How to Get a Laundry Business License in Dubai

Laundry businesses are quietly among the most resilient service sectors in Dubai, and data from global market research supports why. In 2025, the UAE home and laundry care market was expected to generate approximately US$546.2 million in revenue, with laundry care as its largest segment, and annual growth projected through 2029 at around 1.77% CAGR. 

The 2026 outlook continues this steady expansion, driven by increased urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, evolving lifestyles, and heightened demand for convenience-driven services such as app-based wash & fold and pickup/delivery solutions.

This growth context is important if you plan to open a commercial laundry, because it demonstrates not just existing demand inside Dubai and the UAE, but also continuous projected consumer spend on laundering services and related products. For both investors and operators, this positions a laundry business license as a strategic entry into a market with long-term demand, stable margins, and recurring revenue potential.

What a Laundry Business License Really Allows You to Do

A Laundry Business License is a commercial licence issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. It authorises you to operate laundry and dry-cleaning services within approved parameters.

This licence allows you to clean, wash, dry, press, and package garments. It also permits wash and fold services, linen handling, and professional pressing. However, each of these activities must be declared clearly at the time of application.

Laundry is regulated because it affects public hygiene, water usage, chemical handling, and waste disposal. That is why laundry licences require more approvals than standard retail businesses.

Once approved, the licence allows you to operate legally, hire staff, apply for visas, open a corporate bank account, and advertise your services across Dubai.

Types of Laundry Businesses You Can License

Before applying, you must select the right activity.

Common approved activities include:

• Professional laundry services
• Dry cleaning and pressing
• Wash and fold services
• Linen and uniform cleaning
• Hotel and hospital laundry support

A professional laundry licence differs from a home pickup service.
Your activity selection affects approvals and laundry license cost in Dubai.

Mainland or Free Zone: Where Should You License Your Laundry Business

Most laundry businesses in Dubai choose the Mainland. The reason is simple. Laundry depends on local customers and physical access.
A Mainland licence allows you to open a shop in residential areas, serve customers anywhere in Dubai, work with hotels, clinics, and labour camps, and run delivery operations without restrictions.
Free zone licences are limited. They work for backend operations or B2B support but do not allow walk-in customers. You also face restrictions when dealing with Mainland clients unless additional approvals are in place.

If your goal is visibility, growth, and steady footfall, Mainland licensing is the practical route.

How Long Does the Licensing Process Take

With proper planning, the full process usually takes between ten and fourteen working days. Delays occur when locations are not compliant, activities are unclear, or documents are incomplete.
Approvals are faster when applications are prepared professionally. Many delays are avoidable with proper guidance.

Laundry License Cost in Dubai

The laundry license cost in Dubai varies based on business size, activity type, and location. There is no single fixed price, but there are realistic ranges.

Licence fees typically fall between AED 10,000 and AED 15,000. Municipality and environmental approvals can add AED 2,000 to AED 4,000. Ejari and tenancy costs depend on area and shop size.

Equipment and fit-out costs are separate. Small neighbourhood laundries operate with lower budgets, similar to early laundry 2000 style models. Larger setups cost more due to machinery, ventilation systems, and compliance requirements.

It is important to budget beyond licensing. Underestimating setup costs is a common mistake.

Step-by-Step Process to Get a Laundry Business License in Dubai 

Getting a laundry business license in Dubai involves a sequence of administrative, regulatory, and practical steps. Each phase connects directly to approvals and eventual operation, and missing items often leads to rejection or delay.

1. Define Your Business Activity in Detail

Your first decision is choosing the exact scope of services you want to provide because this determines what Dubai authorities will allow, what approvals you’ll need, and what your costs will be. Laundry business activities include:

• Commercial laundering (washing, drying, pressing)
• Dry cleaning services (requires handling of specific chemicals)
• Wash and fold, and pickup/delivery services
• Linen services for hotels, hospitals, and corporate contracts

You must list all the relevant activities on your licence application. For example, if you intend to offer both dry cleaning and professional laundry under one roof, both must be declared up front. Authorities will reject licences that later try to expand outside the initially approved activity set.

