Architectural & construction engineering
The supplied reference lists 5 years for G+4, 7 years for G+12 and 10 years for Unlimited. Those are activity qualification references. Office staffing and classification need a separate assessment.
← Knowledge HubEngineering consultancy
Engineering & professional practice
Engineering consultancy
licensing in Dubai.
Understand the activity, qualifications and permissions before committing to a company setup.
Dubai Municipality · Technical sheet listed 14 February 2024 · Last reviewed: 20 October 2026
The planning logic
Four questions before you commit.
This is a planning framework, not a guaranteed approval sequence.
Define the work
Identify the services and engineering discipline.
Match the technical team
Check the degree, experience and staffing requirements.
Separate the permissions
Distinguish the trade licence, professional registration and project approval.
Confirm the application
Confirm the current requirements with the relevant authority.
VANTABLACK / THE CONNECTED ROUTE
Follow the numbered routeMatch the work, team and permissions.
Select a checkpoint for detail
01Define the engineering scopeView checkpoint
Business facts and scope to clarify
02Check activity qualificationView checkpoint
Sources, evidence and open questions
03Confirm the technical teamView checkpoint
Required records and responsibilities
04Check office & project limitsView checkpoint
Evidence, review and unresolved gaps
05Confirm authority requirementsView checkpoint
Written scope and acceptance
Overview of the guide below. Confirm the requirements for your exact scope; an overview is not an approval.
Read the steps
- Define the engineering scope — Business facts and scope to clarify
- Check activity qualification — Sources, evidence and open questions
- Confirm the technical team — Required records and responsibilities
- Check office & project limits — Evidence, review and unresolved gaps
- Confirm authority requirements — Written scope and acceptance
Read older technical tables alongside the current law.
Dubai’s Law No. 14 of 2025 replaced Local Order No. 89 of 1994. Earlier implementing requirements continue only where they do not conflict with the new law, until replaced. The table below was checked against the technical sheet currently linked by Dubai Municipality; application-specific acceptance remains subject to authority confirmation.
Published technical reference
Find your engineering discipline.
Search by service, DM reference code or qualification. These are Municipality technical-reference codes; their mapping to your economic licence activity must be checked separately.
67 matching activity references · Expand a discipline to read its table.
Qualifications and experience below are the values in the published reference, not a current approval decision. Confirm the selected activity, grade and technical-team requirements for your application.
Architectural design consultancy7 activity references
| DM reference code | Activity | Required qualification | Experience in the published table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 742170 | Architectural Design Consultancy | Bachelor of Architecture | Unlimited floors: 10 years · Ground+12: 7 years · Ground+4: 5 years |
| 742110 | Interior Design Engineering Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Interior Design Engineering | 5 years |
| 742111 | Landscape Architecture Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Landscaping Engineering | 5 years |
| 742112 | Archaeological Restoration & Conservation Engineering Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Archaeological Engineering | 5 years |
| 742113 | Urban Planning Engineering Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Urban Planning Engineering | 5 years |
| 742116 | Environmental Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Environmental Engineering | 5 years |
| 742176 | Green Buildings Engineering Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
Civil engineering services21 activity references
| DM reference code | Activity | Required qualification | Experience in the published table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 742103 | Construction Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | Unlimited: 10 years · G+12: 7 years · G+4: 5 years |
| 742102 | Road & Traffic Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742104 | Foundations & Soil Mechanics Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742137 | Structural Quantity Surveying Services | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742106 | Water, Sewage & Irrigation Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742107 | Ports Engineering Consultancies | Bachelor of Civil / Marine Engineering | 5 years |
| 742114 | Airports Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Airports Engineering | 5 years |
| 742115 | Tunnels & Bridges Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Tunnels & Bridges | 5 years |
| 742105 | Surveying Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Surveying Engineering | 5 years |
| 742140 | Planning & Photogrammetry Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Hydrographic Engineering | 5 years |
| 742145 | Hydrographic Engineering Surveying Services | Bachelor of Civil / Hydrographic Engineering | 5 years |
| 742146 | Geodetic Engineering Surveying Services | Bachelor of Civil / Hydrographic Engineering | 5 years |
| 742138 | Projects Management Engineering & Technical Feasibility Studies Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering | 10 years (see staffing in 4.3) |
| 742205 | Industrial Facilities' Installations Inspection Engineering Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 100119 | Buildings & Civil Works Inspection Engineering Services | Bachelor of Architecture / Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742178 | Meteorology Engineering Consultancy | Bachelor of Civil / Meteorology Engineering | 5 years |
