Trade license in Dubai

Who issues trade licences

Your trade name is approved by the licensing authority, and some activities also need approval from another authority (for example for food, health, education or financial services).

Types of trade licence

You can combine professional and commercial activities in many Free Zones. On the mainland, some combinations need separate licences. We check yours before you apply.

Free Zone licence or mainland licence?

Most of our clients choose a Free Zone. See Free Zone company setup, compare Free Zones or mainland company formation.

How to get a mainland trade licence in Dubai

1. Choose your activities. They decide your licence type and any extra approvals.
2. Choose the legal form. Most foreign owners set up a limited liability company (LLC).
3. Register the trade name. It must not copy a name already registered.
4. Get the initial approval. A government no-objection to go ahead. It is not yet permission to trade.
5. Sign the founding documents, such as the memorandum of association.
6. Rent premises and register the lease with Ejari.
7. Get any outside approvals your activity needs.
8. Pay and collect your licence. Then open the immigration file for visas.

How to get a Free Zone trade licence

1. Choose the Free Zone that allows your activity and visas.
2. Choose your activities and package (desk, visas, licence length).
3. Reserve the company name.
4. Submit the application online with passports and photos.
5. Sign the documents, usually electronically.
6. Receive your licence and company documents, usually within a few working days.

With us, steps 1 and 2 happen on a free 30-minute call, and you do step 4 in our online application.

Dubai's Instant Licence

For activities that need no approval beyond the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai offers an Instant Licence issued online in minutes. It includes a virtual business address for the first year only: at renewal, or for any amendment, you must show a real business location. It is a fast start, but plan your premises before year two.

Documents you usually need

Choosing your activities

Your activities are the most important choice on the licence. They decide the licence type, which authority approves you, how banks see your company and what you can legally invoice for.

• Match what you will invoice for. A mismatch is a common reason for bank questions.
• Start with what you need now. Most Free Zones include 3 activities; you can add more later.
• Check approvals early. Food, health, education, finance and security-related activities often need outside approval.

Search the official IFZA activity list to see how activities, codes and approvals work.

Trade licence for foreigners and non-residents

You don't need to be a UAE resident, or have a local partner, to own a trade licence in most cases:

• Free Zone: 100% foreign ownership, and the whole application can be done from abroad with online signatures.
• Mainland: 100% foreign ownership for most commercial and professional activities. A short list of strategic activities still has ownership rules.
• Residence visa: optional. Your company can sponsor one when you are ready; you then come to the UAE once for the medical test and biometrics.
• Banking: some banks open accounts for non-resident owners, others want a residence visa first. We tell you which route fits.

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Why licence applications get delayed

1. A rejected trade name. Names that copy an existing company, use restricted words or don't fit the activity are refused.
2. Activities that need outside approval, discovered only after the application.
3. Documents not attested, especially for a company shareholder.
4. Premises not ready on the mainland: no signed lease, or a lease not registered with Ejari.
5. Unclear ownership, where the ultimate beneficial owner is not obvious from the documents.

We check all five before anything is submitted, so your application doesn't stall halfway.

Renewing and changing your licence

• Renewal: every year, before the expiry date, together with your lease if you have premises. Renewal costs about the same as the first licence.
• Late renewal: can lead to fines and blocks on visas and other services. We remind you well before the date.
• Amendments: adding activities, changing shareholders or the company name is done through an amendment, sometimes with new approvals.
• Linked renewals: your establishment card and visas have their own dates. Keep them on one calendar.

How to check a trade licence

Before you sign with a supplier or partner, check their licence:

• Any emirate: the business licence verification service on the UAE government portal (u.ae).
• Dubai mainland: the licence search on Invest in Dubai.
• Free Zones: each Free Zone has its own company register or verification service.

What decides the cost of a trade licence

1. Who issues it: the mainland or which Free Zone
2. Licence type and number of activities
3. Outside approvals for regulated activities
4. Your premises: flexi-desk, office, shop or warehouse
5. Visas and the establishment card
6. Licence length, where multi-year licences are offered

We don't publish a price that may be wrong for you: after a free 30-minute call you get your exact cost, line by line, in writing.

How we get your trade licence

We set up companies in Free Zones and on the mainland: activities, name, approvals, premises, licence, visas, bank account and corporate tax, with one team. Choose how much we do for you: Basic, Silver or Gold. With Silver and Gold you also get our guarantee: Dubai-Ready, or a full refund of our setup fee.