Dubai business activities · 5224002
Sea Cargo Services licence in Dubai (5224002): how to set up
A sea freight forwarder in Dubai is licensed under “Sea Cargo Services” (5224002, PCFC regulated; JAFZA 630104) and needs a Dubai Customs registration; the federal Maritime Law sets what the forwarder answers for.
Which licence covers sea freight forwarding in Dubai?
On Dubai’s mainland the activity is “Sea Cargo Services”, code 5224002 — a commercial activity on a business licence for shipping other people’s imports and exports by sea: receiving, storing and packing goods, booking space and arranging cargo insurance. Invest in Dubai lists PCFC as its regulating entity.[1]
In Jebel Ali Free Zone the matching activity is “Sea Cargo Services”, code 630104. Other free zones keep their own activity lists and codes — check that the zone you pick names the activity before you sign a lease.[2]
Confirm with DET which legal forms are open to this activity before you choose one.[3]
Which approvals does a sea freight forwarder need?
Under the Maritime Law the freight forwarder is the shipper’s agent for certificates of origin, export licences, duties and taxes, inspection and customs or sanitary release (Art. 199). Acting for cargo receivers in port as a shipping agent needs Ministry approval and an emirate licence (Art. 120).[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
- Register the trade name and apply for initial approval.[6]
- 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.[6]
- Submit the documents with any external approvals, pay the fees and collect the licence.[6]
- After the licence, register with Dubai Customs if goods will cross customs.[5]
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.[5]
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.[6]
In JAFZA a licence can be renewed within three months before expiry, late renewal is fined AED 1,000, and the renewal guide asks for a no-objection letter from Dubai Maritime City for sea shipment, cargo and transportation activities.[7]
The activity, for reference
- Activity name (English)
- Sea Cargo Services
- Activity name (Arabic)
- خدمات الشحن البحري للبضائع
- Activity code
- 5224002
- Activity type
- Commercial
- Group
- Transport, Storage and Communication; Transport, Shipping and Storage
- Regulating entity (as listed)
- Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation
- Licence types (as listed)
- Business License
What it covers, in our words
Shipping other people’s imports and exports by sea: receiving the goods, storing, packing and sorting them, booking space with the carrier or its agent, and arranging cargo insurance.
Source: Invest in Dubai business-activity search — search the code 5224002 (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 “Sea Cargo Services”, code 5224002 (read 2026-10-10)
- Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) — Activity list (read 2026-10-15)
- Invest in Dubai (Department of Economy and Tourism) — business activity search (read 2026-10-10)
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. (43) of 2023 Concerning the Maritime Law (in force 29 March 2024) (read 2026-10-15)
- Dubai Customs — Request business registration (read 2026-10-15)
- UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Steps to start a business on the mainland (read 2026-10-15)
- Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) — Renew licence guide (read 2026-10-15)
Where GeoMarineHub fits
Freight on the platform has no port-activation gate: requests route by capability and stay open until the shipper awards or cancels, so a complete offer has time to be judged on its merits.