How to Start a Maintenance Company in Dubai

Dubai is home to millions of professionals who spend a major part of their day at the office. As a result, they have very little time to do household work. The majority of this population is not inclined towards keeping full-time help, and hence, they rely on maintenance services for taking care of their household and maintenance chores.

Starting a maintenance company in Dubai is a profitable venture as many professionals in the UAE relies on the services of these companies. Furthermore, it’s a diverse sector that includes cleaning and sanitation works, maintenance and repair of electrical equipment, installing and changing locks, flooring and roofing works, garden design, and the list goes on. You can launch your maintenance company in the UAE by getting in touch with the business consultants at Shuraa.

Types of business licenses for maintenance services in Dubai

The Department of Economic Development (DED) offers 3 types of licenses for maintenance services in the UAE, depending on the types of services offered by the company. All you need to do is choose the type of license that’s most suitable according to your company's business activities. The three categories of maintenance companies in the UAE are listed below: 

Residential maintenance services

As the name suggests, these types of companies serve residential properties such as individual houses, flats, and villas, and specialize in cleaning areas such as kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, and small gardens. They also offer repair of home appliances and other miscellaneous works. To operate such a company, basic cleaning supplies and equipment are required. 

Commercial maintenance services 

These are called in to sanitize and maintain commercial spaces such as malls, offices, restaurants, retail stores, etc. Since these spaces are comparatively bigger, they require heavy-duty equipment and machinery. Furthermore, you must have a skilled taskforce to acquire a cleaning company license in Dubai for the commercial sector.

Industrial maintenance services

The industrial maintenance services cater to industries, factories, and warehouses. They have a whole different kind of clientele as the requirements could be as specific as hazardous waste cleanup, industrial machinery repair, etc. Therefore, it requires industrial-grade cleaning machinery, chemicals, and other equipment. 

Business activities covered under a maintenance license in the UAE 

A maintenance services business typically has a lower start-up cost compared to other business setups. Moreover, this is one of the few businesses that can immediately go into operating mode after its launch because of the variety of services it provides. 

Listed below are some of the basic services offered by a maintenance services company in Dubai: 

• Furniture assembly and substituting bulbs 

• Silicon resealing of the bathroom, and/or kitchen floor and walls 

• Installation and repair of home appliances such as air conditioners, chimneys, etc. 

• Installation and fitting of all lights 

• Gypsum streamers as well as decorations in offices, restaurants, and hotels 

• Exterior and interior paint works 

• All types of cleaning and sanitation works 

Steps to Obtain a Maintenance Company License in Dubai 

Starting a maintenance company in Dubai begins with obtaining a license from the concerned authority, which can be the DED or any of the free zone authorities. Given below are the steps that you need to follow to obtain a cleaning company license in Dubai: 

1. Choose the desired business activities that your business would cater to from the DED's list of activities. You’ll need to obtain additional approvals for activities that aren’t mentioned in the list maintained by the DED or the concerned jurisdiction. 

2. Select the company structure for your business. Choose whether it's going to be a sole proprietorship, an LLC (limited liability company), or a civil company. A free zone establishment offers 100% foreign business ownership whereas an LLC in the mainland region gives hassle-free access to the world-famous local market of Dubai. 

3. Get your trade name approval and keep its payment handy as you’ll need it to obtain the initial approval certificate. Ensure that the business name doesn’t include any derogatory terms and follows all the naming convention protocols maintained by the UAE’s government.

4. Get the initial approval for your business for starting a maintenance company in Dubai. This approval is the legal confirmation that the UAE government has no objection to your enterprise being established in the country. 

5. Prepare and sign the LSA agreement (for professional license) and MOA (for commercial license). 

6. Rent an office space for your enterprise and submit the tenancy agreement along with the Ejari. It’s better to rent an office rather than investing hefty sums of money in real estate upfront as you can use this money for other growth-related activities. 

7. Submit the additional approvals listed by the DED, if any. It’s better to partner with the legal advisors at Shuraa as we help you acquire all the additional approvals at no extra cost. 

8. Make the necessary payments and obtain your maintenance company license. Once you have it with you, you can apply for visas and open a corporate bank account to manage all the monetary transactions. 

Benefits of Maintenance Services License in Dubai 

Listed below are some of the key benefits of starting a maintenance company in Dubai: 

• A maintenance services business is a potentially profitable venture and requires less capital when compared to other businesses set up in Dubai. 

• Acquiring a cleaning company license in Dubai is very affordable and involves minimal paperwork. Furthermore, once you have obtained the business license for your enterprise, you can conduct your activities in various regions depending on your company’s structure and location. 

• This business has a minimal upfront cost, absence of typical operating costs, and is very high in demand. Moreover, it’s an evergreen business that remains unaffected even after changes in consumer behavior. 

• Most maintenance jobs would require the same products and skills needed to maintain a household hence allowing you to maintain a stable inventory of the products. This reduces investment risks to a significant extent and lets you focus on expanding your enterprise. 

• Since most of your electrical equipment and machinery is going to be used at the customer's place, you can expect a handful of savings from your power consumption ultimately saving you a significant amount of money when you pay power bills. 

Documents required to register a maintenance company in the UAE

You must have the appropriate documents for starting a maintenance company in Dubai as you won’t be able to register your company or obtain the license without the required documents. Here’s a list of curated documents to make things easier for you: 

• Duly filled application form 

• Payment receipt of trade name reservation 

• Photocopies of passports of all the shareholders in your company 

• NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the current sponsor, if the shareholder has a residence visa 

• Additional approvals, if any, listed by the DED 

Connect with Shuraa

Your decision to establish a cleaning company in the UAE is the right one. Your next step is to collaborate with Shuraa Business Setup. Our business experts provide end-to-end assistance to simplify company formation for our clients. Be it documentation, licensing, banking, or anything else related to starting a maintenance company in Dubai, we’re always there for you. Get in touch with Shuraa today!

Click here to book a free consultation with us or call us at +971 44081900. You can also reach out to us on WhatsApp by dropping a message on +971 50 777 5554. For email assistance, mail your query at [email protected]