![Contractor PRO Services in Dubai: a Monthly Retainer Priced by Headcount [2026]](/images/guides/dubai-contractor-pro-retainer.svg?dpl=dpl_5Kd2crhtkkzdaZ8UEYCSL4dihoPV)
For contractors and subcontractors on Dubai mainland: Dubai Municipality registration under Law No. 7 of 2025, work permits, health insurance, WPS, labour accommodation and Emiratisation, handled on a monthly PRO retainer with published prices by headcount.
In 2025, 1,583 new Chinese companies joined Dubai Chamber, 7% more than the year before (Dubai Chamber, April 2026), and Indian, Turkish and European contractors keep arriving too. For a contractor, the trade licence is only the first step. The heavy part is the government work that grows with every person you hire: Dubai Municipality registration, work permits, medicals and Emirates ID, health insurance, WPS payroll, labour accommodation and Emiratisation.
ZETUP PRO is a Dubai mainland PRO (government relations) company. We handle that work for you on one monthly retainer, priced by headcount and published on this page.
Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025: Every Contractor in Dubai Must Register
Quick Answer: Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025, Dubai Municipality's electronic system is the central register for contractors. Contractors already operating in Dubai when the law takes effect must regularise within one year, which the committee can extend by one more year. Fines run from AED 1,000 to AED 100,000, doubling to as much as AED 200,000 for a repeat violation within a year.
Law No. 7 of 2025 regulating contracting activities in Dubai makes the electronic system run by Dubai Municipality the central register of contractors, linked to the Invest in Dubai platform. The law takes effect six months after its publication in the Official Gazette; contractors already operating in Dubai then have one year to comply, and the committee can extend that by a further year where needed. It applies to all contractors operating in Dubai, including those in special development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre. Contracting linked to airports and their related infrastructure is excluded, and the Chairman of the Executive Council can exempt other activities on the committee's recommendation. Violations carry fines from AED 1,000 to AED 100,000, doubled for a repeat within a year up to AED 200,000 (Dubai Media Office, 12 July 2025).
Dubai Municipality sets qualification and experience requirements for technical staff by activity. For example (Dubai Municipality: Contracting Activity and Technical Staff Requirements):
| Activity | Qualification | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Building Contracting | Bachelor's in Civil Engineering; number of engineers by grade | By grade |
| Steel Constructions Contracting | Bachelor's in Civil Engineering; number of engineers by grade | By grade |
| Exterior Building Cladding Contracting | Bachelor's in Civil Engineering | 3 years |
| Electrical Fitting Contracting | Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, or a diploma in electrical technology | 2 years (bachelor's) / 5 years (diploma) |
| Scaffolding Contracting | Bachelor's in Civil or Architectural Engineering | 5 years |
| Solar Energy Systems Contracting | Bachelor's in Electrical, Electronics, Renewable Energy or Mechatronics Engineering | 4 years |
How we work: we check these requirements against the activities on your licence, tell you which staff you need before you hire your engineers, and manage the registration file. Approval and classification are decided by Dubai Municipality. Classification itself is explained in our Dubai contractor classification guide, and the choice of structure in our construction company setup guide.
More Staff, More Government Work
Quick Answer: Every worker needs a work permit, residence visa, medical, Emirates ID and employer-paid health insurance, and every salary runs through WPS. At 50 or more low-wage workers you must provide registered accommodation, and from 20 employees Emiratisation targets apply to construction.
