is required, and how to remain compliant when working from home.
What “Working From Home” Means Under Dubai Rules
In Dubai, the legal focus is not on whether you physically sit at home or in an office, but on whether you are carrying out an “economic activity” and under what authorisation. Selling products, providing paid services, or otherwise operating as a business is typically considered economic activity, regardless of the place where you actually perform the work.
The UAE’s 2022 Voluntary National Review explains that the Ministry of Economy’s “Basher” platform allows investors to obtain a business licence electronically and “establish and conduct business electronically in the UAE within minutes and from any location”. This shows that the key legal element is the existence of a valid licence, not the physical location of your laptop. Even if the service is obtained online and you operate from a home office, you are still expected to hold the appropriate licence or permit.
For residents of Dubai, that licence usually comes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or from a free zone authority, depending on where the business is established. The Basher platform simply streamlines the process of obtaining those licences; it does not remove the underlying requirement to be licensed. If you work from home in a way that generates income from goods or services, the default assumption should be that some form of licence, permit or specific visa route is required.
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Intelaq Home-Based Business Licence For Emiratis
Dubai provides a dedicated home-based business option for Emirati nationals through the Intelaq licence. It is designed specifically for Emiratis who want to operate small-scale activities from their residence, within the categories approved by Dubai SME and the DET. These may include certain service-based, craft, creative or low-impact trading activities that can be carried out safely and appropriately from a home setting. The permitted activities and conditions are defined by the authorities and may change over time.
Some sectoral guidelines treat Intelaq as an acceptable form of business licence for their limited regulatory purposes. For example, Dubai Municipality’s 2024 Technical Guidelines for Fragrance Products list an Intelaq licence as an eligible licence type for registering fragrance products. This does not mean that Intelaq is equivalent to a standard commercial or industrial licence in all contexts.
Intelaq remains a home-based licence restricted to Emiratis and is valid only for the activities and regulatory scopes that the programme explicitly covers.
Emirati applicants may also access support programmes linked to Intelaq. A UAE Government SME success story notes that Dubai SME provides startup assistance under the Intelaq programme and that certain funding initiatives are available to Emiratis between 21 and 60 years old.
Holding an Intelaq licence allows eligible Emiratis to run a home-based business for the approved activities, but it does not replace other licence types when an activity requires specialised premises, technical approvals, industrial facilities or regulatory permissions beyond what the Intelaq framework covers. Applicants must check the latest activity lists, conditions and sectoral requirements with Dubai SME and the DET—especially if they plan to produce, store or handle regulated products at home.
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Options If You Are Not Eligible For Intelaq
Not everyone living in Dubai can apply for Intelaq. Expatriates in particular must usually consider other frameworks if they wish to work from home legally in Dubai. Broadly, your options fall into three categories, depending on whether you are an employee of a foreign company, a freelancer, or a business owner.
Remote Work (Virtual Work) Programme – Living In Dubai, Employed Abroad
Dubai participates in the UAE’s residence visa for working outside the UAE, also known as a virtual work or remote work programme. According to the Official Portal of the UAE Government, this programme allows foreigners to reside in Dubai while continuing to work remotely for an employer located outside the UAE.
To qualify, the applicant must prove they have an existing remote employment relationship and meet a minimum monthly income requirement of at least USD 3,500 or its equivalent. The programme is aimed at individuals who remain employees of foreign companies and simply perform their foreign job duties while living in Dubai.
This remote work visa does not replace a UAE business licence or freelance permit if you intend to sell goods or services into the UAE market. If, in addition to your foreign employment, you start a side activity such as selling products locally or providing services to UAE clients, that activity may require its own trade licence or freelance authorisation, separate from your virtual work residence status.
Freelance Permits And Standard Business Licences
For independent professionals who want to work from home in Dubai, the key concept is the freelance permit. Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, which contains the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, defines a freelance permit as a type of work permit issued to individuals who wish to undertake independent self-employment without being sponsored by a specific organisation or employer and without the condition of having a valid employment contract. Under this framework, a natural person earns money by providing their services for a specific period or task to individuals or establishments.
