A general trading license in Dubai lets one company import, export, re-export and distribute a wide range of unrelated goods (electronics, building materials, foodstuffs) without adding a new activity every time the product mix changes. Trading houses, sourcing agents and re-exporters working through Jebel Ali and Dubai's airports use it most. Wordcraft compares mainland and free zone options, files the application and registers your customs code.
Is General Trading the Right License for Your Product List?
Start with the product list, not the license name. If you will only ever deal in textiles, or only in auto parts, a specific trading license is usually quicker to obtain. General trading earns its keep when the list is long and likely to change.
| Question | General trading license | Specific trading license |
|---|---|---|
| Product range | Many unrelated categories under one license | One category or a close group of related goods |
| Typical holder | Trading houses, sourcing agents, re-exporters | Focused traders, such as a tile or spare-parts importer |
| Conditions | Office and capital conditions are usually stricter | Lighter conditions |
| Adding new goods | Often possible without a new activity | A new product group may need an amendment |
We read through your product list with you before recommending either license, because the wrong choice tends to surface later at customs or at the bank.
General Trading License: Mainland DET or a Free Zone?
A mainland general trading company licensed by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) can sell straight to UAE retailers, contractors and consumers, and it can bid for public tenders. A free zone company, for example in DMCC or JAFZA, is fully foreign owned and built for import, re-export and international trade. Selling directly into the local market from a free zone usually needs a permit, a mainland license or a local distributor. Both zones publish their activity lists on their own sites, dmcc.ae and jafza.ae, and our mainland business setup page sets out the wider differences.
Restricted Goods: Which Authority Approves What
A general trading license does not replace product approvals. Before we file, we run your product list through a check like the one below so the license and the approvals match what you will actually ship.
| Goods | Approving body (examples) | What is usually needed |
|---|---|---|
| Foodstuffs and cosmetics | Dubai Municipality and food-safety authorities | Product and label registration |
| Medicines, medical devices and supplements | MOHAP or the emirate's health regulator | Product registration and supplier authorization |
| Telecom and wireless equipment | TDRA | Type approval for each model |
| Chemicals, pesticides and hazardous materials | Environmental authorities and Civil Defence | Safety data and storage approval |
| Tobacco and other excise goods | Federal Tax Authority | Excise registration |
| Gold, precious metals, weapons and security equipment | Specialized regulators | A separate license; often excluded from general trading |
Registering a Customs Code After the License
You cannot clear a shipment in your company's name until the company is registered with customs and holds an importer/exporter code. In Dubai this is done through Dubai Customs' online channels; the other emirates have their own customs authorities. The code is tied to your trade license, so every item you declare must fall under the licensed activities. We file the customs application as soon as the license is out.
Documents for a General Trading Company
- Passport copy of every shareholder and of the appointed manager, with a photo for each
- Emirates ID and visa page for anyone already resident in the UAE
- Trade name options and the full list of goods you intend to trade
- Office lease registered in Ejari (mainland) or the free zone lease
- If a shareholder is itself a company: its certificate of incorporation, articles and a board resolution approving the Dubai company, authenticated at home and at the UAE embassy (see commercial document attestation), then put into Arabic by MOJ-certified legal translators
- Any product approvals you already hold
DET or the zone confirms the final list, and any capital condition for your activity, when it reviews the application.
How Wordcraft Sets Up a Trading Company
- Send the product list on WhatsApp; pricing comes back in writing within 10–30 minutes.
- We advise on general versus specific trading and on the jurisdiction, then lock in the activity codes.
- With your go-ahead, we book the trade name, secure initial approval and prepare the MOA for the notary.
- Office lease, license issue and chamber of commerce membership follow.
- Customs code next, then the establishment card, investor and staff visas and the bank introduction, each visible in your order tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a general trading company sell anything?
Nearly any general merchandise. Restricted goods still need their own approvals, and a few categories cannot be traded under this license at all.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a general trading company in Dubai?
Yes in the free zones, and on the mainland for the general trading activities DET opens to full foreign ownership. We confirm the current position for your activity before you apply.
Do I need a warehouse?
Not always. Many traders ship direct from the supplier or use a third-party logistics provider. If you store goods yourself, the warehouse must sit in the jurisdiction that licenses your storage.
Is the customs code issued with the license?
No. It is a separate registration made after the license, and you need it to import or export in the company's name.
What decides the cost of a general trading license?
Mainly the jurisdiction, the office you take, the number of visas and any product approvals. Every item appears in a written quote, government fees shown at cost, before any work starts.
Does a trading company deal with VAT and corporate tax?
Usually both. VAT registration becomes mandatory once turnover passes the legal threshold, and corporate tax at 9% (since June 2023) applies to taxable profit. A registered tax agent handles those registrations; we do not file tax.
Last updated: September 2026
