Cleaning Services License in Dubai & UAE: Cost & How to Get One (2026)
A cleaning services licence in the UAE lets you offer residential, commercial and specialised cleaning legally. It is usually a mainland licence from around AED 20,000, requires Dubai Municipality and Civil Defence approvals, and can be issued within 1–3 weeks. Labour cards and staff visas are added once the licence is active.
Last updated: June 2026
Cost breakdown (2026)
| Cleaning services licence from | AED 20,000 |
|---|---|
| With 1 visa from | AED 24,500 |
| Municipality & external approvals | AED 1,500–3,000Varies by scope |
| Timeline | 1–3 weeks |
According to Setup Business in UAE, a cleaning services license in dubai & uae in the UAE starts from AED 20,000 (as of June 2026).
What you need
- Passport copies of shareholder(s) and manager
- Chosen trade name (3 options)
- Dubai Municipality cleaning-activity approval
- Civil Defence / environmental approval for chemicals
- Tenancy contract (Ejari) for mainland office
How to get your Cleaning Services License in Dubai & UAE
- 1
Choose cleaning activity & jurisdiction
Select residential/commercial cleaning activities on mainland or a suitable free zone.
- 2
Reserve your trade name
Submit compliant trade name options for approval.
- 3
Secure external approvals
Obtain Dubai Municipality and Civil Defence sign-off for the cleaning activity.
- 4
Sign tenancy & pay fees
Register an Ejari office contract and settle the licence package.
- 5
Receive licence, then visas
Collect the licence, open a corporate account and apply for staff labour cards and visas.
Costs beyond the licence
Cleaning is an operations business, and the operations bill dwarfs the licence: a used van from AED 25,000 (or lease from AED 1,500 monthly), commercial equipment from AED 10,000, and chemical supplies on ongoing account. Staff drive everything — each cleaner's visa, medical and mandatory health insurance total roughly AED 6,500–8,000 before the first salary, and Dubai requires trained staff accommodation arrangements for larger teams.
Public liability insurance (from AED 2,000) is effectively mandatory since commercial clients and building managements demand it before granting site access.
Free zone or mainland for cleaning services?
Cleaning is delivered inside clients' premises across the emirate, which makes mainland licensing the practical default — residential clients, building contracts and mall tenders all expect a DED licence with municipality approval. Free-zone options exist (RAKEZ and Ajman offer the activity cheaply) and can work for B2B facility-management subcontracting, but check each contract: many facilities managers require mainland registration from subcontractors too.
Common mistakes with cleaning services licences
The biggest error is quoting contracts before knowing your true per-visa cost — margins in cleaning are thin, and each worker's annual visa-and-insurance overhead of ~AED 8,000 breaks naive pricing. Firms also miss that specialised lines (tank cleaning, pest control, facade work at height) carry separate municipality permits beyond the general cleaning activity. Start narrow, price on loaded labour cost, and add permits as contracts justify them.
Recommended free zones
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a cleaning services licence in Dubai?+
A cleaning services licence starts from around AED 20,000 on the mainland, or about AED 24,500 including one visa. Municipality and Civil Defence approvals add roughly AED 1,500–3,000 depending on scope.
Do I need special approvals for a cleaning company?+
Yes. Dubai Municipality approval is mandatory, and Civil Defence or environmental clearance is required if you handle cleaning chemicals or specialised sanitisation.
Can a cleaning company be set up in a free zone?+
Free zones like RAKEZ, SPC and Ajman can license cleaning management, but on-site cleaning across Dubai usually needs a mainland licence to operate legally.
How long does it take to get the licence?+
Most cleaning licences are issued within 1–3 weeks, depending on how quickly municipality and Civil Defence approvals are processed.