SoukLocal Verified the standard
Standard version 1.0, effective 28 October 2026
A SoukLocal Verified business has passed 5 mandatory checks: a valid UAE trade licence, licensed activities that cover the listed work, an authorised person, a real WhatsApp contact and a confirmed location. Contracting businesses in Dubai must also be on the Dubai Municipality Contractor Register and hold liability insurance. Badges are re-checked at least yearly and cannot be bought.
Mandatory for every business
| Check | What it means | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Valid UAE trade licence | The licence is active and not expired on the date we check. | Licence copy, checked against the issuing authority (an emirate economic department or a free zone). |
| Licensed activity covers the listed work | Every service on the listing is covered by an activity on the licence. A design-only licence cannot list building work. | Licence activities compared line by line with the listed services. |
| Authorised person | The person managing the listing is an owner or manager on the licence, or holds written authority from the company. | Emirates ID matched to the licence, or a signed authorisation letter. |
| Real business contact | The WhatsApp number on the listing belongs to the business and reaches a person. | One-time code sent to the listed WhatsApp number. |
| Business location | The business address matches the licence. Showrooms and workshops listed for walk-ins are confirmed. | Licence address; location confirmation for showrooms. |
Also mandatory for contracting businesses in Dubai
Renovation, civil, fit-out, MEP, pool, gypsum, fabrication, aluminium and glass, and waterproofing contractors.
| Check | What it means | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Municipality Contractor Register | Registered and classified under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025, and listed only for work within its classification. Contractors operating before the law have until 8 January 2027 to regularise; until then the listing states their status. | Register record and classification, as shown by Dubai Municipality or Invest in Dubai. |
| Liability insurance in force | Third-party liability insurance covering the listed work, valid on the date we check. | Current insurance certificate. |
Also mandatory for engineering consultants
| Check | What it means | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Municipality consultant registration | Engineering consultancy offices hold the annual Dubai Municipality registration required by Dubai Law No. 14 of 2025. | Current registration record. |
Checked where the work requires it
These are shown on the listing as extra lines when we have checked them. They are not needed for the badge unless the business lists that kind of work.
- Zone accreditation. For work in Trakhees or Dubai Development Authority areas, accreditation or registration with that authority.
- Fire and life-safety work. For fire alarm, sprinkler and other fire-system work, approval to carry out that work.
- Utility-connected work. For electrical, solar and other utility-connected work, any approvals the utility requires for the contractor.
What Verified does not cover
- Quality of workmanship: reviews from real jobs help you judge this.
- Prices: always compare itemised quotes.
- A business's financial standing.
- Permits for your specific project: the contractor or consultant must obtain these.
Keeping it current
- We re-check every Verified business when its licence, registration or insurance expires, and at least every 12 months.
- If a mandatory check fails, the Verified badge comes off until it is fixed.
- Credible reports about a licence or identity are reviewed within 2 working days, and the badge can be suspended while we review.
- Each listing shows what we checked and the date of the last check.
The other marks
- Top Rated: average 4.5 or higher from 20 or more reviews from real customers.
- Claimed: an authorised person manages the listing.
Background on the laws behind these checks: Dubai's Contractor Register (Law No. 7 of 2025) and the engineering consultant law (Law No. 14 of 2025).
Questions
What does SoukLocal Verified mean?
It means SoukLocal checked, on the date shown, that the business holds a valid UAE trade licence covering the listed work, that the person managing the listing is authorised, and that its WhatsApp contact and location are real. Contracting businesses in Dubai must also be on the Dubai Municipality Contractor Register and hold liability insurance. It is not a guarantee of workmanship.
Can a business pay to get Verified?
No. The badge is earned only by passing the mandatory checks. It cannot be bought, and paid plans do not change it.
How often are Verified businesses re-checked?
When a licence, registration or insurance expires, and at least every 12 months. If a check fails, the badge comes off until it is fixed.
Does Verified mean the contractor is good?
Verified confirms licensing, registration, identity and insurance. Quality is shown separately by reviews from real jobs and by the Top Rated mark (4.5 or higher from 20 or more reviews).