Business Setup

How to Open a Salon or Spa in Ajman: Setup Guide

Published 26 Jul 2026 · 1 min read

Opening a salon or spa in Ajman requires a personal-care/beauty-services activity licence through the Ajman Department of Economic Development, at one of the more accessible cost points in the UAE for this activity.

Licensing and approvals

Salons and spas typically need a personal-care activity licence, and depending on specific treatments offered, additional health-authority approval may apply to treatments considered medical or semi-medical in nature. Staff practising such treatments may need their own professional registration.

Mainland requirements

A salon or spa serving walk-in clients generally needs a mainland licence given its retail/service-facing nature — Ajman's comparatively low mainland licensing costs are a genuine factor many salon founders weigh against Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.

Costs and timeline

Costs depend heavily on premises size, fit-out standard and the specific treatments licensed. Model your licensing cost with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator, and budget separately for fit-out and any additional health-authority approvals your specific treatments require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ajman the cheapest emirate for a salon licence?

It is regularly among the lower-cost mainland options alongside Sharjah — model your specific case with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator rather than assuming a fixed universal ranking.

Do nail-only salons need health authority approval in Ajman?

Standard nail and hair services are generally covered under the salon licence itself; it is specifically treatments considered medical or semi-medical that may need extra approval.

Can an Ajman-licensed salon serve clients from other emirates?

The licence covers where you operate the business, not where clients come from — clients from any emirate can visit an Ajman-based salon.

What is the biggest cost beyond the licence itself?

Fit-out (styling stations, plumbing, treatment rooms) frequently costs more than the base trade licence, particularly for a full-service salon or spa.

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