Dubai business activities · 4773971

Life-Saving Equipment Trading licence in Dubai (4773971): how to set up

Trading lifejackets, lifebuoys and distress signals in Dubai falls under activity 4773971, for which SIRA is the listed regulator — so the security regulator, not only DET, has a say before you trade.

اقرأ هذه الصفحة بالعربية

Which licence covers life-saving equipment trading in Dubai?

On Dubai’s mainland the activity is “Life-Saving Equipment Trading”, code 4773971 — a commercial activity on a business licence for reselling lifejackets, lifebuoys, lifeboats and distress signals. Invest in Dubai lists the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) as its regulating entity.^[1]

Confirm with DET which legal forms are open to this activity before you choose one.^[2]

Which approvals does a life-saving equipment trader need?

Because SIRA is the listed regulator, ask SIRA what it requires of the company and the premises before you lease.^[1]

Goods moving through customs need a Dubai Customs business registration. It is requested with a copy of the trade licence and the authorised person’s passport and Emirates ID.^[3]

Dubai Customs’ 2025 services guide lists declaration routes to ship stores — transit to ship stores, free-zone export (transit out) to ship stores and customs-warehouse export to ship stores — so where your stock sits (duty-paid, free zone or bonded) decides the route.^[4]

What are the steps and documents?

Choose the route — Dubai mainland through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), or a free zone that lists the activity — and the legal form.^[5]
Register the trade name and apply for initial approval.^[5]
Sign the memorandum of association and, where it applies, an attested local service agent agreement; lease premises — in Dubai the lease is registered on Ejari.^[5]
Submit the documents with any external approvals, pay the fees and collect the licence.^[5]
After the licence, register with Dubai Customs if goods will cross customs.^[3]

How long does it take and what does it cost?

Dubai Customs business registration costs AED 100 plus a AED 20 knowledge and innovation fee and is completed within one working day.^[3]

The licence fee depends on the authority and the package — mainland or free zone, premises and number of activities — so get a written quote from DET or the free zone. On the mainland the fee must be paid within 30 days of the payment voucher, or the application is cancelled.^[5]

The activity, for reference

Activity name (English): Life-Saving Equipment Trading
Activity name (Arabic): تجارة معدات وأجهزة الإنقاذ
Activity code: 4773971
Activity type: Commercial
Group: Trading and Repair Services; Mechanical and Engineering Equipment Trading
Regulating entity (as listed): Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA)
Licence types (as listed): Business License

What it covers, in our words

Reselling the gear used to save people at sea — lifejackets, lifebuoys, lifeboats, and the light, smoke and rocket signals that show where survivors are.

Source: Invest in Dubai business-activity search — search the code 4773971 (read 10 October 2026)

Check before you apply

— Legal forms for this activity are not shown here; confirm with DET which forms are open to it.
— Names, codes and listed details were read from the Invest in Dubai business-activity search on 10 October 2026. The list is revised; check the live entry before you apply.
— Rules, fees and timelines change. Confirm each approval with the authority named before you commit to premises or staff.
— GeoMarineHub does not issue licences, help obtain them or act as a business-setup agent. Nothing here is legal or tax advice.
— Activity codes are Dubai mainland codes. Free zones and the other emirates keep their own activity lists and codes.

Sources

Invest in Dubai (Department of Economy and Tourism) — business activity “Life-Saving Equipment Trading”, code 4773971 (read 2026-10-10)
Invest in Dubai (Department of Economy and Tourism) — business activity search (read 2026-10-10)
Dubai Customs — Request business registration (read 2026-10-15)
Dubai Customs — Services Guide 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-10-15)
UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Steps to start a business on the mainland (read 2026-10-15)

Where GeoMarineHub fits

Safety equipment is a ship supply category: declare it, activate your ports, and requisitions that include it reach you. The vessel’s ETA is on the request, so you price knowing the deadline.