Which Innovation City License Do You Need?
A curated activity finder for AI, Web3, gaming, cybersecurity, fintech, and e-commerce founders
Innovation City licenses hundreds of activities. This tool narrows that catalogue to the 25 activities most relevant to the business types Titan Digital works with, organized by category, so you can find your likely license activity in a minute instead of searching a spreadsheet.
By Titan Digital UAE. Kaan also runs Titan Digital LTD, registered at Innovation City
Innovation City licenses activities across Standard, Custom, and Premium tiers. Founders in AI, Web3, gaming, cybersecurity, fintech, or e-commerce typically match a Custom-tier activity, such as Gaming Studio, Web3-Software Development Services, or Web E-Commerce, rather than a generic Standard trading code.
This shortlist pulls from Innovation City's published activity list and narrows it to the 25 codes most relevant to the niches covered across Titan Digital's UAE business setup guides. It is not Innovation City's complete activity catalogue, which runs into the hundreds. Free zones such as Innovation City license activities independently of mainland licensing authorities, a distinction explained on the UAE Government's page on entities responsible for economic activities. If your business does not match a category below, reach out directly and Titan Digital can check the wider list on your behalf.
AI, Software and SaaS
Innovation City has no single dedicated "SaaS" code. Most software businesses match Digital Platforms & Services or a related IT consultancy activity instead.
| Code | Activity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S-013 | Digital Platforms & Services | The closest match for a software house or platform-based SaaS product |
| S-1800 | API Platform & Integration Hub | Businesses selling API access or integration tooling rather than a full platform |
| S-021 | Information Technology Consultants | IT advisory and consulting work rather than product development |
| S-1799 | MLOps & Model Observability | Businesses running AI model infrastructure and monitoring, not model development |
For the full breakdown of setting up a software or SaaS business in the UAE, see Titan's SaaS business guide.
Web3 and Blockchain
Web3 activities split between building software and advising clients. Match the activity to what your company actually does.
| Code | Activity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S-009 | Web3-Software Development Services | Building decentralized applications, wallets, or smart contracts |
| S-017 | Web3 Services | Broader Web3 product or infrastructure services beyond core development |
| S-154 | Web3 Consulting Services | Advisory work for clients building on Web3, not development itself |
| S-018 | Distributed Ledger Technology Services | Blockchain network and DLT infrastructure services |
Titan's full Web3 business guide covers the setup process for this niche in more depth.
Gaming and eSports
Innovation City has a dedicated Gaming, eGaming and GameFi activity group, one of the more detailed categories in its Custom tier.
| Code | Activity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S-085 | Gaming Studio | Developing and building games directly |
| S-086 | Gaming Publisher | Publishing and distributing games built by other studios |
| S-087 | Gaming Content Production | Producing gaming-related video, streaming, or media content |
| S-084 | E Sports Ecosystem | Competitive gaming events, teams, or ecosystem infrastructure |
See Titan's Gaming Studio guide for a full breakdown of licensing a gaming business in the UAE.
Cybersecurity and Cloud
Cybersecurity, cloud, and network activities sit under two related Innovation City groups depending on whether the business is advisory or infrastructure-based.
| Code | Activity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S-050 | Cyber Security Consultancy | Advisory and consulting on cybersecurity practices |
| S-054 | Managed Cyber Security Services Provider | Ongoing, managed cybersecurity monitoring for clients |
| S-035 | Cloud Service & Datacenters Providers | Businesses providing cloud infrastructure or hosting |
| S-1793 | Cloud Architecture & FinOps | Cloud architecture design and cost management services |
Titan's IT, Cyber, and Cloud guide covers licensing this category in more detail.
