Starting a barbershop in Abu Dhabi involves a personal-care/grooming activity licence through ADDED — distinct from this site's Abu Dhabi salon and spa guide, since a barbershop specifically serves male grooming (haircuts, shaves, beard trims) and is often licensed and operated somewhat differently from a mixed-gender or female-focused beauty salon.
Licensing considerations
A barbershop needs a personal-care/grooming activity licence, generally with a lighter regulatory footprint than a full spa offering health-adjacent treatments, since traditional barbering services (cuts, shaves, trims) are not typically classified as medical or semi-medical activity in the way some spa treatments are.
Staffing and premises considerations
Barbers may need to demonstrate relevant training or experience depending on the specific licensing authority's expectations, and premises need barber chairs, mirrors and basic grooming station setup — a more modest fit-out requirement than a full-service spa with treatment rooms.
Costs and timeline
Costs are driven by fit-out (barber chairs, stations, mirrors) and equipment rather than special health-authority approvals, making this a comparatively accessible personal-care business to set up. Model your base licensing cost with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator.