Last updated: October 2026. Codes, fees and legal references were checked against the Dubai Legislation Portal, a July 2026 copy of the DET register and BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 price list.
A market research company in Dubai can hold a valid trade licence and still face an AED 20,000 fine the first time its interviewers start a survey [1]. Executive Council Resolution No. (39) of 2015 says "No Person may conduct the Activity in the Emirate without obtaining a relevant Permit from the DSC," "and a licence from the concerned commercial licensing authority" [1]. The trade licence is only half of that sentence.
Few guides ranking for market research company licence Dubai explain the permit, and choosing a free zone does not avoid it. The permit itself is cheap, at AED 500 to apply and AED 4,500 to issue [1]. The fines and the respondent rules are where the real cost sits.
Since 2013, BusinessDubai.ae has set up companies across every emirate. This guide covers the DET and free zone activity codes, the Dubai poll study permit with its fees and fines, the respondent and data protection rules, phone and online surveys, the cheaper non-Dubai options, free zone versus mainland, corporate tax and VAT, and what year one and year two cost.
What licence does a market research company need in Dubai in 2026?
A Dubai market research firm licenses under DET activity 7320001 Marketing Research & Consultancies, a Professional activity [2]. If it conducts poll studies for clients in Dubai, it also needs a permit under Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015, which applies in free zones and the Dubai International Financial Centre as well as on the mainland [1].
That gives a research business two separate layers. The trade licence comes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on the mainland, or from a free zone authority. The permit comes from the statistics authority: the Dubai Statistics Center (DSC) under the 2015 Resolution, whose functions Dubai Law No. 24 of 2023 moved to the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment (DDSE) [3].
The licence says what the company may sell; the permit says whether it may collect answers from people in Dubai. If your firm will mainly sell strategy advice, our consulting firm setup guide covers the wider consultancy activity set, and the management consultancy versus training activity guide explains where workshops fit.
Which activity codes fit a market research firm in Dubai?
The core DET codes for Dubai market research are 7320001 Marketing Research & Consultancies, 7320003 Statistical Services Consultancies and 7320004 Public Opinion Polling Services, all Professional activities [2]. Adjacent work sits under 7310017 Advertising Researches & Consultancies, 6311001 Data Classification & Analysis Services and 6399005 Media Monitoring Services, also Professional.
The table quotes each activity as recorded in a public copy of the DET register [2].
| DET code | Activity | Licence class | Register description (extract) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7320001 | Marketing Research & Consultancies | Professional | "Includes the provision of research and consultancies to businesses to achieve competitive advantage in the market place" |
| 7320003 | Statistical Services Consultancies | Professional | "Includes firms engaged in conducting statistics consultancies and services in economic, social and other domains" |
| 7320004 | Public Opinion Polling Services | Professional | "Includes firms engaged in conducting surveys of public opinion on behalf of others" |
| 7310017 | Advertising Researches & Consultancies | Professional | "to employ different methodologies of research that works to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of advertising" |
| 6311001 | Data Classification & Analysis Services | Professional | "Includes firms specialized in evaluating and analyzing data provided by public and private entities" |
| 6399005 | Media Monitoring Services | Professional | "Includes firms entrusted by their clients to monitor all types' media" |
7320001 is the general research activity. 7320004 is the polling activity, and its register text "also includes investigating the collective opinions of the public about political, economic and social issues" [2]. 7320003 suits statistical design and analysis, and 6399005 is the closest DET activity to social listening. The register asks a 7320001 manager for a bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing or economics and a 7320003 manager for one in statistics, each with three years' experience [2].
The IFZA, DMCC and DIFC copies of 7320001 carry a sentence the public DET copy omits: "such firms are not allowed to conduct field surveys and questionnaire before getting approval from the competent authority" [2][20]. Read it as the register pointing at the poll study permit. By contrast, 8299006 Commercial Information Services is not a fieldwork activity: its text says "these firms are not allowed to visit the premises of other firms to inspect or collect information about their activities" [2].
Common Mistake: Licensing 7320001 and assuming the licence covers fieldwork. The licence lets the firm sell research; it does not let it send interviewers out. If the model includes questionnaires, intercepts or polls for clients, budget the AED 5,000 first-year permit [1] and the technical manager's qualification from the start, because the manager requirement slows the application, not the fee.
Free zone equivalents
Free zones keep their own registers. IFZA and DMCC use the DET codes; Meydan Free Zone and the DDA zones use their own numbering, so never present a Meydan dotted code as a DET code [4][5][20].
| Zone | Research activities on the register | Approval flag on the register |
|---|---|---|
| IFZA | 7320001, 7320004, 7320003 (DET codes) | 7320004 flagged for Dubai Statistics Center approval [20] |
| DMCC | 7320001, 7320004 (DET codes) | 7320004 flagged for Dubai Statistics Center approval [20] |
| Meydan Free Zone | 7320.00 Market Research And Public Opinion Polling; 7320.02; 7320.95; 7320.97; 7320.98 (Meydan's own codes) | DDSE pre-approval on 7320.00, 7320.02 and 7320.98 [4][20] |
| Dubai Media City and other DDA zones | 26.2.33 Market Research and Opinion Polling Services; 26.3.10 Market Research Consultancy; 18.8.2 Research and Information Services | No statistics entry in the Decision's approvals schedule [5] |
| DIFC | Marketing Research & Consultancies; Public Opinion Polling Services | Not stated; Resolution No. 39 of 2015 applies in DIFC [1] |
The DDA's Decision No. 1 of 2021 describes 26.3.10 Market Research Consultancy as "Firms conducting field surveys and questionnaires to explore the opinion of consumers, producers and distributors on goods and services" [5]. It prices the General segment's Support Services and Consultancy lines, and the Dubai Media City Business Information segment that holds 18.8.2, at AED 15,000 a year for one activity [5]. The Decision pre-dates the 2023 statistics law, but its Article 2.12 still requires licensees to "obtain and maintain appropriate approvals or no objection certificates from the relevant authorities in the UAE" [5]. Our Dubai Media City setup guide covers the zone, and our guide to the best free zones for consultants compares the consultancy-friendly zones.