| 742164 | Railway Development Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Railway Engineering | 5 years |
| 742172 | Marine Projects Engineering Services | Bachelor of Civil / Marine Engineering | 5 years |
| 742174 | Building Facades Cladding Engineering Design | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years |
| 7110413 | Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy – Civil and Structural Works | Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years |
| 7110213 | Building Engineering Consultancy with 3D Printing Technology | Two engineers: (1) Bachelor of Architecture + (1) Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years each |
Electrical and electronic engineering consultancy9 activity references
| DM reference code | Activity | Required qualification | Experience in the published table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 742171 | Buildings Electrical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Electrical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742118 | Power & Automatic Control Engineering Services | Bachelor of Electrical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742119 | Electrical Network & Distribution Engineering Services | Bachelor of Electrical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742121 | Communication Engineering Services | Bachelor of Electrical / Communication Engineering | 5 years |
| 742120 | Electronic Engineering Services | Bachelor of Electrical / Electronic Engineering | 5 years |
| 742149 | Aviation Equipment Engineering Services | Bachelor of Electrical / Aviation Engineering | 5 years |
| 731004 | Renewable Energy Engineering Consultancy | Bachelor of Electrical / Electrical & Electronic / Renewable Energy / Mechatronics Engineering | 5 years |
| 742173 | Energy Projects Engineering Consultancy | Bachelor of Electrical / Electrical & Electronic / Renewable Energy / Mechatronics Engineering | 5 years |
| 7110411 | Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy – Electrical Works | Electrical Engineering | 5 years |
Mines, mining and geological engineering5 activity references
| DM reference code | Activity | Required qualification | Experience in the published table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 742156 | Gas Extraction Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mines / Mining / Geological Engineering | 5 years |
| 742157 | Raw-materials Composition Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mines / Mining / Geological Engineering | 5 years |
| 742129 | Mining & Mines Equipment Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mines / Mining Engineering | 5 years |
| 742131 | Mining, Oil & Water Geological Services | Bachelor of Mines / Mining / Geological Engineering | 5 years |
| 742130 | Geophysical, Geochemical & Geotechnical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mines / Mining / Geological Engineering | 5 years |
Mechanical engineering consultancy15 activity references
| DM reference code | Activity | Required qualification | Experience in the published table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 742124 | Building Mechanical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742127 | Mechanical Power Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742123 | Industrial Production Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical / Industrial Engineering | 5 years |
| 742125 | Hydraulic Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742150 | Physical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical / Physical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742151 | Nuclear Engineering Services | Bachelor of Nuclear Engineering | 5 years |
| 742152 | Machines Mechanical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742153 | Heavy Duty Machinery Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742155 | Petroleum Refining Plants Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742162 | Fire Safety & Protection Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical / Electrical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742126 | Aeronautical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742158 | Ship Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742159 | Automobile Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742148 | Medical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical / Medical Engineering | 5 years |
| 742183 | District Cooling Plants Engineering | Two engineers: (1) Bachelor of Mechanical + (1) Bachelor of Civil Engineering | 5 years each |
Chemical and oil engineering10 activity references
| DM reference code | Activity | Required qualification | Experience in the published table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 742135 | Metal Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742136 | Plastics Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742134 | Manufacturing & Material Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742160 | Petrochemical Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742133 | Oil Refining Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742142 | Oil Exploration Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 742143 | Drilling, Stock & Production Engineering Services | Bachelor of Chemical / Oil Engineering | 5 years |
| 7110947 | Oil & Gas Mechanical Works Engineering Services | Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering | 5 years |
| 7110410 | Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy – Process and Process Safety | Bachelor of Chemical / Petroleum / Petrochemical Engineering | 5 years |
| 7110412 | Oil & Gas Engineering Consultancy – Instrumentation and Controls | Bachelor of Instrumentation & Control / Electronics / Mechatronic Engineering | 5 years |
No matching activity reference. Try a broader service name or clear the filters.
