A commercial license in Dubai is the license for businesses that buy and sell goods: retail shops, wholesalers, importers, exporters and office-based traders. The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issues it on the mainland and lists the product groups you may trade. Those choices affect customs clearance, bank acceptance and which extra approvals apply. Wordcraft picks the activities with you and handles the license, MOA, premises, customs and visas.
How a Commercial License Differs From Professional and Industrial
| License | What it covers | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Buying, selling and distributing goods | Electronics trading, foodstuff wholesale, auto parts, retail shops, import and export |
| Professional | Selling skills and services | Consultancy, IT services, design, marketing |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, processing and assembly | Factories, workshops, packaging plants |
Service businesses belong under a professional license. If you expect to trade many unrelated product lines, a general trading license may serve you better than a commercial license tied to named product groups.
Approvals a Trading Business May Need, and Who Issues Them
The license names your product groups. The goods and the premises can bring separate approvals, so we check each line before you sign a lease or order stock.
| Approval | Issued by | When it applies | What you usually provide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial license with the right product groups | DET | Always, on the mainland | Passports, trade name choices, product list, Ejari |
| Ejari registration of the lease | Dubai Land Department's Ejari system | For the shop, office or warehouse | Tenancy contract and landlord documents |
| Food, cosmetics and personal care product registration | Dubai Municipality | Before these goods go on sale | Labels, ingredients, manufacturer details |
| Civil defence clearance | Dubai Civil Defence | Depending on the premises and on flammable or hazardous stock | Premises layout and safety systems |
| Product conformity certificates | Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) | Regulated goods such as certain electronics and toys | Test reports and conformity documents |
| Customs registration | Dubai Customs | Importing or exporting in the company name | Trade license and company details |
Retail Shop or Office-Based Trading?
A retail shop needs premises fit for customers: a shop unit with Ejari, approval for the signboard and, depending on the goods, civil defence or municipality checks. Office-based trading (importing and reselling to businesses, or trading across borders) needs an office with Ejari, and usually a warehouse or a logistics partner once you hold stock. The type of premises also affects your visa quota, so we plan it around the team you expect to hire over the first years. A small sourcing office and a showroom on a busy street are very different setups, even under the same activity.
Importing, Exporting and Selling Online
To import or export in your company's name, the license must carry the right trading activities and the company must be registered with Dubai Customs. Some goods also need product registration or a conformity certificate before sale, and we check your list against these rules before you commit to stock. If you want to sell through your own website or a marketplace as well, an online selling activity can be added; our e-commerce license in Dubai page explains the options. The goods you sell online must still match the product groups on the license.
Documents for a Trading Company License
- Passport copy and photo for each shareholder and the named manager
- Residence visa and Emirates ID for residents; non-residents send the page with their latest entry stamp
- Two or three trade name choices and the product groups you plan to trade
- Tenancy contract and Ejari certificate for the shop, office or warehouse
- An MOA signed before a notary, when the company is an LLC
- If a shareholder is a foreign company: its certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents and a board resolution, legalized through the UAE embassy in its home country and rendered into Arabic
Other legal forms need slightly different papers; the documents list for company registration covers each one.
Five Steps From Product List to Issued License
- Share your product list and plans on WhatsApp; we reply with a written quote within 10–30 minutes.
- Approve the quote and pay online or at a branch counter.
- We reserve the trade name, select the activity codes and obtain initial approval.
- We draft the MOA and book its notarization, register the Ejari and apply for product approvals where needed.
- DET issues the license. Customs registration, the establishment card and visas follow, each shown in your order tracking.
Once trading starts, you will also need a company bank account that matches the license name.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a commercial license and a trade license?
"Trade license" is the general term for any Dubai business license. A commercial license is the category for trading goods, next to the professional and industrial categories.
Can I add more products to my commercial license later?
Yes, through a license amendment, subject to any approvals the new goods need. Our trade license amendment service prepares the paperwork and any MOA addendum.
Do I need a warehouse for a trading company?
Not always. Office-based traders often use third-party logistics. If you hold stock yourself, you need licensed storage premises.
Can a foreigner fully own a trading company in Dubai?
Full foreign ownership is open to most commercial activities on the Dubai mainland. A handful of strategic ones come with conditions, and we check those first.
What changes the cost of a commercial license?
The type of premises, the number of product activities, the visas and any product approvals. Every line appears in the written quote, and government charges are passed on without markup.
Can one commercial license cover both a shop and online sales?
Often yes, if an online selling activity is added and the goods match the licensed product groups. We confirm the combination with DET before filing.
Last updated: September 2026