What has no activity code
No DET activity named for mystery shopping, focus groups or respondent panels was found in the register copy [2], and no "Commercial Inspection Services" activity of the kind one setup guide suggests for mystery shopping appears in it. These services sit under 7320001 or 7320004, depending on how the work is sold. Confirm the fit at DET initial approval or with your zone.
Do you need a permit to run surveys or polls in Dubai?
A firm that conducts poll studies for third parties in Dubai needs a permit from the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, successor to the Dubai Statistics Center under Dubai Law No. 24 of 2023 [1][3]. Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015 applies across the emirate, free zones and DIFC included. Whether a project counts turns on the definition.
What the Resolution covers
Article 1 of the Resolution defines the Activity as "Conducting Poll Studies for third parties in the Emirate." [1] It defines a Poll Study as a "Survey of opinions; measurement of trends; and collection of data, information, and statistics on a particular matter during a specific period of time through various direct and indirect techniques and methods." [1] Article 2 says "The provisions of this Resolution will apply to all those who conduct the Activity in the Emirate," "including Special Development Zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre." [1] Article 5 then requires both a DSC permit and a commercial licence.
Article 14(a) of Dubai Law No. 24 of 2023 adds: "No individual or Private Entity may conduct field or non-field Statistical Surveys without first obtaining the relevant Permit from the DDSE." [3] It defines a Statistical Survey as "A method of collecting Data and information from a community targeted by research or study, whether through a complete count or a sample count as determined based on scientific methods." [3]
Does your project count as a poll study?
The plain reading of the definition is broad: a survey of opinions, a measurement of trends, or a collection of data from people on a topic, by any direct or indirect method. The zone registers are narrower, flagging the approval only on polling codes [20], but the law is what binds. The table gives a plain reading for common project types. It is a reading, not a ruling: confirm with the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment in writing before fieldwork starts.
| Project type | Plain reading | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Questionnaires, intercepts, phone or tablet interviews for a client | Inside the definition | Permit before fieldwork |
| Public opinion poll | The core case; political, religious or ethnic topics also need written approval [6] | Permit plus topic approval |
| Focus groups and in-depth interviews for a client | Opinions collected from people; likely inside | Confirm with the DDSE |
| Mystery shopping | Observations about a business, not respondents' opinions; unclear | Confirm with the DDSE |
| Social listening on published posts | No contact with respondents; unclear | Confirm with the DDSE |
| Desk research from published sources or client records | Collects nothing from people; not obviously inside, though the Resolution does not say so | Confirm before adding primary collection |
| A company surveying its own customers or staff, at its own premises with its own resources | Own-account exception, Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016, Article 5 [6] | No agency involved |
An agency running a company's own satisfaction survey for it is conducting a poll study for a third party.
Who issues the permit now
Dubai Law No. 24 of 2023 tasks the DDSE to "regulate and monitor the work of Private Entities working in the field of Poll Studies in the Emirate, and issue the required Permits to these entities" [3]. Article 18 transfers the DSC's rights and obligations to it, and Article 20(b) keeps resolutions under the repealed 2015 law in force "until new superseding bylaws and resolutions are issued." [3] So the 2015 and 2016 resolutions remain the operative rules unless the DDSE has replaced them. The DDSE's online service pages could not be read when this guide was researched, so the fees below are the published 2015 schedule; confirm current figures when you apply.
What the permit requires
Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016 requires a technical manager holding a Certificate of Professional Competence, a main business consistent with the activity, and an owner of good repute, with no felony conviction, aged at least 21 [6]. The certificate needs a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited in the UAE and a pass in the authority's examination, which can be retaken up to twice a year [6]. Resolution No. 39 of 2015 adds in Article 7(2) that firms must "appoint the qualified administrative and technical staff required for conducting Poll Studies in the Emirate" [1]. The firm must also display its permit, notify its surveyors' names, train them, keep a register of poll outcomes and replace a departing technical manager within one month [6].
A Temporary Permit is defined as "authorising a Firm licensed outside of the Emirate to conduct a specific Poll Study in the Emirate." [1] On sequencing, IFZA's register flags 7320004 for approval "Before License Issuance" while its process text says approval follows the licence [20], so ask the zone which order it applies.
How much does the Dubai poll study permit cost, and what are the fines?
The Dubai poll study permit costs AED 500 to apply and AED 4,500 to issue, AED 5,000 a year to renew, AED 50 per field researcher identification card and AED 500 for the professional competency test, under Schedule (1) of Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015 [1]. Conducting poll studies without the permit carries an AED 20,000 fine.
The fee schedule below is Schedule (1) of the Resolution, as published in 2015 [1].
| Fee item | Amount (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application for a Permit | 500 | Paid on application |
| Issuance of a Permit | 4,500 | AED 5,000 in total with the application |
| Permit for a firm whose commercial licence does not exceed six months | 2,500 | Short licence term |
| Renewal of a Permit | 5,000 | Each renewal |
| Temporary Permit | 2,500 | One specific study by a firm licensed outside Dubai |
| Amendment of basic information | 100 per variation | Firm detail changes |
| Field researcher identification card | 50 | Per interviewer |
| Replacement card | 100 | Lost or damaged card |
| Card amendment | 50 | Change to card details |
| Professional competency test | 500 | Technical manager's certificate |
The fines in Schedule (2) are not small [1].
| Violation | Fine (AED) |
|---|---|
| Conducting the Activity without a Permit | 20,000 |
| Conducting the Activity after the Permit expires | 5,000 per month, up to 20,000 |
| Failure to provide information | 5,000 |
| Contravening the Permit conditions | 5,000 |
| Employing an unauthorised person | 6,000 |
| Not producing identification cards in field studies | 400 |
| Breaching the confidentiality of personal data | 20,000 |
| Failure to cooperate | 5,000 |
| Changing findings to misrepresent facts | 10,000 |
| Field study at unauthorised places | 3,000 |
| Failure to comply with instructions | 10,000 |
Fines double for a repeat within a year, capped at AED 40,000, and the authority can suspend a permit for up to six months or revoke it [1].
