How to Get an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE (2026)

An e-commerce licence in the UAE lets your company sell goods or services online, through its own website, an app, a marketplace or social media, to customers in the UAE and abroad. The UAE market reached AED 32.3 billion in online sales in 2024, and every seller in it needs a licence with an e-commerce activity plus approval from the telecoms regulator.

The hard part is choosing the route. Every emirate issues e-commerce licences, and Dubai alone offers the mainland, several free zones and, for UAE and GCC nationals, a home-based eTrader licence. Each has different rules on who can apply, where you can sell and what it costs, and a free zone licence may need extra approval to sell to mainland customers.

This is where we come in. We form the company ourselves, so the licence, the regulator approval and the bank and payment accounts all run through one team. You get one clear price and a licence in about a week.

Ready to start selling online? Our team forms e-commerce companies across the UAE.

What an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE Covers

An e-commerce licence in the UAE is a trade licence that lists an online selling activity. It is issued by an emirate's economic department on the mainland, such as the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, or by a free zone authority, and it lets you trade through websites, apps and social media accounts.

The Law Behind It

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 on Trading by Modern Technological Means has governed online selling since 16 September 2023. Article 5 requires every digital merchant to hold the required licences, display prices and terms, issue digital invoices and sell only lawful goods. Article 7 gives buyers the right to return goods that are defective, damaged or not as described.

The TDRA Approval

The UAE government portal says approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority is mandatory for all e-commerce licences. TDRA's no objection certificate for practising an e-activity is free, takes about 2 working days, and requires a .ae domain for your website. You list your social media accounts, and changing an account name needs a new application.

Who Needs One

TDRA's approval applies to anyone carrying out an activity of an economic nature on the internet in the UAE, through websites, applications or social media accounts. That covers online shops, marketplace sellers, dropshippers, subscription businesses and home-based sellers on Instagram or TikTok.

What It Does Not Cover

The e-commerce law excludes digital currencies regulated by the Central Bank and financial institutions it licenses. Restricted goods, such as food, cosmetics and health products, need their own approvals on top of the licence.

Where You Can Get an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE

Most founders start in Dubai, which has three routes. The right one depends on your nationality, where your customers are and whether you need visas. The other emirates are covered further down.

Dubai Mainland

The Department of Economy and Tourism issues mainland e-commerce licences through the Invest in Dubai portal. A mainland company can sell to any customer in the UAE and abroad. Our guide to mainland company formation in Dubai covers the setup.

Dubai Free Zones

Several Dubai free zones license e-commerce companies. Dubai CommerCity is the free zone dedicated to digital commerce, DMCC runs an e-commerce ecosystem with fulfilment partners (see DMCC company formation), and Meydan Free Zone licenses activity 4791.02, retail sale of any kind of product over the internet. Read our guide to free zone company formation in Dubai.

The Dubai eTrader Licence

The eTrader licence is a home-based sole proprietorship for selling through social media. The UAE government portal says it is for UAE nationals and GCC nationals residing in Dubai, with single ownership, no physical shop and no employee visas. Khaleej Times reported the cost as AED 1,070 plus AED 300 for Dubai Chamber membership.

E-Commerce Licence Types in the UAE

There is no single e-commerce licence. The name and scope change with the authority and the business model.

Most founders choose between a mainland and a free zone licence. Our guide to types of companies in the UAE explains the difference.

Mainland or Free Zone for E-Commerce

The biggest decision is whether your customers are in the UAE or abroad. A mainland company sells anywhere in the country with no extra approval. A free zone company is usually cheaper, but free zones do not agree on what it can do on the mainland.

What the Free Zones Say

The UAE government portal says free zone licences may need additional authorisations for mainland sales. IFZA's own guide (see IFZA company formation) says you can sell to the entire UAE but need a distributor on the mainland, and DMCC's guide says free zone businesses need a local distributor to sell directly within the UAE. Meydan and SHAMS market their licences for sales across the UAE.

The Dubai Mainland Permit

Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 lets a free zone company operate on the Dubai mainland through a branch licence at AED 10,000 a year or a temporary permit at AED 5,000, with separate financial records. The Department of Economy and Tourism publishes the list of eligible activities, so check yours before you rely on it.

