Trade Licence in the UAE
Compare UAE trade licence types, costs, activities, documents and setup routes. See mainland vs free-zone options and verified packages before you apply.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-16
Quick answer
A UAE trade licence is the legal permission to carry out approved business activities. The right licence depends on the activity, emirate and whether the company is mainland or free zone. Total cost combines authority, registration, workspace, immigration, visa and professional charges rather than one universal fee.
- Issuer
- Emirate or free-zone authority
- Main categories
- Commercial, professional, industrial, tourism
- Validity
- Usually renewed annually
- Price
- Activity and route dependent
This umbrella guide explains how UAE licence categories and jurisdictions fit together. It does not replace the detailed commercial, general-trading, professional, industrial, tourism or renewal guides.
Start with what the business will actually do and where it will trade. The authority-approved activity codes determine the licence, approvals, facility and cost.
Common trade licence 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 →
UAE trade licence types compared
| Licence type | Common use | Important distinction | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Buying, selling, import and distribution | Specific trading activities | /commercial-license |
| General trading | Multiple unrelated product groups | Broader than standard commercial | /general-trading-license |
| Professional | Consultancy and expertise-led services | Structure depends on authority and legal form | /professional-license |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, assembly and processing | Facility and external approvals often required | /industrial-license |
| Tourism | Travel and tourism activities | Sector approvals apply | /tourism-license |
What does a UAE trade licence cost?
There is no single UAE business licence cost. A valid comparison must separate the authority licence and incorporation fees from workspace, establishment card, visas, external approvals, professional fees, VAT and renewal. Provider offers must also state whether the figure is fixed, starting-from, promotional or government-cost-only.
- Authority licence and registration
- Trade-name and initial approvals
- Workspace, Ejari or free-zone facility
- Immigration file and residence visas
- Sector approvals and product registrations
- Provider professional fee and VAT
- Annual licence, workspace and visa renewals
Mainland vs free-zone trade licences
| Factor | Mainland | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Emirate economic department | Named free-zone authority |
| UAE onshore trade | Direct, subject to activity | Check distributor, branch or dual-licence route |
| Workspace | Registered premises commonly required | Package/facility dependent |
| Visas | Linked to establishment and premises | Linked to package and facility |
| Price comparison | Include premises and market-related fees | Include immigration and visa exclusions |
Licence type by business activity
A product seller usually needs a commercial activity; a consultant a professional activity; a manufacturer an industrial activity; and a travel operator a tourism activity. Regulated sectors can need a second authority approval. Confirm the exact code before reserving premises or paying a package.
Renewing a UAE trade licence
Renewal is normally annual and can involve the licence, workspace, establishment card and visas on different dates. Ask for year-two costs before buying a discounted first-year package, and use the dedicated renewal guide for the process and authority caveats.
Who this option suits best
- Founders who need to identify the correct UAE licence category
- Businesses comparing mainland and free-zone routes
- Existing owners planning a licence amendment or renewal
Step-by-step process
- 1
Define activities
List what the company will sell or provide and match it to approved codes.
- 2
Choose mainland or free zone
Base the route on customer location, premises and visa needs.
- 3
Reserve the trade name
Submit compliant name options to the issuing authority.
- 4
Obtain approvals
Complete initial and any external sector approvals.
- 5
Submit documents and premises evidence
Provide KYC and the facility documents required for the route.
- 6
Pay and receive the licence
Check the itemised invoice, terms and renewal before payment.
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
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Activity and name approval | Authority dependent |
| External approvals | Only where required |
| Licence issuance | After complete documents and payment |
| Immigration and visas | Separate, if required |
Fees change by activity and authority. Compare current verified provider packages and confirm an itemised quotation with the issuer/provider before applying.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Choosing a licence by its marketing name
Fix: Confirm the exact activity codes and issuer.
Treating a starting price as all-in
Fix: Separate authority, facility, visa and provider charges.
Ignoring renewal
Fix: Obtain year-two figures in writing.
Assuming every licence permits the same market access
Fix: Compare mainland and free-zone operating rights for your model.
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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8 min read · Published Read guideFrequently asked questions
What is a trade licence in the UAE?
How much does a UAE trade licence cost?
Which trade licence do I need?
Can I get a UAE trade licence without an office?
How long does it take?
People also ask
Is a business licence the same as a trade licence in the UAE?
The terms are often used broadly, but the licence category and printed activities are what legally define what the company may do.
Does the licence include visas?
Not automatically. Visa eligibility, quota and processing charges depend on the establishment, workspace and selected package.
What happens after year one?
The licence and often the workspace and establishment card must be renewed. Residence visas follow their own validity periods.
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.
- UAE Government — mainland business setupOfficial activity, legal-form, approval and licensing steps
- Dubai DET — business licensingOfficial Dubai licence and permit information
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
Topics covered
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