Real Talk: Running fieldwork without the permit is the most avoidable cost in this article. The first fine is AED 20,000, a repeat within a year doubles it, and the 2023 law makes surveys without a permit punishable by "imprisonment for up to three (3) months or by a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dirhams (AED 50,000.00), or by both penalties" [1][3]. The permit costs AED 5,000. Skipping it never saves money.
Quick Math: Year one for a fieldwork agency with ten field researchers: application AED 500, issuance AED 4,500, ten identification cards at AED 50 for AED 500, and the competency test at AED 500 [1]. That is AED 6,000. Year two is the AED 5,000 renewal plus AED 50 per new interviewer. One fine for employing an unauthorised person is AED 6,000 [1], the whole first-year budget.
What rules protect survey respondents in Dubai?
Dubai survey respondents must consent before a poll study starts and be told their answers are recorded, under Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016 [6]. Personal data is confidential under Article 6 of Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015, field studies run only at places the authority authorises, and interviewers carry AED 50 identification cards [1].
Article 6 of the Resolution is the core rule: "All Personal Data is deemed confidential and may be revealed or disclosed only upon the approval of the concerned Person" [1]. Breach costs AED 20,000 under the Resolution [1], and the 2023 law makes a confidentiality breach punishable by "imprisonment for up to six (6) months or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dirhams (AED 100,000.00)" [3].
Article 4(4) of the 2016 Administrative Resolution sets the consent rule: "the consent of the respondents to the Poll Study must be obtained prior to conducting it; and they must be alerted that the information they give will be recorded for the purposes of the Poll Study" [6]. The table collects the other respondent rules [1][6].
| Respondent rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Consent before the study, and a warning that answers are recorded | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4(4) |
| Respondents under 18 need a guardian's prior written approval | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4 |
| Persons with mental disabilities are not surveyed | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4 |
| Contact only "between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m."; other hours need approval | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4(8) |
| Students at schools only with the authority's written approval | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4 |
| Political, religious or ethnic topics need the authority's written approval | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4 |
| Recognised scientific methods | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 4 |
| No field polls at residences, labour compounds or places of worship | Admin. Res. 96/2016, Art. 8 |
| "Field Poll Studies may be conducted only at the places where this is authorised by the DSC." | Res. 39/2015, Art. 8 |
| Interviewers carry AED 50 identification cards; AED 400 fine for not producing one | Res. 39/2015, Schedules (1) and (2) |
The location rule reshapes fieldwork: door-to-door sampling is ruled out [6], and mall or street intercepts need an authorised place [1] plus the mall's own permission. Online and phone samples avoid the location rule but not the consent, age, topic and contact-hour rules. No rule on respondent incentives was found in the sources reviewed for this guide.
Pro Tip: Write one consent block and use it everywhere: the interviewer's tablet, the phone script and the first screen of every online questionnaire. Name the firm, say the answers are recorded for the study, and ask for agreement before the first question. The rule is Article 4(4) [6], and the AED 20,000 confidentiality fine [1] makes it the cheapest compliance step a research firm will take.
Can a free zone research firm run fieldwork in mainland Dubai?
A free zone research firm needs the poll study permit wherever it polls in Dubai, since Resolution No. 39 of 2015 covers free zones [1]. Mainland clients or locations may also require a DET branch licence at AED 10,000 a year or a temporary permit at AED 5,000 for up to six months, under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 [7].
Two questions are often merged here. Whether the firm may poll is answered by the permit, which is emirate-wide [1]. Whether a free zone company may carry on its activity in mainland Dubai is governed by Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025, issued on 3 March 2025. It provides for the AED 10,000 branch licence or the AED 5,000 temporary permit, and the temporary permit covers only activities on a list DET keeps [7]. Whether research activities are on that list was not confirmed for this guide.
Some firms rely on the poll permit alone for mainland fieldwork, which treats a statistics permit as a trading permission; get written confirmation first. The Resolution excludes "financial Establishments licensed to operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre" [7], an exclusion a non-financial DIFC research firm should not assume applies to it. If most clients are mainland companies, price our mainland company setup route against a free zone licence plus a branch.
Pro Tip: Before signing a mainland fieldwork contract, email your free zone and DET together with the activity, the client's location and the fieldwork locations, and ask whether a branch licence or temporary permit is needed. At AED 10,000 a year for a branch [7], the answer changes the route decision.
Is there a federal or media-regulator permit for surveys in the UAE?
No federal statistics permit for private surveys was found for this guide, but the federal sources could not be read: the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre website and the federal legislation portal blocked access during research. The media law's executive regulation, Cabinet Decision No. 68 of 2024, contains no poll or survey provision [8].
Searches found only Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre service pages aimed at government entities. That is the limit of what could be checked, not proof that no rule exists, so if a federal entity is your client or a study is national, ask the Centre directly.
Some setup guides quote a media-regulator survey permit with a fee per survey. No such permit was found in the regulator's texts: a search of the Arabic executive regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 for poll, questionnaire, statistics and public opinion returned no hits [8]. The nearest item is Article 27, which lists media and advertising consultancies and studies among activities needing the regulator's approval before a licence issues. Whether advertising-effectiveness research falls inside it is unresolved, the same open question our PR agency setup guide covers alongside the media law and its fines. Firms that also run campaigns should see the digital marketing agency guide.
How does UAE data protection apply to survey data?
A mainland Dubai research firm processes respondent data under Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021, the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), in force since 2 January 2022 [9]. Its executive regulations had not been issued in the sources reviewed [10][11]. DIFC firms fall under DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020, and ADGM firms under ADGM's own regulations [12].
This section maps which rules apply; it is not legal advice, and a firm handling sensitive data at scale should take advice on its own processing.
