Dubai may be famed for its imposing skyline, packed with state-of-the-art business facilities, but there’s plenty of ways to make money here outside of the office walls.

Some, like pest control, are certainly not for the squeamish but for those with the skills to take it on, it can be incredibly lucrative. Pests can come in many forms – from rodents, birds, insects and any other animal that can make a nest or otherwise cause an inconvenience in an urban environment.

The global pest control market is expected to be worth USD 26.3bn by 2025 – increasing at 5.3% per year. In this part of the world, the increase is expected to be even more steep. The Latin American, Middle East and Africa Pest control market is estimated to see annual growth of 6.1% for the years up to 2025.

Obtaining a Dubai pest control company license can be a little more complex than other business types, but if you’ve got the experience, the knowledge and the right guidance, you can be trading in no time.

To see how to start you pest control business in the UAE, keep reading.

 

How to set up a pest control business in Dubai

When you work with a company setup expert, the process of obtaining a Dubai pest control company license and starting your own business doesn’t have to be complex.

Step 1: Choosing your company name

The first step is to choose your company name. There are a few key things to keep in mind at this stage – many that would not apply anywhere else in the world.

Be aware that you must abide by a strict set of naming conventions. You should avoid any offensive or blasphemous language. Avoid names of well-known organisations and avoid abbreviations if naming your company after yourself – i.e. Dave Mann Consulting, rather than D Mann Consulting.

Your company setup agent will check that your chosen name is available before registering it for you.

Step 2: Applying for you license

First you must apply for you trade license. You must make this application to Dubai Department of Development (DED). Again, a company setup expert can take care of this for you.

When applying for your Dubai pest control company license, you will be required to submit:

• Completed application form
• Passport copy of the proposed owner or owners
• Two colour passport size photos.

You will also require approval from the Dubai Municipality (DM). The DM will approve your application and provide a No Objection Certificate, usually within three to five working days.

 

Requirements to get a pest control license

There are a few more requirements to setting up a pest control business in the UAE. For one, you are required to sit a pest control license exam. You must achieve a pass mark of 70 to receive your license. This test can be booked online and you will receive official confirmation of your results within two to three weeks.

You will also need to appoint a supervisor and at least two technicians. All will need to be qualified in pest control and sit exams set by the Dubai Municipality.

Engineers are also required to have a bachelor’s level degree in agriculture / pesticide protection /  public protection / or similar plus at least one year of experience in pest control.

Step 3: Making your visa applications
The company owner, supervisor and all technicians must have visas before you can trade.

Again, with the right guidance, the visa application process can be incredibly straightforward. Most company formation agents can help you with this step as well as with your license application.

As the holder of a UAE business license, you can also sponsor others for their visas too. This could be a spouse, parent or child, or a domestic worker such as a housekeeper.

The maximum number of visas you can apply for will depend on the size of your company, your chosen setup and, for dependant visas, your personal earnings.

 

Dubai pest control license cost

When launching a pest control business in Dubai, UAE, there is much more to consider than just the cost of the license.

You must factor in the cost of exams. The supervisor exam costs AED 220 while technician exams cost AED 120.

You must also factor in the cost of hiring and employing your supervisor and technicians, as well as the cost of visas, premises, vehicles and any number of other overheads – marketing, promotion, stock etc.

Then there is the license itself, which is relatively inexpensive. You can expect to pay in the region of AED 10,000 to AED 20,000.

 

Are you ready to start your pest control business in Dubai?

Hopefully this guide has made clear that if you’re armed with the right knowledge, setting up a pest control business in Dubai doesn’t have to be overly complex.

That being said, it does require a level of prior knowledge of the process. What’s more, it is important to note that the application process is only straightforward if your license application is complete at the time of submission and free from errors.

To help you to ensure that this is the case, it’s a good idea to work with a company formation specialist such as Set Hub when establishing a new company in the UAE.

We are a team of company registration professionals who are passionate about bringing the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs to life.

As well as handling your license application, Set Hub can also assist with the opening of corporate bank accounts and advise on the most appropriate financial institution to suit your specific needs.

We also offer visa and immigration services and can handle all government formalities, permissions, work permits and visas applications that are required to trade in the UAE.
In short, our experts can establish your company on your behalf, make your license and visa applications, and take care of all the necessary admin – leaving you free to get on with running your business.