Fintech and Payments
Innovation City's Fintech group covers infrastructure and software for payments, billing, and treasury, rather than being a licensed financial institution itself.
| Code | Activity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S-1853 | Payments Orchestration Software | Software that routes and manages payments across providers |
| S-1855 | Embedded Finance Enablement | Building financial features into non-financial products |
| S-1854 | Billing & Revenue Operations | Subscription billing and revenue management software |
| S-1856 | Treasury Tech & Liquidity Planning | Treasury and cash management technology for businesses |
E-Commerce and DTC Brands
Innovation City has specific Custom-tier e-trading activities for several product categories, not just a generic e-commerce code.
| Code | Activity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S-920 | Jewellery & Precious Stones E-Trading | Direct-to-consumer jewelry brands, see the jewelry e-commerce guide |
| S-778 | Garments, Textiles & Gifts E-Trading | Direct-to-consumer fashion brands, see the fashion e-commerce guide |
| S-752 | Foodstuff E-Trading | Specialty and organic food brands, see the specialty food guide |
| S-856 | Household, Professional & Personal Goods E-Trading | Beauty and perfume brands selling personal care products online |
| S-603 | E-Commerce Through Websites | General online stores, including the dropshipping model |
These codes fit a direct-to-consumer brand selling to individual shoppers online. If your business is wholesale, selling to retailers or distributors rather than end consumers, a general trading free zone may be a more cost-effective fit, since Innovation City's included content studio and creator-economy positioning benefit content-driven, consumer-facing brands most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse by business category, such as AI and software, Web3, gaming, cybersecurity and cloud, fintech, or e-commerce. Each category lists the closest matching Innovation City activity codes, with a short note on what each one covers and a link to Titan Digital's full guide for that niche.
No. Innovation City licenses hundreds of activities across Standard, Custom, and Premium tiers. This page lists a curated shortlist of 25 activities most relevant to the technology and e-commerce niches Titan Digital covers, not the full Innovation City catalogue.
Standard activities cover general trading and service categories. Custom activities are specific to Innovation City's technology focus, such as gaming studios or Web3 development. Premium activities cover frontier categories like DAO structures and advanced AI, and are typically an upgradeable extra on top of a base package.
Yes. Innovation City's Idea, Startup, and Growth packages each include up to 10 standard or custom activities, and the Seed package includes up to 5 custom or premium activities, so a company can typically combine several related activities under one license.
It depends on the product and the sales model. Innovation City has specific Custom-tier e-trading activities for jewelry, garments and textiles, foodstuff, and household or personal goods, which suit a direct-to-consumer brand. A wholesale supplier selling to other businesses may be better served by a general trading free zone instead.
Standard and Custom activities are included within the activity allowance of your chosen package. Premium activities are listed as an upgradeable extra on top of the base package price, alongside additional visas and premium office space.
Innovation City licenses these separately. Web3 Consulting Services covers advisory work for clients building on Web3, while Web3-Software Development Services covers building the software itself, such as decentralized applications, wallets, or smart contracts.
The UAE classifies business activities through the National Economic Register, which aligns activities with the International Standard Industrial Classification, ISIC4, under Federal Decree-Law No. 37 of 2021. Each free zone, including Innovation City, maps its own activity codes to this national framework.
It is worth confirming before you apply, since the wrong activity code can affect your package eligibility and facility requirements. Titan Digital offers a setup consultation to confirm your matching activity code alongside planning your website, SEO, and content strategy.
This shortlist covers Titan Digital's core niches, not Innovation City's entire activity catalogue. If your business falls outside these categories, book a consultation and Titan Digital can check Innovation City's broader activity list, published on their company formation pages, for a match.
Confirm Your Exact Activity Code
Titan Digital helps founders lock in the right Innovation City activity, then builds the website, SEO, and content strategy around it.
Kaan leads digital strategy at Titan Digital UAE and separately runs Titan Digital LTD, registered at Innovation City. He gives AI workshops at Innovation City almost monthly, speaks regularly for RAK Entrepreneurs, and has spoken at universities including LSBU Ajman and American University RAK. He has run Titan Digital since 2008 across Canada, the USA, Hong Kong, and the UAE.