The PDPL for mainland and most free zone firms
The PDPL applies to a controller or processor in the UAE, and Article 2(1)(c) reaches controllers abroad that process the data of people in the UAE [9]. That covers a mainland firm and firms in free zones without their own data law, such as DMCC, IFZA, Meydan Free Zone and Dubai Media City. Article 2(2)(g) excludes free zones with their own data protection legislation, which is how DIFC and ADGM sit outside it [9].
Consent is the default basis under Article 4. Article 4(6) allows processing without consent for scientific, historical and statistical studies carried out in accordance with the legislation in force [9], and in Dubai that legislation includes the consent rule [6]. Article 1 defines sensitive personal data to include political opinions, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, family, criminal record, biometric data and health [9]: exactly what many polls ask about.
The u.ae portal, in a page updated on 4 December 2025, still says "The UAE Data Office will act as the federal data regulator in the UAE." [10] Chambers' 2026 UAE guide also treats the executive regulations as pending [11]. Until they issue, the Article 3 exemption for small establishments cannot be relied on [9].
DIFC and ADGM
A DIFC research firm follows DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020: it registers by notification of processing operations on a public register with a prescribed fee, the fine for failing to register is USD 25,000, and High Risk Processing on a systematic or regular basis needs a Data Protection Officer and an impact assessment [12]. ADGM firms follow the ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021. Both still need the Dubai poll permit to poll in Dubai [1].
Common Mistake: Treating the PDPL's statistical-studies basis as permission to skip consent. Article 4(6) works only "in accordance with the legislation in force" [9], and in Dubai that legislation requires respondent consent and a recorded-answers warning before every poll study [6]. A firm that relies on the federal basis alone breaches the Dubai rule, and the confidentiality fine under Resolution No. 39 of 2015 is AED 20,000 [1].
Do phone and online surveys follow different rules in Dubai?
Phone surveys in Dubai fall under the respondent contact window of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016 [6]. The UAE telemarketing rules, Cabinet Resolutions No. 56 and 57 of 2024, restrict marketing calls to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. [13]. Whether research calls count as telemarketing is unresolved, so the safer window is the shorter one.
Article 4(8) of the 2016 Administrative Resolution allows contact "between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m." [6]. Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 took effect on 27 August 2024, and Clyde & Co's summary states: "Marketing calls are restricted to between 9.00am and 6.00pm." [13] The regime also involves prior approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and the Do Not Call Registry [13].
No source read for this guide says whether a research call is a marketing call; Clyde & Co mentions no research exemption, and the official text could not be read. Until the TDRA or the DDSE says otherwise, work to the 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. window and screen numbers against the Do Not Call Registry. Our call centre and BPO setup guide covers the telemarketing activity and line supply.
Online surveys have no separate permit in the sources reviewed. The Poll Study definition covers collection "through various direct and indirect techniques and methods" [1], so an online questionnaire for a client raises the same permit question as a face-to-face one, and the consent, age, topic and confidentiality rules apply in full. A platform hosted abroad is still reached by the PDPL [9].
Pro Tip: Set your dialler to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. by default and open evenings only after written confirmation that research calls sit outside the telemarketing rules [6][13]. Evenings reach working respondents, but being wrong adds a telemarketing penalty to the poll rules.
Do surveys in Abu Dhabi or other emirates need separate approval?
Surveys in Abu Dhabi need a no-objection certificate from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD), which its service page lists at no fee in five working days with a copy of the questionnaire [14]. Survey approval rules in Sharjah, Ajman and the other northern emirates were not researched for this guide, so confirm them locally.
A firm licensed outside Dubai that polls in Dubai uses the Temporary Permit at AED 2,500 for one study [1]. The table compares bases on survey approval and BusinessDubai.ae's one-visa package prices.
| Base | Survey approval for a private firm | One-visa package (AED) | Corporate tax | Foreign ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai mainland | DDSE poll permit, AED 5,000 in year one [1] | 24,400 [20] | 0% to AED 375,000, 9% above | 100% for most activities |
| Dubai free zone (Meydan Free Zone) | DDSE poll permit [1] | 21,050 [20] | Same; research is not a Qualifying Activity | 100% |
| Abu Dhabi (Masdar City) | SCAD no-objection certificate, no fee [14] | 17,500 [20] | Same | 100% |
| Sharjah (SHAMS) | Not researched; confirm locally | 14,255 [20] | Same | 100% |
| Ajman (ANC Free Zone) | Not researched; confirm locally | 10,800 [20] | Same | 100% |
The non-Dubai rows suit firms that do not need a Dubai address. Ajman's economic department lists 6399002 Information Research Services and the questionnaire, which has no Dubai equivalent [20], and our business setup in Ajman page compares ANC Free Zone with Ajman Free Zone. Our business setup in Sharjah page prices SHAMS against the Sharjah tech zones, and for SCAD and the capital's free zones start with our business setup in Abu Dhabi page.
Quick Math: ANC Free Zone with one visa at AED 10,800 is AED 10,250 below Meydan Free Zone's AED 21,050 [20]. Two Dubai studies a year on Temporary Permits at AED 2,500 each [1] cost AED 5,000, the same as a Dubai firm's first-year permit, so the Ajman firm still saves about AED 10,000. The saving disappears if Dubai clients insist on a Dubai licence.
Should a market research firm set up on the mainland or in a free zone?
A Dubai mainland research firm costs AED 18,200 in year one without a visa or AED 24,400 with one on BusinessDubai.ae's package, against AED 12,500 licence only or AED 21,050 with one visa at Meydan Free Zone [20]. The poll permit and corporate tax apply on both routes; client contracting and visa count decide.
| Factor | Dubai free zone | Dubai mainland |
|---|---|---|
| Licence, no visa | From AED 12,500 (Meydan, Dubai South, Expo City) [20] | AED 18,200 in year one [20] |
| Licence with one visa | AED 21,050 (Meydan); AED 21,400 (IFZA, partner price) [20] | AED 24,400 in year one [20] |
| Year two | About 80% of year one [20] | About AED 15,000 on renewal [20] |
| Research activity | Zone's own list, for example IFZA 7320001 or Meydan 7320.95 | DET 7320001, 7320003 or 7320004, Professional [2] |
| Dubai poll study permit | Required for poll studies in Dubai [1] | Required for poll studies in Dubai [1] |
| Fieldwork and clients in mainland Dubai | May need a DET branch licence or temporary permit [7] | Direct |
| Corporate tax | Ordinary rates; research is not a Qualifying Activity [15] | Ordinary rates [15] |
Cost, visa count and the branch question are what move. If your clients are UAE brands, banks, developers or government entities, ask their procurement teams early whether they accept a free zone supplier. If they are overseas research groups buying Gulf fieldwork, a free zone is usually the lower-cost start. Our free zone company setup page compares the Dubai zones on the visa column, and our mainland company setup page itemises the DET route on the same activity list.