Depending on the emirate, sector and specific activity, a freelance permit may interact with other licensing requirements. If you operate under a trade name, hire staff or create a structured business that goes beyond personal self-employment, you may need a trade or professional licence from the relevant authority in addition to your freelance permit. In Dubai, that authority is typically the Department of Economy and Tourism for mainland licences, or the relevant free zone authority.
The federal Voluntary National Review on the “Basher” platform makes clear that, even though investors can obtain a Dubai business licence from home or any other location electronically, the licence itself remains the legal basis for conducting business. Whether you physically work from a home office, a café or a co-working space is secondary to whether your activity is correctly licensed and the site from which you operate is authorised when required.
For expatriates who want to run a business from home in Dubai by selling goods or services, the usual path is a standard business licence (commercial, professional, or similar) issued by the DET or a free zone, or a recognised freelance arrangement, plus site approval where applicable. Anyone considering using their residence as a business site should confirm directly with the competent authority whether their specific activity may legally be conducted from a home address.
Summary Of Common Scenarios
| Scenario | Typical Authorisation | Can You Work From Home? | Main Reference / Framework |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirati home-based entrepreneur (Intelaq) | Intelaq home-based business licence via Dubai SME/DET | Yes, for approved activities; home is the licensed site. | Intelaq service on the UAE Government portal; DM 2024 |
| Freelance service provider | Freelance permit; possibly combined with trade/professional licence | Only in some cases; a freelance permit does not automatically allow work from a residential address. | Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 |
| Remote employee of a foreign company | Dubai virtual work (remote work) residence visa | Yes, for foreign employer’s work; does not authorise local business activities. | Residence visa for working outside the UAE |
| Investor with a standard Dubai trade licence | Commercial/ |
professional licence via DET or free zone | Possibly, if the residential address is an approved site for that activity. | Basher and the DET licensing framework |
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Licensing Risks Of Informal Home Businesses
Dubai takes unlicensed business activity seriously. The Commercial Compliance Manual issued by Dubai Economy (now DET) lists “practising an economic activity without a licence” as a commercial violation. The prescribed penalty for this offence is an administrative fine of AED 5,000. This applies where someone conducts a business activity that should be licensed, but no valid licence exists at all.
The same manual treats “practising an economic activity on an unlicensed site” as a separate violation, subject to a fine of AED 1,000. This reflects the fact that, in many cases, not only must you have a licence, but the specific location from which you perform the activity must also be recorded and approved as a business site. Using a residential address without such approval can therefore lead to an additional fine, even if the underlying trade licence is valid.
In practical terms, an individual who sells homemade products on social media from a Dubai residence, with no trade licence or home-based business permit, may be exposed to both violations: operating without a licence and using an unlicensed site. By contrast, an Emirati with an Intelaq home business licence for an approved activity, whose home is registered as the business location, stands on a much stronger compliance footing. The same logic applies to freelancers and company owners: their activity and main place of work must both align with what was approved.
Checking And Documenting Your Licence Details
To help residents and consumers verify compliance, the UAE Government provides a “Verify business licences” eService. For Dubai, this includes tools such as “Search trade name – Dubai Economy and Tourism” and “Search for a company licence – Dubai Economy and Tourism”. These allow you to check whether a commercial name or company is appropriately licensed and to see the registered data.
If you are an entrepreneur or freelancer, you should regularly review your own records through these tools, ensuring that your trade name, licence status, and registered activities accurately reflect what you actually do. It is also wise to keep easily accessible copies of your trade licence, freelance permit and any approvals that show your home address is accepted as a business site if applicable. This documentation can be necessary in the event of inspections or when applying for related permits, such as product registrations with the Dubai Municipality.
Checklist: Before You Start Working From Home In Dubai
Before you start any form of paid work from your residence, it is useful to go through a short compliance checklist rather than relying on assumptions. Begin by defining your primary activity: are you selling physical products, offering professional or creative services, or simply carrying out a job for an overseas employer? Your answer determines whether you need a trade licence, a freelance permit, a remote work visa, or some combination.
