How to open a beauty salon in Dubai, step by step

Step 1. Licence route and activity

A salon that serves walk-in clients in a street, community or mall location is usually licensed on the mainland through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). A free zone licence normally limits where you can operate, so confirm with the zone that a salon open to the public is allowed at your address before choosing it.

• Pick the exact activities: ladies salon and gents salon (barber) are separate activities, and specific services can have their own activity names
• Reserve the trade name and get initial approval
• Choose the legal form; many mainland activities now allow full foreign ownership, check yours
• Ask at this stage which approvals the activity needs from Dubai Municipality and other authorities

Step 2. Premises and approvals

Before you sign, make sure the unit is commercial, suits a salon and that the landlord or mall allows your activity and fit-out.

• Tenancy contract registered in Ejari, needed for the licence
• Mall or landlord fit-out approval, often with their own contractor rules and timelines
• Dubai Municipality approval of the layout and finishes, and Civil Defence approval for fire safety
• Signage usually needs a separate permit
• Build approvals into the timeline: they often take longer than the fit-out itself

Step 3. Dubai Municipality requirements for salons

Salons fall under Dubai Municipality public health rules. The requirements are published and updated, so request the current checklist for your activity rather than relying on an old one.

• Washable surfaces, adequate ventilation and hand wash points
• A defined area and equipment for cleaning and sterilising tools, and single-use items where required
• Safe storage of chemicals, products and clean and used towels
• Products that are compliant for use in the UAE, from suppliers who can show it
• Inspection or approval before you start serving clients

Step 4. Team, visas and health cards

Staff paperwork is the step owners underestimate. Start recruiting the manager and key masters while the fit-out is running.

• Establishment card and work permits through MOHRE, residence visas and Emirates ID
• Medical fitness test and health insurance for each employee
• Occupational health card from Dubai Municipality for staff working with clients, after the required medical screening and training
• Contracts with clear commission terms before the first working day

Step 5. Fit-out, equipment and launch

• Stations, chairs, wash units, pedicure chairs that can be cleaned properly, sterilisation equipment
• Booking system and CRM set up before opening, with the price list and staff schedules loaded
• Google Business Profile, Instagram and WhatsApp ready before the first day
• A soft opening week to train the team on real clients

How we help

We plan the opening team with you, hire in the right order so payroll starts close to opening day, and set up CRM before the first client. We are not a licensing company: for licence and approvals we recommend a business setup consultant, and we coordinate the hiring side with them. Recruitment fee: one month's salary of the placed employee, 50% when they start and 50% after probation, with no full prepayment and a free replacement within 2 months. Consulting and CRM projects are priced after a free review, and the first 15-minute call is free.