Real Talk: At IFZA and Meydan Free Zone, an investor visa now requires the shareholder to show capital of at least AED 75,000 in a bank account, either in the UAE or in their home country [20]. A solo researcher planning to live on the visa should check that figure before choosing either zone on price, because it can decide the route on its own.
How is a market research company taxed in the UAE?
A UAE market research company pays corporate tax at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, on the mainland or in a free zone, because market research is not a Qualifying Activity under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 [15][16]. Small Business Relief applies at revenue of AED 3,000,000 or less [17].
Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 sets the Qualifying Activities as a closed list in Article 2(1), from manufacturing to logistics services and ancillary activities, with no market research, consultancy or statistics entry [15]. A free zone research firm earning client fees fails the de minimis test (non-qualifying income above the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5,000,000) and is simply an ordinary taxable person: 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above [16]. Late corporate tax registration costs AED 10,000 [16]. Our Qualifying Free Zone Person guide explains the regime for businesses it does fit.
Small Business Relief lets a resident business with revenue at or under AED 3,000,000 elect to be treated as having no taxable income, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, after Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 extended it [17]. The test is revenue, not profit, which matters for a fieldwork agency passing interviewer, panel and incentive costs through its books. Our Small Business Relief guide covers the election.
Quick Math: A fieldwork agency billing AED 2,800,000 a year stays under the AED 3,000,000 line, so with Small Business Relief elected its corporate tax is nil [17]. Without the election, on a 20% margin, taxable income of AED 560,000 would cost 9% of AED 185,000, or AED 16,650 [16]. Win one more AED 300,000 tracker and revenue reaches AED 3,100,000: relief is gone, and on the same margin AED 620,000 of taxable income costs 9% of AED 245,000, or AED 22,050. These client figures are illustrative.
When does VAT apply to research for overseas clients?
A UAE research firm charges 5% VAT once registered, with mandatory registration at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies [16]. Fees to an overseas client can be zero-rated as an export of services only if Article 31 of the VAT executive regulation is met, and fieldwork received in the UAE by the client's own staff can fail that test [18].
Under Article 31 of Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 as consolidated, zero-rating applies where the recipient has no place of residence in an Implementing State and is outside the State when the services are performed, and the services are not directly connected to UAE real estate or movable goods located in the UAE, or where the service is performed outside the Implementing States [18]. Article 31(3) denies zero-rating where the services are received in the State by an employee or director of the non-resident recipient and the input tax is not fully recoverable [18].
The trap is fieldwork done here for a foreign client. A London agency commissioning Dubai interviews is usually outside the UAE, but if its researchers come to Dubai to sit in on focus groups or receive the work locally, Article 31(3) comes into play [18]. The text read for this guide predates the Cabinet Decision No. 100 of 2024 amendment to Article 31, and no FTA clarification specific to research was found, so check the current wording.
Common Mistake: Zero-rating every overseas invoice by default. If the client's employee or director receives the services in the UAE and cannot fully recover input tax, the supply can be standard-rated at 5%, and the firm owes VAT it never charged [18]. Write who receives the work, and where, into each engagement letter.
Our guide to zero-rated exported services works through the conditions, and the VAT registration and compliance guide covers thresholds, returns and penalties. If most of your revenue will come from abroad, a short call with an adviser can model your position→
How much does it cost to set up a market research company in Dubai in 2026?
A Dubai mainland research firm costs AED 18,200 in year one without a visa and AED 24,400 with one on BusinessDubai.ae's package, renewing at about AED 15,000 [20]. The poll study permit adds AED 5,000 in year one, plus AED 500 for the competency test and AED 50 per field researcher card [1]. Meydan Free Zone starts at AED 12,500 licence only.
The table itemises figures from the published fee schedule and BusinessDubai.ae's price list.
| Cost item | Amount (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai mainland package, no visa | 18,200 | BusinessDubai.ae year-one package, DET licence with 7320001 [20] |
| Dubai mainland package, one visa | 24,400 | BusinessDubai.ae year-one package [20] |
| Meydan Free Zone, no visa / one visa | 12,500 / 21,050 | 3 activities, 3 shareholders [20] |
| IFZA, no visa / one visa / two visas | 12,900 / 21,400 / 24,600 | Partner price; IFZA publishes no prices [20] |
| Poll study permit, application plus issuance | 5,000 | AED 500 plus AED 4,500, 2015 schedule [1] |
| Professional competency test | 500 | Technical manager's certificate [1] |
| Field researcher identification cards | 50 each | AED 500 for ten interviewers [1] |
| DET branch licence for a free zone firm | 10,000 a year | Only if mainland work requires it; temporary permit AED 5,000 for up to six months [7] |
| Non-Dubai alternative: ANC Free Zone, Ajman, one visa | 10,800 | Cheapest complete BD package; not a Dubai licence [20] |
| Year two, Dubai mainland | About 15,000 | BusinessDubai.ae renewal estimate [20] |
| Year two, Dubai free zone | About 80% of year one | Ask for the standard renewal price, not a launch discount [20] |
| Year two, poll study permit renewal | 5,000 | Each renewal [1] |
Office space, salaries, survey software, panel access and incentives sit on top. On the revenue side, BioBrain, a Dubai research agency, advertised USD 4,000 to 12,000 for a small quantitative study in May 2026 [19], a sales figure rather than a market rate.