Which to Choose

Choose the mainland if most of your customers are in the UAE and you want no doubt about delivery to them. Choose a free zone if you sell mainly abroad, run a marketplace store or want a lower first-year cost; our guide to free zone company formation in the UAE compares zones. Either way, an ecommerce business licence in Dubai must list the right activity. Our guide to company formation in Dubai compares the routes.

Requirements for an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE

The requirements go beyond the licence itself. These are the approvals and rules every UAE online seller should check.

The Right Activity

The licence must list the activity you actually carry out, such as retail sale over the internet for a B2C store. Meydan says its activity 4791.02 is B2C only and needs no third-party approval. A B2B or marketplace model may need a different activity.

The TDRA Approval and a .ae Domain

TDRA's approval is free and takes about 2 working days. Your website must use a .ae domain, and every social media account you sell through must be listed.

Product Registration

Dubai Municipality's e-commerce guideline requires cosmetics and personal care products, fragrances, detergents and sanitisers, and health supplements to be registered in its Montaji system before import or sale. The fee is AED 10 per product and AED 50 per container, and products need at least 50% of their shelf life left.

The Advertiser Permit

The UAE's advertiser permit for social media promotion became mandatory on 1 February 2026, according to published guidance. Individuals promoting their own business on their own account are reported to be exempt, but if you pay influencers, they need the permit.

Consumer Protection

The consumer protection law's executive regulations, in force since 14 October 2023, require accurate advertising, visible prices, dated invoices, secure payment and information in Arabic, or Arabic plus another language. A platform is responsible for failures in goods offered by third parties on it.

How to Get an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE

These are the steps in order, whatever the emirate or route.

Choose the Route and Activity

Decide between the mainland, a free zone and, if you qualify, the eTrader licence. Then choose the activity that matches your model.

Reserve the Name and Get Approval

Reserve the trade name and get initial approval from the emirate's economic department or the free zone.

Sign the Documents and Office

Sign the memorandum of association and the lease or flexi desk. On the mainland, register the lease through Ejari. See Ejari and the office requirement for a mainland licence.

Receive the Licence

Pay the fees and receive the licence. Free zones often issue within days.

Apply for the TDRA Approval

Register your .ae domain and apply for TDRA's approval, with your licence and any approvals your products need.

Open Bank and Payment Accounts

Open a business account and connect a payment gateway. Payment gateways ask for the licence and a live website that meets their rules.

Getting Licensed Quickly

The fastest route is usually a free zone with a published package and an activity that needs no outside approval. Start the TDRA application as soon as the licence is issued, and prepare the website's policies while you wait.

Documents for an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE

The documents are short. Free zones and the emirates' economic departments ask for much the same list.

• Passport copy of each shareholder and manager
• Emirates ID and residence visa for UAE residents
• Passport photo
• Proof of address
• The trade name options and chosen activity
• A short business plan or description for some zones
• Attested company documents if a company is the shareholder
• For TDRA, the licence and any product approvals

We prepare and check this pack with you before anything is sent. Our guide to trade licence in Dubai covers the licence side in more detail.

E-Commerce Licence Cost in the UAE

The cost depends on the emirate and the route. These are published prices, not full first-year budgets.

In Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism publishes no single tariff for a mainland e-commerce company, so the mainland cost depends on the activity, the office and the visas. Add the office or desk, visas, the .ae domain, audit and payment fees to any licence price, in Dubai or elsewhere. We form e-commerce companies from €1,899 and quote every fee up front. Our guide to the cost of business setup in Dubai covers a full budget.

After You Get an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE

Getting the licence is the start. These rules apply once you begin selling.

VAT

VAT is 5%. You must register once taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 in 12 months, and you can register voluntarily from AED 187,500. Read about UAE VAT registration for new companies.

Corporate Tax

The rate is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. A free zone company that meets the conditions of a Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on qualifying income, and Small Business Relief is available for revenue up to AED 3 million for periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. Our guide to UAE corporate tax for companies covers the rules.

