How to Buy a Salon in Dubai: Licences & Prices (2026)
Short answer: If you are working out how to buy a salon in Dubai, start by shortlisting running salons on BusinessFinder.me, for example its pages for ladies salon for sale in Dubai and salons for sale in Dubai. Then check the trade licence activities, the Dubai Municipality health and safety approval, the Ejari lease, the staff visas and the real trading figures. Pay only under a written sale agreement, and transfer ownership officially with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or your free zone authority.
This guide covers buying a ladies, beauty or gents salon that is already trading. Listing details were checked on 19 October 2026.
Why buy a running salon instead of opening a new one?
A running salon already has its fit-out, equipment, licence, approvals and often its staff and clients, so it can earn from day one. You pay for that goodwill and inherit any problems, so due diligence matters more than speed.
What types of salons can you buy in Dubai?
BusinessFinder.me is a UAE marketplace for buying and selling running businesses and trade licences. Owners list salons with an asking price in AED and the area, and buyers contact them directly.
Ladies and beauty salons
Ladies and beauty salons offer hair, nails, threading, waxing and facials, and they make up most salon listings on the site. See the beauty salons for sale in Dubai page for more examples.
Gents salons and barber shops
Gents salons are usually smaller, with a few chairs and strong walk-in trade. Browse the gents salons for sale in Dubai and our gents salon for sale in Dubai page.
How much does it cost to buy a salon in Dubai?
There is no official price list. Buyers weigh the asking price against net profit, rent, time left on the lease, the fit-out and the approvals in place. On 19 October 2026, the ladies salon tag page on BusinessFinder.me showed 13 listings from AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000, with 11 between AED 150,000 and AED 300,000. The gents salon tag page showed 7 listings from AED 100,000 to AED 650,000.
Examples of salons listed right now
These are real BusinessFinder.me listings, checked on 19 October 2026. Prices are asking prices and details are the sellers’ own claims, so verify them.
| Listing | Area | Asking price | Seller’s highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladies salon | Warsan 4, International City | AED 150,000 | 7+ years trading, salon and home-service staff |
| Gents salon | Al Twar 1 | AED 150,000 | 2 staff, licence and Ejari until March 2027 |
| Ladies salon | Port Saeed, Deira | AED 250,000 | Open since 2020, 538 sq ft, 2 staff |
| Ladies salon | JVC District 12 | AED 300,000 | 70 sqm, finances at breakeven |
| Beauty salon | Liwan, Dubailand | AED 300,000 | 565 sq ft, approved municipality layout |
| Gents salon | Al Barsha 1 | AED 400,000 | Renovated, includes a Moroccan bath area |
How do you buy a salon in Dubai, step by step?
- Set a budget covering the price, landlord deposit, working capital and visa costs.
- Shortlist salons on BusinessFinder.me by area and price, and contact sellers.
- Visit at different times to see real footfall, staff and equipment.
- Request documents: trade licence, municipality approval and layout, Ejari lease, staff list, bank statements and booking or POS reports.
- Value the salon on proven profit, lease terms, equipment and approvals, not projections.
- Agree the structure: a transfer of the company or licence, or an asset purchase with a new licence.
- Sign a lawyer-reviewed agreement that lists what is included, who pays gratuity, and holds back part of the price until transfer.
- Transfer the licence, lease, visas and bank accounts into your name.
For the general process, read our guide on how to buy a business in Dubai.
What should you check before buying a salon?
Does the trade licence cover every service?
Check the owner, expiry date and licensed activities. Dubai Municipality’s Technical Guidelines for Compliance of Salons, Barbershops and Beauty Centers (version 5, March 2026) say services must comply with the activities on the licence. A service not on the licence, such as a Moroccan bath, is a risk you take on.
Does the salon have Dubai Municipality approval?
Salons need a Dubai Municipality no-objection permit for practising health and safety activities, issued with an approved furniture layout. Dubai Municipality’s technical requirements say a new application is needed for a new company or branch, a layout change, an added activity or a change of location. The salon guidelines also require professional health certificates for service staff and a Civil Defence fire compliance certificate, and non-surgical cosmetic services need Dubai Health Authority approval.
Is the lease registered in Ejari, and will the landlord agree?