Quick Math: Year one for a mainland fieldwork agency with one visa and ten interviewers: AED 24,400 package, AED 5,000 permit, AED 500 competency test and AED 500 for ten cards, a total of AED 30,400 [1][20]. Year two: about AED 15,000 licence renewal plus AED 5,000 permit, about AED 20,000 before visas and staff. The permit is about 16% of year one and 25% of year two.
For an itemised quote across the mainland and two or three zones, priced on your activity list, your visa count and the permit, get a free setup quote→
What does a market research firm renew and file every year?
A Dubai market research firm renews its trade licence and visas every year, renews the poll study permit at AED 5,000 [1], keeps field researcher cards current, files a corporate tax return and files VAT returns once registered. A lapsed poll permit costs AED 5,000 a month after expiry, up to AED 20,000, under Resolution No. 39 of 2015.
The annual calendar for a research firm has six lines:
- Trade licence renewal, with DET or the zone, at about AED 15,000 on the mainland package or about 80% of year one in a Dubai free zone [20].
- Poll study permit renewal, at AED 5,000, before expiry [1].
- Field researcher cards for new interviewers at AED 50 each, and amendments at AED 100 per variation when firm details change [1].
- Technical manager continuity: a replacement within one month if the manager leaves [6].
- Corporate tax return, with Small Business Relief elected on the return where revenue qualifies [17].
- VAT returns for each tax period once registered [16].
A one-month window to replace a technical manager is shorter than most hiring cycles, so get a second person through the competency test early. Our post-setup services team handles licence and visa renewals and tax filings, so the calendar does not land in a fieldwork wave. For banking, our corporate bank account guide covers which banks open readily for new service companies.
Which setup fits your type of research business?
The right setup for a Dubai research business depends on whether it collects data from people, who its clients are and how many visas it needs. A desk-research consultancy may not need the poll permit at all, while a fieldwork agency, a polling firm and an overseas group fielding in Dubai should plan for the permit from day one [1].
| Your business | Starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A desk-research and insights consultancy | Meydan Free Zone at AED 12,500 licence only, or IFZA, with 7320001 | Lowest Dubai entry; confirm with the DDSE before adding primary collection |
| A survey fieldwork agency | Dubai mainland with 7320001 at AED 24,400 with one visa, plus the AED 5,000 permit | Direct mainland access; budget the test and cards |
| A public opinion polling firm | 7320004 on the mainland or at IFZA or DMCC, where the register flags the approval | Permit plus written approval for political, religious and ethnic topics |
| A mystery shopping company | 7320001, confirmed at DET initial approval | No dedicated activity exists; ask the DDSE whether your method is a poll study |
| A data analytics and social listening firm | 6311001 and 6399005, with 7320001 if surveys are added | Analysis of client or published data; the PDPL applies to any personal data |
| An overseas research group setting up a Dubai fieldwork office | A Dubai free zone with 7320001 and 7320004, or a Temporary Permit at AED 2,500 for a single study | Decide VAT zero-rating per contract; a temporary permit tests the market first |
No licence choice changes the permit rules, so confirm your methods in writing.
Real Client Stories
These are composite examples built from the situations market research founders most often face in Dubai. Names and details are illustrative, and the only figures used are published Dubai fees and BusinessDubai.ae's package prices.
The insights consultancy that won its first fieldwork job
A small consultancy licensed on the Dubai mainland under 7320001, at AED 24,400 with one visa, sold desk research and brand strategy for its first year. Then a retail client asked for a wave of mall intercept interviews. The partners read Resolution No. 39 of 2015, found that the study was a poll study for a third party, and applied for the permit at AED 5,000 plus the AED 500 competency test. The mall location also needed the authority's authorisation, so fieldwork started later than the client wanted.
Lesson: get the permit before you sell fieldwork, not after you win it.
The polling firm whose manager was the critical path
A founder set up a polling firm at IFZA under 7320004, at AED 21,400 with one visa on a partner price. The register flagged Dubai Statistics Center approval on the activity, so she knew the permit was coming. What she had not planned was the technical manager. Her own degree was from a university abroad that was not accredited in the UAE, so she hired a statistician with a qualifying degree, who sat the AED 500 competency test. She then trained a second analyst to sit it too.
Lesson: the technical manager's qualification, not the fee, decides when the permit issues.
The overseas group that tested Dubai first
A European research group won a single brand study needing face-to-face interviews in Dubai. Rather than incorporate at once, it applied for a Temporary Permit at AED 2,500, the route the Resolution provides for a firm licensed outside the emirate. The study ran, and repeat demand followed. The group then set up at Meydan Free Zone at AED 21,050 with one visa, adding 7320.98 Public Opinion Polling Services. Its finance team then had to decide VAT on invoices to the parent, whose researchers attended Dubai focus groups.
Lesson: a temporary permit lets you test the market before you commit to a licence.
Start your market research company the right way
Three decisions matter most for a Dubai market research firm. First, the activity: 7320001 for research, 7320004 for polling, 7320003 for statistics, confirmed at DET or with your zone. Second, the permit: if you collect opinions or data from people for clients in Dubai, plan for the poll study permit, a qualified technical manager and the respondent rules, and confirm borderline methods with the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment in writing. Third, tax: research is not a Qualifying Activity, so plan on ordinary rates or Small Business Relief, and decide VAT per overseas contract.
BusinessDubai.ae prices every route with itemised figures and no hidden fees. We will set a mainland company setup at AED 24,400 with one visa against a free zone company setup on the same activity list, with the permit, the competency test and the cards in the same quote. Our post-setup services team then keeps licence, permit and visa renewals and tax filings on schedule. Talk to a setup expert→
If your firm is closer to a strategy practice than a fieldwork agency, our consulting firm setup guide covers the wider consultancy route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Licensing
Do I need a licence to start a market research company in Dubai?