Important distinctions
The activity name is only the starting point.
Engineering project management
Projects Management Engineering & Technical Feasibility Studies Services, code 742138, lists 10 years of experience in the activity sheet. Do not apply the general five-year expectation to this activity. Its full office-staffing requirement is To be confirmed.
More than one engineering discipline
The 3D-printing building consultancy and district-cooling entries each specify two engineers with different degree disciplines. They should not be read as a choice of one degree for a single engineer.
Projects outside building construction
The supplied technical reference directs non-building classification to the authority regulating the relevant projects. Do not apply a building-height category automatically to roads, ports, energy or another specialist field.
Confirm the details that could change your setup.
- Exact licence activity and DM code mapping: To be confirmed. A differently numbered economic licence activity is not an automatic match.
- Office grade and complete staffing: To be confirmed for the selected scope. A degree-and-experience row is not the full office registration checklist.
- Engineer registration, professional membership and testing: confirm the applicable requirements with DM before appointing the team.
- Premises type and minimum area: To be confirmed for the local office. Do not assume that a general virtual-office offer satisfies technical registration.
- Current application acceptance: confirm how the published technical reference applies under the current legal framework.
What engineers ask before setting up.
Is a trade licence enough to practise engineering consultancy?
No. The office also needs the relevant professional authorisation and technical registration. The accepted activity, scope and technical staff must match the work.
Does every consultancy activity require the same experience?
No.
The published activity table generally lists five years for many disciplines.
It lists different experience bands for architectural and construction engineering services, and ten years for engineering project management and technical feasibility studies.
Can a diploma qualify me for an engineering consultancy activity?
The consultancy activity table shown here specifies the stated degree qualifications.
Separate contracting and fit-out tables have some diploma routes.
A contracting qualification does not automatically satisfy a consultancy requirement.
Are DET and DM activity codes interchangeable?
Do not assume they are. The codes below come from the Municipality technical reference. Matching a code to the exact economic licence activity is To be confirmed for the application.
Can a virtual office satisfy the premises requirement?
To be confirmed for the selected activity and registration route.
A virtual-office formation offer does not by itself establish that the premises meet professional registration requirements.
Bring the proposed services and technical team to the consultation.
Prepare the activity you intend to offer, the engineers’ qualifications and experience, the proposed office arrangement and the types of projects you expect to undertake. We use those details to identify the authority questions that must be resolved before you commit.
Dubai Municipality: Engineering Consultancy Activities / Technical Staff Requirements; Law No. 14 of 2025 · Last reviewed: 20 October 2026.
General planning guidance. The relevant authority determines eligibility and approval.
Apply this to your business
Can the business deliver the intended project scale?
Why this matters
Activity wording, engineering classification, professional authority and technical capacity must describe the same work. The intended project pipeline controls the feasibility questions.
What could change the answer?
A broader project, direct engineering responsibility or different contracting category can change staffing, approvals and operating capacity.
Check these details first
- Design, advice, installation or contracting scope
- Project scale and required classification
- Qualified manager and technical team
- Signing authority and any project-specific permissions
Choose your next step
Understand the decision ↗Understand what to check before choosing a setup option.See the reasoning in a case ↗See how the business needs and limits shaped the advice.Check relevant activities ↗Read the activity description. A listing does not mean your business is approved.Plan my business setup ↗Answer questions about your own business to prepare for a consultation.