Instant Licence

An instant licence is a fast-track product designed to get a business legally licensed in as little as a few hours. It is offered by DET on the mainland and by several free zones for a curated set of activities that do not need external approvals or a physical inspection up front — typically professional, consultancy, and certain trading activities.

The key relaxation is the office requirement: an instant licence is usually granted for the first year without proof of a leased premises (Ejari), on the basis that the founder will secure a workspace before the first renewal. This removes the most time-consuming step from the critical path of company formation.

Instant licences are not available for every activity, and activities needing third-party approvals (food, health, education, financial services) are excluded. Fees are broadly in line with standard licences for the same activity. ZETUP PRO checks whether a client's intended activity qualifies and, if so, uses the instant route to shorten setup.