General Trading Licence in Dubai, UAE
General trading licence in Dubai from AED 12,900 free zone or AED 15,200 mainland plus uplift. See covered goods and which products need extra approvals.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-09
Quick answer
A general trading licence in Dubai costs from about AED 15,200 on the mainland plus a category uplift of AED 3,000 to 6,000, or from AED 12,900 in free zones. It lets one company import, export and sell many unrelated product categories without licensing each line separately.
- Free zone from
- AED 12,900 + uplift
- Mainland from
- AED 15,200 + uplift
- Coverage
- Multiple unrelated categories
- Setup time
- 3 – 10 working days
A standard trading licence ties you to specific activity codes. A general trading licence widens that: one licence, many unrelated product categories — electronics next to textiles next to furniture. For import-export houses and diversified traders it removes the amendment fees and approval loops that come with adding codes one by one.
The breadth costs more, and not everything is covered. Regulated goods — food, cosmetics, medical products, vehicles, precious metals — still need their own authority approvals no matter what the licence says.
Here is what general trading actually covers in 2026, what it costs on the mainland and in the main free zones, and when the uplift is genuinely worth paying.
General trading activities & approval requirements
| Activity | Status | Licensing authority | Qualification requirements | Additional approvals | Official source | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General trading | Standard | DET (mainland) or free zone authority | No specific degree required | Product-specific approvals for restricted goods | Dubai DET | |
| Import & export | Standard | DET or free zone authority | No specific degree required | Customs registration for clearing goods | Dubai Customs | |
| Foodstuff trading | Regulated | DET or free zone authority | No specific degree required | Municipality food safety registration | Dubai Municipality | |
| Cosmetics & perfume trading | Regulated | DET or free zone authority | No specific degree required | Product registration with the municipality may apply | Dubai Municipality | |
| Medical equipment trading | Regulated | DET or free zone authority | Health regulator rules may require a qualified pharmacist or technical manager | Health authority approval (e.g. DHA in Dubai) | Dubai Health Authority | |
| Electronics & telecom equipment trading | Regulated | DET or free zone authority | No specific degree required | TDRA type approval for telecom devices | TDRA |
- General tradingStandard
- Authority:
- DET (mainland) or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- No specific degree required
- Approvals:
- Product-specific approvals for restricted goods
- Source:
- Dubai DET
- Import & exportStandard
- Authority:
- DET or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- No specific degree required
- Approvals:
- Customs registration for clearing goods
- Source:
- Dubai Customs
- Foodstuff tradingRegulated
- Authority:
- DET or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- No specific degree required
- Approvals:
- Municipality food safety registration
- Source:
- Dubai Municipality
- Cosmetics & perfume tradingRegulated
- Authority:
- DET or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- No specific degree required
- Approvals:
- Product registration with the municipality may apply
- Source:
- Dubai Municipality
- Medical equipment tradingRegulated
- Authority:
- DET or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- Health regulator rules may require a qualified pharmacist or technical manager
- Approvals:
- Health authority approval (e.g. DHA in Dubai)
- Source:
- Dubai Health Authority
- Authority:
- DET or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- No specific degree required
- Approvals:
- TDRA type approval for telecom devices
- Source:
- TDRA
"Regulated" means an extra regulator approval or qualification is normally needed. General guidance only — rules vary by emirate and authority and can change; confirm with the licensing authority before applying. Search all UAE business activities →
| Item | Mainland (AED) | Free zone (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Base licence | 15,200 – 20,000 | 12,900 – 18,000 |
| General trading uplift | 3,000 – 6,000 | 2,000 – 5,000 |
| Premises | Ejari from 10,000 | Flexi-desk included |
| Residence visa each | 3,500 – 5,700 | 3,500 – 5,700 |
| Year-one realistic total | 30,000 – 42,000 | 18,000 – 28,000 |
What general trading covers — and what it never covers
- Covered: most consumer goods, electronics, building materials, garments, household products and mixed-category trading
- Never covered by the licence alone: food (municipality), cosmetics (municipality), medical devices (MOHAP), vehicles (RTA), telecom equipment (TDRA), precious stones and metals (DMCC rules)
- Import, export, re-export, storage and distribution within the licensing jurisdiction
- E-commerce under the same entity when the e-activity code is included
When the uplift is worth paying
If you trade three or more unrelated categories, general trading usually beats stacking individual codes once amendment fees and renewal multipliers are counted. If you trade one or two focused categories, a standard commercial licence with the right codes is cheaper every year.