Yes. A Dubai market research company needs a trade licence from DET or a free zone, usually carrying activity 7320001 Marketing Research & Consultancies. If it conducts poll studies for clients in Dubai, it also needs a Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment permit under Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015.
What is the DET activity code for market research in Dubai?
The main DET code is 7320001 Marketing Research & Consultancies. Polling firms use 7320004 Public Opinion Polling Services, and statistics firms use 7320003 Statistical Services Consultancies. All three are Professional activities in the 2026 register copy.
What is the difference between Marketing Research & Consultancies and Public Opinion Polling Services?
Marketing Research & Consultancies, 7320001, covers research and advice that helps businesses compete and sell. Public Opinion Polling Services, 7320004, covers surveys of public opinion on behalf of others, including political, economic and social issues. IFZA and DMCC flag the statistics approval on 7320004.
Is there a licence activity for mystery shopping in Dubai?
No DET activity named for mystery shopping was found in the register copy reviewed in 2026. Mystery shopping usually sits under 7320001 Marketing Research & Consultancies, confirmed at DET initial approval. Whether a mystery shopping method counts as a poll study is a question for the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a market research company in Dubai?
Yes. Free zone companies are 100% foreign-owned, and on the Dubai mainland 100% foreign ownership is available for most activities. Ownership does not change the poll study permit, which applies to every firm conducting poll studies in Dubai.
The poll study permit
Do I need approval to conduct surveys in Dubai?
Yes, if you conduct poll studies for third parties in Dubai. Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015 requires a permit from the statistics authority, now the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, plus a commercial licence. Whether a project counts depends on the broad poll study definition, so confirm borderline methods in writing.
Which authority issues survey permits in Dubai: the Dubai Statistics Center or the DDSE?
The Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment (DDSE) issues them in 2026. Dubai Law No. 24 of 2023 transferred the Dubai Statistics Center's rights and obligations to the DDSE, and kept the 2015 and 2016 resolutions in force until new ones replace them.
Does a DIFC research company need the Dubai poll study permit?
Yes. Article 2 of Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015 applies it to all who conduct the activity in Dubai, including free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre. A DIFC firm follows DIFC data protection law but still needs the Dubai permit.
Does desk research need a Dubai poll study permit?
Desk research built only from published sources or a client's existing records does not obviously fall within the Dubai poll study definition, because it collects nothing from people, but the Resolution does not say so expressly. Confirm with the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment before adding any survey or interview.
Can a company survey its own customers without a permit?
Yes, within limits. Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016 lets an entity poll on its own account to measure service levels, product quality or employee satisfaction, at its own premises with its own resources. An agency running that survey for the company is doing a third-party poll study.
How much does the Dubai poll study permit cost?
The Dubai poll study permit costs AED 500 to apply and AED 4,500 to issue, and AED 5,000 to renew. Field researcher cards cost AED 50 each and the competency test AED 500, under the 2015 fee schedule. Confirm current figures with the DDSE.
What is the fine for running a survey without a permit in Dubai?
The fine for conducting poll studies without a permit is AED 20,000 under Executive Council Resolution No. 39 of 2015, doubling for a repeat within a year up to AED 40,000. Dubai Law No. 24 of 2023 also allows up to three months' imprisonment or a fine of up to AED 50,000.
What does the technical manager need to qualify?
The technical manager needs a Certificate of Professional Competence: a bachelor's degree from an institution accredited in the UAE and a pass in the authority's AED 500 examination, which can be retaken up to twice a year. A departing manager must be replaced within one month.
Can a research firm licensed outside Dubai run one study in Dubai?
Yes, through a Temporary Permit, which Resolution No. 39 of 2015 provides for a firm licensed outside the emirate to conduct a specific poll study in Dubai. The fee is AED 2,500 under the 2015 schedule.
Do I need a National Media Authority permit to run opinion polls?
No media-regulator survey permit was found in the regulator's texts. A search of Cabinet Decision No. 68 of 2024, the media law's executive regulation, found no poll, questionnaire, statistics or public opinion provision. Whether advertising research falls within its Article 27 item is unresolved.
Do I need federal approval from the FCSC to run surveys?
No federal approval requirement for private surveys was found for this guide, but the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre website and the federal legislation portal could not be read during research. If a federal entity is the client or the study is national, ask the Centre directly before fieldwork.
Fieldwork and data
Can I survey people under 18 in Dubai?
Only with a guardian's prior written approval, under Article 4 of Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016. Surveys of students at schools also need the authority's written approval.
Can I do door-to-door or mall surveys in Dubai?
Door-to-door surveys are ruled out: Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016 bars field polls at residences, labour compounds and places of worship. Mall and street intercepts are possible only at places the Dubai statistics authority authorises, and an unauthorised place carries an AED 3,000 fine.
What hours can I contact survey respondents in Dubai?
Administrative Resolution No. 96 of 2016 allows contact with respondents between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., with other hours needing the authority's approval. Phone surveys should also consider the federal telemarketing window of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., which may or may not apply to research calls.
Do telemarketing rules apply to phone surveys in the UAE?
That is unresolved. Cabinet Resolutions No. 56 and 57 of 2024 restrict marketing calls to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and involve the Do Not Call Registry, but no source reviewed says whether research calls count as marketing. Work to the shorter window until the TDRA or the DDSE confirms otherwise.
Does the PDPL apply to survey respondents?
Yes, for a mainland firm and firms in free zones without their own data law, such as DMCC, IFZA and Meydan. Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 has applied since 2 January 2022, and its sensitive data includes political opinions, religious beliefs and ethnic origin. Its executive regulations had not been issued in the sources reviewed.
Cost and tax
How much does a market research licence cost in a free zone versus the mainland?
BusinessDubai.ae's 2026 Dubai mainland package is AED 18,200 without a visa or AED 24,400 with one, renewing at about AED 15,000. Meydan Free Zone is AED 12,500 licence only or AED 21,050 with one visa. The poll study permit adds AED 5,000 in year one on either route.
Is market research a Qualifying Activity for 0% corporate tax?
