# Event catering licence in the UAE

> Event catering licensing in the UAE — the authority catalogue rows we hold for this line, the approvals attached to them, and where the activity can be filed.

- Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/event-catering
- Updated: 2026-09-05
- Ajman Free Zone: AM-06660
- Dubai mainland (DET): 5621001
- Publication: below the publication gate (Official description is too short to stand alone)
- Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology

## What the authority says

Event catering

Source: Ajman Free Zone official activity list.

## Where you can licence this

| Authority | Status | Code | Licence type | Approval | Facility |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| [IFZA (Dubai)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) | Not listed under this name | — | — | — | — |
| [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) | Listed | AM-06660 | Services | Not stated | Warehouse |
| [Dubai mainland (DET)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland) | Listed | 5621001 | Commercial | Not stated | Not restricted in the catalogue |

Catalogue evidence, not legal advice. Authorities change activity lists without notice — confirm before you file.

## Routes that list this activity

- [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) — Lower cost, available with Dubai Setup Index. From, no visa: AED 5,555 (12 months · current package)
- [Dubai mainland (DET)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland) — Onshore trading rights, Ejari premises. From, no visa: AED 14,000 (Licence only · plus 5% of rent)

A route listing the activity is a starting point. The authority confirms eligibility when you apply.

## Additional conditions

- Ajman Free Zone ISIC code: [5621001](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman)

## Facility and premises restrictions

- Ajman Free Zone AM-06660 facilities: Warehouse

## Free zone or mainland

- Ajman Free Zone lists this activity; check IFZA directly if you need a Dubai free-zone address on the licence.
- Dubai mainland under DET lets you invoice UAE mainland clients directly, but it expects Ejari-registered premises and runs longer than a free-zone desk package.
- Ajman Free Zone allows this activity only on warehouse, so a virtual-office package will not carry it.

## Also catalogued elsewhere

The same activity name appears in other authority catalogues we track. This is a name match, not a legal equivalence, and Dubai Setup Index does not file in these zones.

- ADGM: 5621 · Retail (Category C)
- Meydan Free Zone: 5621.00
- SPC Free Zone: 5621

## Related activities

- [Catering Equipment Trading](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/catering-equipment-trading) — IFZA (Dubai) · Dubai mainland (DET)
- [Foodstuff Catering](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/foodstuff-catering) — Ajman Free Zone
- [Ready-made Food Catering Contracts (Meal Preparation)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/ready-made-food-catering-contracts-meal-preparation) — Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET)
- [Events Manager](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/events-manager) — Ajman Free Zone
- [Hospitality Services](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/hospitality-services) — IFZA (Dubai) · Ajman Free Zone · Dubai mainland (DET)
- [Events Planner](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/events-planner) — Ajman Free Zone

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I add more activities to a Event catering licence later?

Usually yes, as a licence amendment, subject to the authority's rules and any extra approval attached to the new line.

### Does this activity need third-party approval?

The catalogue rows we hold for this activity carry no prior-approval flag. Re-check the live authority catalogue before filing, since flags change.

## Related

- [All business activities](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities)
- [Compare setup routes](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare)
- [How company setup works](https://dubaisetupindex.com/how-it-works)

## Machine-readable

- [Event catering record (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/activities/event-catering.json)

## Citation

Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional.

Dubai Setup Index. “Event catering licence in the UAE.” Updated 2026-09-05. https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/event-catering

[Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/event-catering). “Event catering licence in the UAE.” Updated 2026-09-05.

Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown.