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Dubai business activities · 5222002

Ship Piloting & Towing Services licence in Dubai (5222002): how to set up

A Dubai pilotage or towage company is licensed under activity 5222002 (or JAFZA 630302); pilotage also needs Ministry approval and an emirate licence, and tugs towing in Dubai waters need a DMA vessel permit.

اقرأ هذه الصفحة بالعربية

Which licence covers piloting and towing in Dubai?

On Dubai’s mainland the activity is “Ship Piloting & Towing Services”, code 5222002 — a professional activity on a business licence for guiding vessels in and out of port and towing or pushing craft that cannot move on their own. Invest in Dubai lists PCFC as its regulating entity.[1]

In Jebel Ali Free Zone the matching activity is “Ship Piloting & Towing Services”, code 630302. 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 piloting and towing company need?

No pilotage service may be provided in the UAE without the Ministry’s approval and a licence from the competent authority; pilotage is compulsory at ports and areas the Minister designates (Maritime Law, Art. 110).[4]

In Dubai waters, DMA Administrative Resolution No. (1) of 2025 requires the owner, operator or maritime agent to hold a DMA permit before using a vessel for listed commercial work — towing, diving, dredging, salvage, rescue, hydrographic survey, carrying polluting materials, and renting out unlicensed vessels DMA has authorised.[5]

Foreign-flagged ships may not carry out maritime carriage between UAE ports, or provide towing, piloting, supply and fuelling or other maritime services in UAE waters, without the Ministry’s approval (Maritime Law, Art. 15).[4]

What are the steps and documents?

  1. 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]
  2. Register the trade name and apply for initial approval.[6]
  3. 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]
  4. Submit the documents with any external approvals, pay the fees and collect the licence.[6]
  5. The permit application goes through DMA’s electronic system with: Emirates ID or passport and residence, the commercial licence of the owner, operator or agent, any service-contractor agreement, a no-objection certificate from the body supervising the operating zone, a compliance form against DMA’s manual, and a risk assessment and management plan. Third-party liability insurance is an obligation of the permit holder.[5]

How long does it take and what does it cost?

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]

DMA decides a vessel permit within three working days once the documents are complete; the fee is the one DMA prescribes, and the permit is valid for the period written on it.[5]

Piloting without a pilotage licence is punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 5,000 to 20,000 (Maritime Law, Art. 363).[4]

The activity, for reference

Activity name (English)
Ship Piloting & Towing Services
Activity name (Arabic)
إرشاد السفن وقطرها
Activity code
5222002
Activity type
Professional
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

Guiding vessels in and out of port with pilots who know the local waters, and towing or pushing craft that cannot move under their own power, such as barges and disabled ships.

Source: Invest in Dubai business-activity search — search the code 5222002 (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

  1. Invest in Dubai (Department of Economy and Tourism) — business activity “Ship Piloting & Towing Services”, code 5222002 (read 2026-10-10)
  2. Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) — Activity list (read 2026-10-15)
  3. Invest in Dubai (Department of Economy and Tourism) — business activity search (read 2026-10-10)
  4. UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. (43) of 2023 Concerning the Maritime Law (in force 29 March 2024) (read 2026-10-15)
  5. Dubai Legislation Portal — DMA Administrative Resolution No. (1) of 2025 Regulating Commercial Maritime Activities on Vessels (read 2026-10-15)
  6. UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Steps to start a business on the mainland (read 2026-10-15)

Where GeoMarineHub fits

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Related pages

UAE port guides