# Ship Management & Operation licence in the UAE

> Ship Management & Operation 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/ship-management-and-operation
- Updated: 2026-09-04
- IFZA (Dubai): 5222005
- Ajman Free Zone: AM-03114
- Regulation: Regulator approval required
- Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology

## What the authority says

Includes firms specialized in managing operating ships and vessels and other sea means of transport  for the account of other parties. This involves executing other operations necessary for handling passengers and cargo transport, changing ships crew and navigators.

Source: IFZA activity catalogue.

## Where you can licence this

| Authority | Status | Code | Licence type | Approval | Facility |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| [IFZA (Dubai)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) | Listed | 5222005 | Professional | Required before the licence issues | Not restricted in the catalogue |
| [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) | Listed | AM-03114 | Services | Not stated | Not restricted in the catalogue |
| [Dubai mainland (DET)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland) | Not verified — we hold no DET activity catalogue | — | — | — | — |

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

## Routes that list this activity

- [IFZA (Dubai)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) — Dubai address, available with Dubai Setup Index. From, no visa: AED 12,900 (12 months · package price)
- [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) — Lower cost, available with Dubai Setup Index. From, no visa: AED 5,555 (12 months · package price)

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

## Third-party approvals

### Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA)

Before licence · IFZA (Dubai)

Authority’s process note: The activity requires approval from Dubai Maritime Authority before license issuance; this means that you will submit the license application. Once the required documents are generated in the final stage (after the license application passes the security check), we will send the documents across to apply for the approval. The procedure to obtain the approval will be through email on info@pcfc.ae Required documents: • Initial approval/Trade License Copy for Existing Companies • Third Party Approval Letter After sending the requirements, DMA will send the payment SPL to the customer for settlements. Once the payment is done, the electronic Maritime Activity NOC will be sent to the customer. Charges: 1,020 - 5,020 AED/NOC – online through a secure payment link. Renewable every year with the same fees. Duration: 2-3 working days.

[Approval documents](https://ifza.link/Iwwn13)

## Free zone or mainland

- Both IFZA in Dubai and Ajman Free Zone list this activity, so the choice is a Dubai licence address against a lower package cost.
- We hold no Dubai DET record for this activity, so treat mainland as unverified here rather than unavailable.
- Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) clearance is required before the licence issues, which breaks any advertised same-week timeline.

## 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.

- DMCC: 6303-10 · Service
- Meydan Free Zone: 5222.88
- SPC Free Zone: 5229.20

## Related activities

- [Airplane Management & Operation](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/airplane-management-and-operation) — IFZA (Dubai)
- [Electric Vehicles Charging Stations Management & Operation](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/electric-vehicles-charging-stations-management-and-operation) — IFZA (Dubai)
- [Management and operation of Artificial Intelligence robotic systems](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/management-and-operation-of-artificial-intelligence-robotic-systems) — Ajman Free Zone
- [Management and operation of public utilities](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/management-and-operation-of-public-utilities) — Ajman Free Zone
- [Marina Management and Operation](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/marina-management-and-operation) — Ajman Free Zone
- [Medical Equipment Management & Operation](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/medical-equipment-management-and-operation) — IFZA (Dubai)

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I add more activities to a Ship Management & Operation 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?

Yes. Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA) must clear the activity before the licence issues, so build that step into your timeline.

## 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

- [Ship Management & Operation record (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/activities/ship-management-and-operation.json)

## Citation

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

Dubai Setup Index. “Ship Management & Operation licence in the UAE.” Updated 2026-09-04. https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/ship-management-and-operation

[Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/ship-management-and-operation). “Ship Management & Operation licence in the UAE.” Updated 2026-09-04.

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.