Business Setup

How to Start an Upholstery Business in Ajman: Setup Guide

Published 26 Jul 2026 · 1 min read

Starting an upholstery or reupholstery business in Ajman involves a craft/manufacturing-services activity licence through the Ajman Department of Economic Development, with workshop and material-storage considerations similar in shape to the furniture and carpentry workshop covered elsewhere in this series.

Licensing considerations

An upholstery business needs a manufacturing/craft-services activity licence covering furniture reupholstery, cushion and fabric work, and related soft-furnishing repair and manufacturing. If the business also sells finished furniture retail rather than purely offering repair and reupholstery services, an additional retail activity may need to be reflected on the licence.

Workshop and material considerations

An upholstery workshop needs space for sewing machines, fabric storage, and furniture-frame work areas — generally a more modest premises requirement than a full furniture manufacturing operation, since upholstery work is typically lighter and less equipment-intensive than ground-up furniture construction covered in this site's Ajman furniture workshop guide.

Costs and timeline

Costs are driven by sewing and upholstery equipment plus fabric and material stock, rather than the licensing fee itself — one of the more accessible craft-based businesses covered in this series. Model your base licensing cost with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is upholstery licensed the same way as furniture manufacturing?

They are related but distinct — upholstery work (fabric, cushions, soft furnishings) is generally lighter and less equipment-intensive than ground-up furniture construction covered in this site's Ajman furniture workshop guide, though both fall under similar craft/manufacturing activity categories.

Can an upholstery business also sell fabric retail?

Yes, though this may need an additional retail activity reflected on your licence alongside the core upholstery/craft-services activity — confirm with the Ajman DED if your business model combines both.

Do I need a large workshop for this business?

Generally a more modest space than full furniture manufacturing — sewing machines, fabric storage and a furniture-frame work area are the core needs, without the heavier woodworking equipment a ground-up furniture workshop requires.

Can a solo upholsterer operate without hiring staff?

Yes — a solo craft-based operation is a viable model, and some UAE freelance permit routes may cover craft/upholstery services, worth comparing against a full company licence if you plan to stay solo.

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