A trade license in Dubai is the government permit to run a business activity, granted on the mainland by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or by a free zone authority. Every company needs one before leasing an office, opening a bank account or sponsoring visas. Wordcraft picks the activity with you, files the application and handles the attestation, legal translation and notary bookings that often delay a license.
Types of Trade License in Dubai and Who Issues Them
"Trade license" is the umbrella term. Underneath it, the license category follows your activity, and the issuing body depends on whether you set up on the mainland or in a free zone. Some activities also need a sector regulator's approval before the license can be issued.
| License type | Typical activities | Issuing authority | Extra approval often needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Trading, import and export, general trading, retail, e-commerce | DET | Product approvals for regulated goods; see commercial license |
| Professional | Consultancy, IT services, design, marketing, training | DET | Proof of qualification or a sector regulator for some professions; see professional license |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, processing, assembly, packaging | DET | Site, environmental and civil defence approvals |
| Tourism | Travel agencies, tour operators, holiday homes, hotels | DET (tourism side) | DET tourism permits and classification |
| Food and hospitality | Restaurants, cafés, catering | DET | Dubai Municipality food safety approval |
| Healthcare | Clinics, pharmacies, medical centers | DET | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) facility license |
| Free zone license (commercial, service or industrial) | Activities on the zone's own list | The zone authority, e.g. DMCC, IFZA, JAFZA | Depends on the zone and the activity |
Mainland or Free Zone: The First Decision
A mainland license from DET lets you trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government contracts, and most commercial and industrial activities now allow full foreign ownership. A free zone license suits international trade, services and online businesses. It comes with flexible office packages and needs no UAE partner, but direct sales into the local market usually require extra permits. If most of your customers are UAE businesses or consumers, the mainland tends to win; if they are abroad, a free zone often costs less effort to run.
Reserving the Trade Name and Getting Initial Approval
Once the activity and legal form are settled, the trade name is reserved. It must not copy an existing brand, contain offensive or religious terms, or use the name of a government body, and a name built on a person's name usually has to be the owner's full name. The authority then issues initial approval, a statement that it has no objection to you doing business in Dubai. You cannot trade on it yet. It does let you sign the lease, finalize the Memorandum of Association for a company and apply for external approvals.
How DET Issues Licenses Online
Most mainland licensing now runs through DET's online channels, including the Invest in Dubai platform, and many low-risk activities can be licensed quickly once the file is complete. Service names and fast-track routes are renamed now and then, and we tell you which channel applies when you file. Regulated activities (food, health, education, real estate, engineering and similar) still wait for the sector regulator. Some activities can be run from home or online by eligible applicants, and we check this before you sign an office lease. Clients who prefer to hand over originals in person can visit our Dubai head office in Al Qusais, beside Al Twar Centre.
After Issue: Renewal and Amendments
A Dubai license normally runs for one year. Renewal depends on a valid Ejari and on any external approvals staying in force; the trade license renewal page explains the steps. Adding a partner, changing an activity, the manager or the trade name means amending the license and, for a company, the MOA, usually through an addendum signed before a notary public. See trade license amendment in Dubai.
Documents DET and Free Zones Usually Ask For
The exact list depends on the legal form and the jurisdiction, and the authority can ask for more. Expect most of these:
- Passports of each shareholder and the manager, valid for at least six months
- Current UAE visa or entry stamp, and Emirates ID for anyone resident
- Recent passport-style photographs
- A Memorandum of Association signed before a notary, for an LLC
- An Ejari-registered tenancy contract, or an approved business center or flexi-desk agreement
- For a parent company: incorporation certificate, MOA/AOA and board resolution, attested and rendered into Arabic by a legal translator
- Sector approvals, where the activity is regulated
Each legal form is broken down further in the company registration documents list.
What Happens After You Contact Us
- Brief us: share your activity, planned team size and preferred emirate on WhatsApp, by phone or email, or in person at a branch.
- Quote in writing within 10–30 minutes: it names the jurisdiction, the license type and what the service covers.
- Approve and pay: online through a payment link, or at the counter.
- We do the legwork: name reservation, initial approval, MOA drafting and the notary booking, lease and Ejari guidance, sector approvals, and free pickup of any originals.
- License in hand: then the establishment card, visas and bank account, if you need them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a trade license in Dubai?
Low-risk activities with a complete file and a lease in place can move quickly, both on the mainland and in most free zones. Regulated activities wait on the sector regulator. Your written quote gives a timeline for your specific activity.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Dubai mainland company?
Yes, in most commercial and industrial activities, where full foreign ownership has been possible since 2021. Some strategic activities remain restricted, and certain professional structures still use a local service agent, so your activity is checked before anything is filed.
Do I need an office to get a trade license?
On the mainland you need an address registered in Ejari, though some activities can use a business center or flexi-desk. Free zones offer flexi-desks, shared and private offices. The right space depends on the activity and on how many visas you want.
Which license do I need: professional or commercial?
Consulting, IT and other skill-based work falls under a professional license. Buying and selling goods needs a commercial license. If you plan both, we check whether the activities can share one license or need two.
Does a new company have to register for corporate tax?
Yes, even before profits arrive. The 9% rate has applied to taxable business profit since June 2023, while salaries carry no income tax at all. Filing and registration are done by an FTA-registered tax agent, not by us.
Can I change my activity after the license is issued?
Yes, through a license amendment. Companies usually also need a notarized MOA addendum, and we can draft it, translate it and book the appointment.
Last updated: September 2026
