Training Centre License Dubai: KHDA Permit, Cost and Setup
Content reviewed by My Business Setup Team, Business Setup Specialists.
A training centre in Dubai needs a KHDA permit in addition to the trade licence, and the KHDA requirement extends beyond the premises: your courses and your instructors are approved individually. That last point is what people miss. You cannot simply launch a new course once licensed. Each programme is submitted for KHDA approval, and each trainer must be approved to deliver it, so your curriculum plan has to be ready at licensing rather than developed afterwards. Budget AED 25,000 to 60,000 for the licence and KHDA permit, with fit-out and rent being the larger costs.
Who Should Consider a Training Centre License?
- Subject specialists converting expertise into accredited courses
- Corporate training providers serving company L&D budgets
- Professional certification providers for finance, IT or safety
- Language schools and skills academies
What You Can and Cannot Do
A KHDA training permit covers vocational and professional training for adults. School-age education is a different licence under different rules. Degree-awarding programmes require higher education authority approval, not a training permit. Corporate in-house delivery at client premises has its own conditions. Online-only delivery is treated differently and should be confirmed with KHDA before you build for it.
How Much Does a Training Centre License Cost?
For a Training Centre License, expect AED 25,000 - 70,000 in a free zone and AED 30,000 - 80,000 on the mainland for year one, with the licence issued in roughly 60-120 working days once documents are ready. The lower end of each range is a single-activity licence with no staff visas in a low-cost emirate; the upper end reflects Dubai, extra activities, or a larger office.
| Item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free-zone licence (year one) | AED 25,000 - 70,000 | Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, RAK and UAQ sit at the low end; Dubai zones at the high end |
| Mainland licence (year one) | AED 30,000 - 80,000 | Excludes the tenancy, which mainland requires separately |
| Establishment / immigration card | AED 1,200 - 2,000 | One-off, needed before any visa |
| Investor or partner visa (2 years) | AED 3,500 - 5,500 | Includes medical, Emirates ID and status change |
| Employee visa (2 years) | AED 4,000 - 6,500 | Per employee, plus deposit on mainland |
| Ejari tenancy (mainland only) | from AED 15,000 / year | Not required for a free-zone flexi desk |
| Corporate tax registration | No fee | 9% applies only on taxable profit above AED 375,000 |
| Annual licence renewal | 85 - 100% of year-one licence fee | Excludes one-off formation items |
Indicative market ranges for planning, not a quote. Government fees, zone packages and external approvals change; confirm current figures before you apply.
Approvals you should budget time for
KHDA, ADEK or Ministry of Education permit. This is the part that moves the timeline, not the licence itself.
Licence and permit are moderate. Classroom fit-out, rent in an accessible location and curriculum development are the main spend.
Good to know
- 100% foreign ownership available
- Flexi/shared office keeps overhead low
- Visa quota scales with office size
Watch out
- Assuming you can add courses freely after licensing
- Hiring instructors who cannot obtain KHDA approval
- Building classrooms before KHDA approves the layout
- Marketing a qualification as accredited before approval is granted
How to Get Started
- Define the course portfolio and prepare curriculum documentation
- Obtain KHDA initial approval for the centre concept and course list
- Secure premises and submit the layout for KHDA approval
- Complete the fit-out and pass inspection
- Submit instructors for individual KHDA approval
- Issue the trade licence, obtain the KHDA permit and begin enrolment
Documents Checklist
- Passport copy & recent photo of each shareholder
- Current visa/entry status
- 2 to 3 preferred trade names
- Brief scope & staffing plan
Training Centre License FAQs
How much does a training centre licence cost in Dubai?
AED 25,000 to 60,000 for the trade licence and KHDA permit. Classroom fit-out typically adds AED 100,000 to 400,000 depending on size and specification, plus rent advance and working capital. Curriculum development is an often-overlooked cost if you are not bringing existing courses.
Does KHDA approve individual courses and trainers?
Yes, and this is what surprises most new operators. Each course is submitted for KHDA approval and each instructor is approved to deliver specific programmes. You cannot launch new courses freely after licensing, so prepare your curriculum portfolio before you apply rather than after.
Can a training centre award degrees or accredited qualifications?
Not under a KHDA training permit. Degree-awarding programmes need higher education authority approval, which is a different and much heavier process. A training permit covers vocational and professional training. Be careful how you describe accreditation in marketing before approvals are in place.
Can I run a training centre online only from Dubai?
Online delivery is treated differently from classroom provision and the requirements have been evolving. Confirm the current position with KHDA before building a model around it, because premises requirements and course approval conditions may still apply even for remote delivery.
How long does it take to open a training centre in Dubai?
Two to five months typically. The trade licence is quick, but KHDA initial approval, premises layout approval, fit-out, inspection and individual course and instructor approvals set the real timeline. Having curriculum documentation ready at the start materially shortens it.
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Last updated: October 2026
Requirements, timelines, and fees vary by jurisdiction, office setup, and external approvals. Confirm the current structure before applying.