If you’re planning to open a beauty salon in the UAE, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll make is choosing where to set up your business—Mainland or Free Zone?
This choice directly impacts your:
- Legal setup
- Location options
- Cost
- Expansion flexibility
- Target client base
At AMARA, we help new salon owners choose the best license for their business goals. In this post, we’ll break down the key differences between Mainland and Free Zone licenses for beauty salons, and help you decide which one is right for you.
💡 First, What Are Mainland and Free Zone Licenses?
▶️ Mainland (DED License – Department of Economic Development)
A mainland license allows your salon to operate anywhere in the UAE, including high-traffic commercial zones like Jumeirah, Marina, Al Barsha, or Business Bay.
- Regulated by: Dubai DED / Abu Dhabi DED, depending on your emirate
- Must rent a physical location (Ejari)
- Requires compliance with Municipality Health & Safety standards
🏢 Free Zone License
A Free Zone license allows you to set up your salon business in a specific free zone area, such as:
- Sharjah Media City (Shams)
- Dubai South
- Ajman Free Zone
- Fujairah Creative City
Free zones are designed for service providers, e-commerce, freelancers, etc.—but retail and salon businesses are limited in most of them.
⚠️ Important: Free Zones are not suitable for physical salons serving the public unless you get additional mainland approvals.
📊 Quick Comparison: Mainland vs Free Zone
| Feature | Mainland License | Free Zone License |
|---|---|---|
| Can open a physical salon? | ✅ Yes, in any commercial area | ❌ Only within Free Zone (not viable for salons) |
| Client Access | ✅ Any walk-in clients | ❌ Restricted to zone or B2B activities |
| Ownership (100% foreign) | ✅ Yes (since 2021) | ✅ Yes |
| Location Freedom | ✅ Full flexibility | ❌ Limited to Free Zone |
| Government Approvals | ✅ Dubai Municipality, DHA | ✅ Free Zone Authority only |
| Ideal for | Retail, salons, service businesses | E-commerce, online beauty brands, freelancers |
🧴 Can I Open a Beauty Salon in a Free Zone?
✅ You can register a salon business activity in some Free Zones.
❌ But you cannot legally open a physical salon to serve clients without a mainland DED license and health approvals.
In short: Free Zones are good for beauty product brands, e-commerce, or training businesses—not client-facing salons.
💰 Cost Comparison
| Expense Category | Mainland License (Approx.) | Free Zone License (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| License Fees | AED 10,000 – 15,000 | AED 5,000 – 10,000 |
| Municipality Health Approval | AED 2,000 – 4,000 | ❌ Not applicable |
| Salon Layout Approval | AED 2,000 – 5,000 | ❌ Not applicable |
| Fit-Out & Shop Rental | AED 50,000 – 150,000+ | ❌ No retail location allowed |
| Staff Visas & Medical | AED 5,000 – 7,000 per visa | ✅ Included or add-on |
Note: While Free Zone licenses look cheaper, they’re not legally viable for physical salons.
🛑 Risks of Choosing the Wrong License
Choosing a Free Zone license when you want to open a salon can lead to:
- ❌ Business shutdowns or fines
- ❌ License rejection by the municipality
- ❌ Inability to advertise or receive walk-in clients
- ❌ Delays in visa and staff setup
🏆 So… Which One is Better for a Salon?
✔️ Mainland License is the right choice if:
- You want to open a physical salon
- You want to serve walk-in clients
- You want full access to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other Emirates
- You need municipality health approval for services like hair, waxing, facials, nails
✖️ Free Zone License may work if:
- You’re only selling beauty products online
- You’re offering online training or coaching
- You want to start small without a physical location
🚀 How AMARA Can Help
We help salon owners:
- Choose the right legal structure
- Handle all municipality and licensing approvals
- Submit fit-out layouts and pass inspections
- Build your brand, hire staff, and launch
We know every step—and we get it right the first time.
📞 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right license type is step one in your salon journey. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a Free Zone license if you’re planning to open a walk-in salon in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE.
Still unsure which license fits your vision?
Let’s talk. We’ll map your concept to the best legal path.