2. Choose and Register a Trade Name

After defining your activity, the next step is trade name selection and approval. Dubai has clear guidelines for commercial names: they must be unique, not violate public morals or public order, and must not include religious or governing terms. It is best to prepare several name options in case your first choice is already taken. Once submitted, name approval typically takes 1 working day.
Good trade names for a Dubai laundry business should reflect clarity and professionalism. Names like “Most Trusted Laundry Services”, “Professional Laundry”, or “VIP Laundry Services” signal service reliability and appeal. Avoid overly generic names like “Laundry Shop” as they may be difficult to get approved.

3. Prepare the Physical Location

Selecting a physical location is one of the most critical and regulated parts of the process. Dubai government bodies require laundries to meet specific criteria related to hygiene, waste, drainage, and environmental impact.

Your shop must have:

• Appropriate drainage that connects properly to municipal systems
• Ventilation that manages heat, moisture, and chemicals
• A clear separation between customer areas and operational machinery
• Waste bins and oil/grease traps
• Enough space for equipment, staff movement, and customer pickup/drop-off
  

Dubai Municipality must inspect and approve your premises. Having floor plans prepared by a professional in advance improves your approval speed and reduces the likelihood of rework.
Pick locations where there is demonstrated demand, near residential communities like Al Nahda, Mirdif, Silicon Oasis, or near business districts that support hotel and serviced apartment contracts. Successful laundries also consider nearby labour accommodation areas where repeat volume is high.

4. Acquire External Approvals

Once your shop layout and tenancy are in place, you enter external approvals phase. This is where most applicants encounter delays if they are underprepared.

These approvals include:

• Dubai Municipality clearance (hygiene and public health)
• Environmental compliance approval (waste and drainage)
• Civil Defence NOC (safety and emergency readiness)

Municipality inspectors will physically check your selected location to ensure that drainage, ventilation, lighting, separation of hazardous materials (especially if dry cleaning is offered) and customer spaces are compliant. The Civil Defence evaluation typically looks at fire safety, emergency exits, and chemical handling procedures.

This approval block usually takes 5 to 7 working days, but having architects or engineers certify your plans before submission can reduce back-and-forth reviews.

5. Register Lease and Ejari

You cannot proceed to licence issuance without a registered tenancy contract and Ejari certificate. Ejari is Dubai’s official lease registration system. It links your business location legally to your licence application.
If your floor plans change after Ejari is submitted, you must update the Ejari to match the approved layout; the licence will not be issued. Ensure the lease duration supports your business plan and visa quotas.

6. Final Licence Issuance

Once all approvals are complete, activity, name, location, municipality, environment, Civil Defence, Ejari, your Department of Economy and Tourism licence is ready to issue. This final step usually takes 2–3 working days. With licence in hand, you are ready to:

• Operate legally in Dubai
• Apply for staff visas
• Open a corporate bank account
• Register for tax and compliance accounts (if required)

Summary Table: Step-by-Step Licensing Process

Location timeframe depends on plan readiness and compliance with standards.

Equipment and Infrastructure Requirements

Dubai does not mandate specific brands, but it enforces performance and safety standards.
Laundry shops must install industrial-grade washing machines and dryers. Proper drainage and grease traps are mandatory. Steam presses and pressing tables must meet safety standards.
Ventilation systems must manage heat and humidity. Poor ventilation is one of the top reasons for inspection failure.

All equipment must be installed before final inspection.

Staffing and Visa Planning

Laundry businesses require operational staff. This includes machine operators, press workers, and delivery drivers.
Visa quotas depend on shop size and licence type. Mainland licences allow flexible hiring, but quotas must align with space and activity approvals.
Staff accommodation compliance is also reviewed during inspections.

Technology and Daily Operations

Modern laundries rely on efficiency. Manual billing slows operations and causes errors.
Most successful laundries use laundry POS systems, order tracking software, and automated billing tools. These systems improve customer experience and reduce disputes.
Using laundry software also helps with inventory control, delivery scheduling, and reporting.

Why Professional Help Matters

Many applicants underestimate the complexity of approvals, especially Municipality inspections and Civil Defence safety checks. Even small mistakes in floor plans, drainage design, or equipment ventilation can add weeks to your timeline. Turning to experienced business setup professionals, such as Bestax, helps you secure correct approvals quickly, avoid costly rework, and get your licence without unnecessary delays.
Contact Bestax today to streamline your laundry licence application, handle all paperwork, and free you to focus on business growth while experts manage compliance and approvals.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only. For professional assistance and advice, please contact experts.