| Scenario | Better route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 2 related categories | Standard commercial licence | Lower annual fee, no uplift |
| 3+ unrelated categories | General trading | One fee covers the range |
| Frequently changing product mix | General trading | No amendment cycle per new line |
| Regulated goods as core business | Specific codes + authority approvals | General trading does not replace sector approvals |
Who this option suits best
- Import-export houses trading mixed product categories
- Distributors building multi-brand portfolios
- Traders whose product mix changes season to season
- GCC re-export businesses using Jebel Ali or Port Khalid
Step-by-step process
- 1
Confirm the product range1 day
List categories for the next 24 months; check which need sector approvals regardless of licence breadth.
- 2
Choose jurisdiction1 day
Mainland for UAE-market sales, free zone for re-export and international trade.
- 3
Name reservation and approval1 – 2 days
Standard flow; trading names must reflect commercial activity.
- 4
Licence issuance with general trading code2 – 7 days
Pay base fee plus uplift; premises evidence required on the mainland.
- 5
Customs code and sector registrations3 – 10 days
Importer code, plus municipality / MOHAP / ESMA registrations for regulated lines.
- 6
Banking and VAT2 – 4 weeks
Corporate account, then VAT registration as turnover approaches AED 375,000.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Product category list
- Ejari tenancy contract (mainland)
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Licence issuance | 3 – 10 working days |
| Importer code | 1 – 3 working days |
| Sector registrations (if any) | 1 – 3 weeks |
| Corporate bank account | 1 – 4 weeks |
2026 published fee levels; uplifts vary by authority and are confirmed on the quotation before payment.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Assuming general trading covers regulated goods
Fix: Budget for municipality, MOHAP or conformity registrations separately.
Paying the uplift for a focused range
Fix: Price grouped codes first — often thousands cheaper per year.
Choosing mainland by default
Fix: If most revenue is re-export, a free zone structure is materially cheaper.
Ignoring renewal cost
Fix: The uplift repeats annually; get the year-two figure in writing.
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance notifications and reports applied only to financial years ending on or before 31 December 2022 — no new ESR filings are due for later years (Ministry of Finance).
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
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7 min read · Published Read guideFrequently asked questions
How much is a general trading licence in Dubai in 2026?
What can I sell with a general trading licence?
Is general trading available in free zones?
Do I need an office or warehouse?
Can I convert a standard licence to general trading later?
People also ask
Can I buy a general trading licence for sale in the UAE?
Licences are issued to a company by the licensing authority, not sold as standalone items. Taking over an existing licensed company means a share transfer with due diligence on its liabilities; most founders apply for a new general trading licence instead.
General trading vs commercial licence — what is the difference?
A commercial licence covers specific activity codes; general trading is the broad version covering many unrelated categories under one code, at a higher fee.
Does a general trading licence include e-commerce?
Usually yes when the e-activity is included in the licence wording; confirm before paying if online sales are core.
How many visas come with a general trading licence?
Same rules as any licence: free zone flexi-desks carry one to three visas; mainland quotas follow Ejari office size.
Is the renewal the same price as year one?
Broadly yes — base fee plus uplift recur annually. Promotional year-one pricing from some providers does not carry into renewal.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm bank-account support and which banks the provider actually opens with
- Register for corporate tax within the deadline after licence issuance
- Diarise your licence renewal date and UBO register updates
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Package prices are read from each provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and check date
- Government fee figures are cited to the published schedule of the relevant authority; where an authority does not publish a figure we say so instead of estimating
- We do not audit provider operations, licence standing or adviser credentials — see how we verify for exactly what a verification covers
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- Federal Customs AuthorityImport, export and re-export customs requirements
- Dubai Trade — customs and import codesOfficial importer code and customs clearance procedures
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
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