| Obligation | When it applies | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit | Every employee. Issue and renewal fees range from AED 250 to AED 3,450, depending on the company's A, B or C classification at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) | u.ae |
| Work Bundle | Work permit, residence, medical and Emirates ID in one process: 5 steps instead of 15, 5 documents instead of 16, 2 visits instead of 7, and 5 working days instead of 30 | u.ae |
| Health insurance | The employer must insure each employee and pay the premium (it cannot be charged to the employee), keep the cover in force for the whole period of service, and present the policy when the employee's residence is issued or renewed (Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013, Article 10) | Dubai Legislation Portal |
| WPS (Wage Protection System) | Private-sector companies must pay salaries every month through WPS | MOHRE |
| Labour accommodation | Companies with 50 or more workers earning AED 1,500 a month or less must provide accommodation and register it in MOHRE's labour accommodation system (Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2022) | u.ae |
| Emiratisation (20 to 49 employees) | Construction is one of the 14 targeted sectors: hire at least 1 UAE national by the end of 2024 and 1 more by the end of 2025. Companies that missed 1 hire in 2024 paid AED 96,000 in January 2025; those that miss 2 hires in 2025 pay AED 108,000 in January 2026 | u.ae |
| Emiratisation (50+ employees) | The share of UAE nationals in skilled roles rises by 2% a year, 10% in total by 2026. Since 2023, each missing national costs AED 6,000 a month, rising by AED 1,000 a year until 2026 | u.ae |
What the Monthly Retainer Includes
Quick Answer: A free PRO Health Check, a one-week onboarding with a compliance audit and a 12-month renewal calendar, then a dedicated account coordinator who handles every government transaction through your WhatsApp group, with a transparent monthly invoice.
- Free PRO Health Check: A free 30-minute assessment of your current PRO setup. We identify compliance gaps, check upcoming deadlines, and compare what you are paying now to what you should be paying.
- Onboarding (week 1): We collect your company documents, set up your dedicated WhatsApp group, build your 12-month renewal calendar and run a full compliance audit. On Day 7 you receive an onboarding report showing your compliance status across every obligation.
- Ongoing service: Your dedicated account coordinator handles every government transaction. You send requests via WhatsApp, we process them with status updates, and you get a transparent monthly invoice with government fee receipts attached.
Government fees are passed through at cost with receipts attached, never marked up. Renewal reminders come 60 days in advance. Your retainer is based on the number of employees on your payroll; we review quarterly and agree any change before it takes effect.
Prices Above 55 Employees
Quick Answer: Our retainer is priced by headcount and published. Bands up to 55 employees are on the pricing page; the bands above 55 are listed below, and the annual price is always 12 times the monthly retainer.
Prices up to 55 employees are on our pricing page. Above 55, the bands are:
| Employees | Monthly | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 65 | AED 4,848 | AED 58,176 |
| Up to 75 | AED 5,563 | AED 66,756 |
| Up to 85 | AED 6,304 | AED 75,648 |
| Up to 95 | AED 7,006 | AED 84,072 |
| Up to 105 | AED 7,656 | AED 91,872 |
| Up to 115 | AED 8,385 | AED 100,620 |
| Up to 125 | AED 9,063 | AED 108,756 |
| Up to 135 | AED 9,788 | AED 117,456 |
| Up to 145 | AED 10,513 | AED 126,156 |
| Up to 155 | AED 11,238 | AED 134,856 |
| Up to 165 | AED 11,963 | AED 143,556 |
| Up to 175 | AED 12,688 | AED 152,256 |
| Up to 185 | AED 13,413 | AED 160,956 |
| Up to 195 | AED 14,138 | AED 169,656 |
| Up to 205 | AED 14,008 | AED 168,096 |
The retainer covers our professional service fees only; government fees are billed separately at cost. Our standard agreement is 12 months, with a 30-day termination clause for service failure.
Talk to ZETUP PRO
Get a straight answer with published pricing — no hidden fees.
ZETUP PRO Corporate Services is a private company, not a government entity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you help us register with Dubai Municipality as a contractor?
Yes, we support it. We check Dubai Municipality's requirements for engineers' qualifications, years of experience and staffing against the activities on your licence, tell you which technical staff you need before you hire, and manage the registration file. Approval and classification are decided by Dubai Municipality.
Are government fees included in the monthly retainer?
No. Government fees are billed separately at cost with official receipts attached. Our retainer covers professional service fees only.
How does the price change as our headcount grows?
Your retainer is based on the number of employees on your payroll. As you grow, you move to the next band; we review quarterly and agree any change before it takes effect.
What is the minimum contract term?
Our standard agreement is 12 months, with a 30-day termination clause for service failure.
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Need Professional Help?
ZETUP PRO handles all the complexity covered in this guide. Book a free PRO Health Check to see how we can help your business.