Dubai tenancy contracts are registered through Ejari with the Dubai Land Department. Check the rent, cheques, expiry date and whether the landlord will consent in writing to the new owner.
What happens to the staff, visas and gratuity?
List who is on the company’s visas, with basic salaries and start dates. According to the UAE Government portal, expatriate private-sector staff with one year or more of service earn gratuity of 21 days’ basic salary for each of the first five years and 30 days for each year after, capped at two years’ wages. Agree who pays gratuity built up before the sale.
Are the equipment and products included?
Get an itemised list of chairs, basins, stations, beds, machines and stock, and check nothing is leased or under finance.
Is the client base real?
Compare booking or POS reports with bank statements, rent, salaries, products and DEWA bills. Ask whether clients are loyal to the salon or to one stylist.
Does VAT apply when you buy a salon?
Under the Federal Tax Authority’s public clarification VATP015, a transfer of a going concern is not a supply for VAT if the whole business or an independent part is transferred to a taxable person who intends to continue it. A sale of assets alone does not qualify.
How is the salon licence transferred to you?
For a Dubai mainland company, a change of owner is made as a trade licence amendment with DET through the Invest in Dubai platform. Free zone salons follow their authority’s process. Fees vary, so get a current quote first.
Salon buyer’s checklist
| Check | Ask for | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence | Copy with activities and expiry | Expired, or services not listed |
| Municipality approval | Permit and approved layout | Layout changed without approval |
| Fire safety | Civil Defence certificate | Missing or expired |
| Lease | Ejari certificate and contract | Ending soon, no landlord consent |
| Staff | Visas, salaries, health certificates | Gratuity not agreed |
| Finances | Bank statements, POS reports | Cash-only claims |
| Assets | Itemised equipment list | Leased or financed items |
| Tax | VAT and corporate tax status | Unpaid fines |
Key terms explained
- Running business: a business that is open and trading, sold with its premises, equipment and usually its licence and clients.
- Key money: a lump sum paid to the outgoing tenant or owner, on top of rent, for the location, fit-out and goodwill.
- TOGC (transfer of a going concern): the sale of an operating business as a whole, which can fall outside VAT.
- Ejari: the Dubai Land Department system for registering tenancy contracts.
Key takeaways
- BusinessFinder.me lists running ladies, beauty and gents salons in Dubai with asking prices in AED.
- On 19 October 2026, most ladies salons listed were priced between AED 150,000 and AED 300,000.
- Check the licence, municipality approval, Ejari lease, staff and real figures.
- Transfer ownership officially with DET or your free zone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I buy a salon in Dubai?
Shortlist running salons on a marketplace such as BusinessFinder.me, visit them, and check the trade licence, Dubai Municipality approval, Ejari lease, staff visas and financial records. Then sign a lawyer-reviewed agreement and transfer the licence with DET or your free zone authority.
How much does it cost to buy a salon in Dubai?
On 19 October 2026, ladies salons on BusinessFinder.me were listed from AED 100,000 to AED 1,000,000, and gents salons from AED 100,000 to AED 650,000. Government transfer fees are extra.
Can a foreigner buy a salon in Dubai?
Yes. According to the UAE Government portal, foreign investors can own up to 100% of most mainland companies, and only a short list of strategic activities is restricted.
What approvals does a beauty salon need in Dubai?
A trade licence covering its services, a Dubai Municipality health and safety permit with an approved layout, professional health certificates for staff and a Civil Defence fire certificate. Non-surgical cosmetic services also need Dubai Health Authority approval.
Do the staff stay when a salon is sold?
Only if you agree it with the seller. Decide who stays, whether visas are transferred or cancelled, and who pays the gratuity already earned.
Is VAT charged when you buy a salon?
Not if the sale qualifies as a transfer of a going concern: the whole business or an independent part goes to a taxable person who continues it. A sale of assets alone does not qualify.
Last updated: 19 October 2026
Ready to buy or sell a salon?
Browse the latest businesses for sale on BusinessFinder.me or all listings in Dubai. Selling your salon? Post your salon for sale and reach buyers across the UAE. Still comparing options? See where to buy or sell a business in Dubai.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements with DET, Dubai Municipality, your free zone authority or a qualified adviser before you buy.