Customs

If you import goods into Dubai, customs duty is waived on low-value parcels. The threshold was reported as rising from AED 300 to AED 1,000 on 3 August 2026, excluding tobacco, vaping products and alcohol.

Returns and Invoices

Issue digital invoices, keep a working complaints channel and accept returns of goods that are defective, damaged or not as described, as the e-commerce law requires.

Payments and Banking for E-Commerce

Your payment gateway and bank account decide how fast you get paid. Payment gateways check that your website content matches your licensed activity and that it shows your UAE address, delivery, refund and privacy policies.

Payment Gateways

Gateways ask for the trade licence, owners' passports and visas, the memorandum and recent bank statements or a bank letter. Stripe in the UAE also asks an LLC for its memorandum showing the beneficial owners and a bank statement from the last 6 months.

Stablecoins

Under the Central Bank's Payment Token Services Regulation, only dirham payment tokens can be accepted as payment for goods and services. Foreign stablecoins such as USDT cannot be used to pay for ordinary goods.

Business Accounts

Our partners open multi-currency accounts for e-commerce companies in days, online and with no resident signatory, so you can receive marketplace payouts and pay suppliers abroad. Read our guide to opening a business bank account in the UAE and our guide to a multi-currency business bank account in the UAE.

E-Commerce Licence by Emirate

Dubai is not the only option. The other emirates offer cheaper licences, with trade-offs.

Selling Online From Dubai

A Dubai licence comes from the Department of Economy and Tourism, a Dubai free zone or, for UAE and GCC nationals, the eTrader route. A Dubai address, Dubai CommerCity's logistics and DMCC's fulfilment partners make Dubai the default for sellers who hold stock. Our guide to the e-commerce licence in Dubai covers the routes, fees and TDRA step in detail. Our guide to the best free zones in the UAE for company formation compares the zones.

Selling Online From Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi the usual route is Tajer Abu Dhabi, which costs AED 790 for 6 activities, with no office lease needed for the first 3 years. It is open to UAE nationals, UAE residents and GCC nationals, so for many residents it is the cheapest option in the capital. ADRA's Instant Licence is the alternative when you need a lease from the start. Read our guide to business setup in Abu Dhabi.

E-Commerce Licence in Sharjah

SHAMS publishes a Trader package for general trading and e-commerce at AED 6,500. Note that its AED 5,750 package is a media package, not an e-commerce licence, despite what some guides say. Sharjah's Eitimad licence covers home-based sellers who are UAE nationals living in Sharjah. See our guide to SHAMS free zone company setup.

E-Commerce Licence in Ras Al Khaimah

RAKEZ's e-commerce package starts from AED 6,000 and includes one residence visa. Read our guide to RAKEZ company formation.

Common Mistakes With an E-Commerce Licence in the UAE

Most problems come from a few avoidable gaps.

Skipping the TDRA Approval

The licence alone is not enough. TDRA's approval is mandatory for every online seller, free and quick, so there is no reason to sell without it.

Using a .com Domain Only

TDRA requires a .ae domain for the website. Register it before you apply.

The Wrong Activity

A general trading or consultancy activity does not cover online retail. Our guide to commercial vs professional licence in Dubai explains the categories. Payment gateways check that your site matches your activity.

Stocking Unregistered Products

Cosmetics, fragrances, detergents and supplements need Montaji registration before sale in Dubai.

Assuming a Free Zone Can Sell Everywhere

Check how your free zone company reaches mainland customers, whether through a distributor, a branch or a Dubai permit.

Bottom Line

An e-commerce licence in the UAE comes from an emirate's mainland department, a free zone or, in Dubai, the eTrader route for UAE and GCC nationals. Every route needs TDRA's free approval and a .ae domain, and restricted products need their own registration. Dubai has the most routes, Abu Dhabi has the low-cost Tajer licence, and Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah publish free zone packages from about AED 6,000. Choose the mainland if your customers are in the UAE, and a free zone if you sell mainly abroad or want a lower first-year cost.

We form the company, handle the approvals and set up the bank and payment accounts with you, from €1,899.