Next, identify which framework suits you: Intelaq home business licence (if you are an eligible Emirati), standard Dubai home business licence options via DET or a free zone, a UAE freelance permit, or the Dubai virtual work programme if you remain employed abroad. Then, confirm with the competent authority whether your home can legally be used as the business site for that specific activity. Once you have obtained the relevant licence or permit, use the official online verification tools to confirm that the licence is active and that the registered activities match what you actually do from home.
FAQ: Home-Based Business Licence In Dubai And Working From Home
Can I run a business from home in Dubai?
Yes, it is possible to run a business from home in Dubai, but only under the correct legal framework. For eligible Emiratis, this may be through the Intelaq home-based business licence issued by Dubai SME under the DET. Others generally need a standard trade licence or an appropriate freelance arrangement and must ensure that their home is accepted as a licensed site for the specific activity if site approval is required.
How to get a home-based business licence in Dubai if I am Emirati?
Emirati nationals residing in Dubai can apply for the Intelaq licence through the official “Request for Intilaq License (Run a business from home)” service provided by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism via Dubai SME. The detailed steps, permitted activities and supporting documents are set by Dubai SME and the DET, so applicants should consult the official service description and any updated guidance before applying.
Who is eligible for an Intelaq home business licence in Dubai?
The Intelaq programme is aimed at Emiratis residing in Dubai. A UAE Government success story indicates that a related SME fund under this programme is restricted to Emiratis aged between 21 and 60. Non-Emirati residents are not the target group for Intelaq and typically need to consider other licensing options, such as standard trade licences or freelance permits.
Can expatriates get a home business licence in Dubai?
Expatriates cannot usually access the Intelaq home business licence in Dubai, as that programme is designed for Emiratis. However, expatriates can often establish a business through the DET or a free zone and, subject to approval, in some cases may be able to operate some low-impact activities from home. The key point is that they must still hold a valid business licence covering their activity and must check whether a residential address can legally be used as a business site.
Do I need a trade licence to sell from home in Dubai?
If you sell goods or services in or from Dubai on a regular, commercial basis, you should assume that a trade or professional licence is required, even if you sell only online and store items at home. Dubai’s Commercial Compliance Manual treats practising an economic activity without a licence as a violation punishable by a AED 5,000 fine, so operating informally from home can carry financial risk.
What is the penalty for running a business from home without a licence in Dubai?
According to the Commercial Compliance Manual, practising an economic activity without a licence is subject to a fine of AED 5,000. Additionally, practising economic activity on an unlicensed site—for example, a residence that has not been approved as a business location—can attract a further AED 1,000 fine. Actual enforcement is at the discretion of the competent authorities, but the rules highlight the importance of correct licensing and site approval.
Is a freelance permit enough to work from home in Dubai?
A freelance permit, as defined in Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, allows an individual to engage in independent self-employment without an employer sponsor. In many cases, this will be sufficient to provide services from home, provided the activity falls within the scope of the permit and any emirate-level rules on where the work can be carried out. However, if you move beyond personal self-employment into operating a business entity under a trade name, additional licensing from the DET or a free zone may be required.
Dubai virtual work programme: what are the work-from-home rules?
The Dubai virtual work (remote work) programme allows foreigners to live in Dubai while working for an employer outside the UAE, subject to conditions such as an existing employment contract and a minimum monthly income of at least USD 3,500. It effectively authorises you to work from home in Dubai for your foreign employer. It does not, however, grant permission to run a local business or provide services in the UAE market; those activities would still need their own appropriate licences or permits.
How to verify a Dubai business licence online?
You can verify a Dubai business licence through the UAE Government’s “Verify business licences” service, using the “Search trade name – Dubai Economy and Tourism” or “Search for a company licence – Dubai Economy and Tourism” tools. These allow you to confirm whether a business is licensed and to view basic licence details, which is useful for checking your own records and for confirming the status of companies you deal with.
Explained by
Shaimaa Sayed Qasem
Department of Dubai Economic Services at EGSH
Shaimaa Sayed Qasem is a dedicated service provider at the Department of Dubai Economic Services at EGSH, with seven years of experience delivering business services, supporting clients and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
