You register a company in Dubai Knowledge Park for human resources, recruitment, consultancy, executive search, vocational training or professional development. A training institute also needs an Educational Services Permit from Dubai's education regulator, the KHDA.
The KHDA step has a deadline: six months from initial approval. NXTSTAR runs the company registration and the permit application together so that deadline is met.
Last reviewed: by the NXTSTAR team.
Rules are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current position before you apply.
Who Dubai Knowledge Park suits
Dubai Knowledge Park is for training institutes, professional development providers, HR consultancies, recruitment firms and executive search companies.
It is not for schools or universities, and businesses outside the HR and learning sectors will not fit.
Company structures
- A free zone company registered with the park.
- A branch of an existing training or HR company.
- A freelance permit for individual trainers and education professionals.
Licences and activities
- Vocational training and professional development.
- Human resource management and consultancy.
- Recruitment and executive search.
- Business process outsourcing for HR functions.
Documents
- Passport copies for shareholders, directors and the manager
- Initial approval and trade name reservation from the park
- For a training institute: a list of course names and descriptions
- For exam preparation courses: approval from the body that awards the certificate
The process, step by step
- Obtain initial approval and a trade name reservation from the licensing authority.
- Apply to the KHDA for the Educational Services Permit.
- Get prior approval from any other government body whose field your courses fall under.
- Complete the licence, premises and visas.
What is particular to Dubai Knowledge Park
The KHDA gives a maximum of six months from the date of initial approval to complete the permit and licence. Course lists and awarding-body approvals take time to assemble, so prepare them before the clock starts.
What NXTSTAR does, and what we do not
- We help you choose the structure, licence and activities.
- We prepare and submit the application.
- We handle the visa and bank account steps afterwards.
- We do not decide approvals. The authority does, and banks decide on accounts.
- We are an independent consultancy and are not part of Dubai Knowledge Park.
Common questions
Does a training company need KHDA approval?
Yes. The KHDA requires an Educational Services Permit to establish and operate a training institute in Dubai.
How long do I have to complete the permit?
The KHDA grants a maximum of six months from the date of initial approval.
Does a recruitment or HR consultancy need the KHDA permit?
The permit is for training institutes. An HR or recruitment firm that delivers no training registers with the park for its own activity.
How much does Dubai Knowledge Park setup cost?
We do not publish prices. Ask us for a written quote that separates authority fees from our service fee.
Sources
The rules on this page come from the authority's own published material, checked on 7 October 2026.
Talk to NXTSTAR about Dubai Knowledge Park
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you which route fits, what it involves and what we would need from you.