No. Market research is not on the closed Qualifying Activities list in Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, so a free zone research firm earning client fees is taxed at the ordinary rates: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. Small Business Relief may apply at revenue of AED 3,000,000 or less.
Do I charge VAT to overseas research clients?
Not always. A fee to an overseas client can be zero-rated as an exported service if Article 31 of the VAT executive regulation is met. If the client's employee or director receives the work in the UAE, for example by attending Dubai focus groups, and cannot fully recover input tax, 5% VAT can apply.
Can a free zone research firm work for mainland Dubai clients?
It may need a DET branch licence at AED 10,000 a year or a temporary permit at AED 5,000 for up to six months, under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025. Whether research qualifies for the temporary permit was not confirmed, so ask your zone and DET in writing.
Do surveys in Abu Dhabi need a separate approval?
Yes. Private organisations request a no-objection certificate from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD) for statistical surveys and opinion polls in Abu Dhabi. SCAD's service page lists no fee and five working days, with a copy of the questionnaire required.
References
[1] Government of Dubai. Executive Council Resolution No. (39) of 2015 Regulating Poll Studies Firms Operating in the Emirate of Dubai, issued 17 August 2015: Article 1 definitions of the Activity, Poll Study and Temporary Permit, Article 2 scope including free zones and DIFC, Articles 5 to 8, Article 11, Schedule (1) fees and Schedule (2) fines. Dubai Legislation Portal
[2] Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Business activity list as recorded in a public copy of the register (export of 5 July 2026): 7320001, 7320003, 7320004, 7310017, 6311001, 6399005, 8299006 and 7020002, with licence type and register description for each. Confirm codes at DET initial approval. Marketing Research & Consultancies and Public Opinion Polling Services
[3] Government of Dubai. Law No. (24) of 2023 concerning the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, issued 21 November 2023: Articles 2, 6(16), 13, 14(a), 16, 18 and 20(b). Dubai Legislation Portal
[4] Meydan Free Zone. Public Opinion Polling Services setup in Dubai, updated 25 September 2026: research activity codes and the DDSE pre-approval note. Meydan Free Zone activity hub
[5] Dubai Development Authority. Decision No. 1 of 2021 on licensing categories: Articles 2.2 and 2.12, Article 14.1 segment fees for Business Information and the General segment, and activities 18.8.2, 26.2.33 and 26.3.10. DDA Decision No. 1 of 2021 (PDF)
[6] Dubai Statistics Center. Administrative Resolution No. (96) of 2016, issued 21 November 2016: Article 2 permit conditions, Article 3 Certificate of Professional Competence, Article 4 respondent conditions including 4(4) and 4(8), Article 5 own-account exception, Articles 6 and 7 firm duties, and Article 8 field-poll locations. Dubai Legislation Portal
[7] Government of Dubai. Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025 Regulating the Conduct of Free Zone Establishments' Activities, issued 3 March 2025: Article 2 scope and DIFC exclusion, Articles 4 to 9 and Article 12 branch licence and temporary permit fees. Dubai Legislation Portal (PDF)
[8] National Media Authority. Cabinet Decision No. 68 of 2024 on the executive regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 regulating media (Arabic text), searched 19 October 2026 for poll, questionnaire, statistics and public opinion terms, and Article 27 on media and advertising consultancies and studies. Cabinet Decision No. 68 of 2024 (PDF)
[9] UAE Government. Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (Arabic text): Article 1 sensitive data definition, Article 2 scope and free zone exclusion, Article 3 exemption, and Article 4 consent and the statistical-studies basis. Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDF)
[10] u.ae, The UAE Government portal. Data protection laws, updated 4 December 2025: PDPL in force and the UAE Data Office described as a future regulator. u.ae data protection laws
[11] Chambers and Partners. Data Protection and Privacy 2026, UAE trends and developments: status of the PDPL executive regulations. Chambers practice guide
[12] Dubai International Financial Centre. DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020, consolidated March 2022: Article 14 registration by notification, Article 16 Data Protection Officer, Article 20 impact assessment and the Schedule 2 fine for failing to register. DIFC Law No. 5 of 2020 (PDF)
[13] Clyde & Co. "UAE tightens telemarketing regulations: what you need to know", 18 July 2024: Cabinet Resolutions No. 56 and 57 of 2024, TDRA approval, the Do Not Call Registry and the 9.00am to 6.00pm calling window. Clyde & Co
[14] Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi. No-objection certificate for statistical surveys and opinion polls by private organisations: no fee, five working days, questionnaire copy required. SCAD no-objection certificate
[15] Ministry of Finance. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 regarding Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activities: the closed Article 2(1) list with no market research, consultancy or statistics item. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 (PDF)
[16] Federal Tax Authority. Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 on the Taxation of Corporations and Businesses: 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above for an ordinary taxable person, and the AED 10,000 late registration penalty; with VAT at 5% and registration thresholds of AED 375,000 mandatory and AED 187,500 voluntary as published by the FTA. Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 (PDF)
[17] Aletihad (WAM). "Ministry of Finance extends Small Business Relief for corporate tax", 7 August 2026: Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026, revenue at or under AED 3,000,000 and tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. Aletihad
[18] Federal Tax Authority. Executive Regulation of Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 on VAT, Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 consolidated to Cabinet Decision No. 88 of 2021 (unofficial translation): Article 31(1) and 31(3) on the export of services. VAT Executive Regulation (PDF)
[19] BioBrain. "Market research companies in Dubai: agency types, costs and selection criteria", 22 May 2026: advertised project fee ranges. BioBrain
[20] BusinessDubai.ae. Internal 2026 data: price list for the Dubai mainland package at AED 18,200 in year one without a visa, AED 24,400 with one visa and about AED 15,000 on renewal; free zone packages by visa count for Meydan Free Zone, IFZA (partner price), Masdar City, SHAMS and ANC Free Zone; the roughly 80% year-two renewal guide; the AED 75,000 investor visa capital rule at IFZA and Meydan; and activity registers for IFZA, DMCC, Meydan Free Zone and the Ajman economic department. businessdubai.ae
