A trade licence in the UAE is the permit that lets a company carry out its business activities legally in the country. Every company needs one, whether it sells goods, offers professional services, runs a factory or trades online, and it is issued either by an emirate's economic department on the mainland or by a free zone authority.
The hard part is that there is no single UAE trade licence. Each of the seven emirates licenses its own mainland companies with its own fees, and the country has dozens of free zones with their own packages. The same consultancy can cost a few hundred dirhams in licence fees in one emirate and many thousands in another once the office and visas are added.
This is where we come in. We form UAE companies ourselves, so the emirate, the activity, the licence and the bank file all run through one team. You get one clear price and a licence in about a week.
Ready to get licensed? Our team forms mainland and free zone companies across the UAE.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
What a Trade Licence in the UAE Is
A trade licence in the UAE lists the activities your company may carry out, the legal form, the owners and the premises. It is valid for one year in most emirates and must be renewed before it expires.
Who Issues It
On the mainland, the licence comes from the emirate's economic department, such as the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority in Abu Dhabi and the Sharjah Economic Development Department in Sharjah. In a free zone, it comes from that zone's authority, such as RAKEZ, Meydan, DMCC or Masdar City.
The Six Licence Types
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism recognises six types of licence: commercial, professional, industrial, tourism, agricultural and crafts. Each emirate adds its own variants. Abu Dhabi lists seven types and Dubai lists eight, including the eTrader, dual and instant licences.
Get a Trade Licence in the UAE
A trade licence in the UAE is very doable once the emirate and the activity are right. This is what we do for you.
- Right emirate first: Fees and office rules compared before you commit.
- We form it ourselves: Trade name, approvals and licence, one team.
- Activity mapped correctly: The activity that covers what you actually do.
- Extra approvals flagged: Regulators your activity needs, before you pay.
- Bank file built in: KYC prepared while the company is formed.
- Clear pricing, no surprises: One quote, from €1,899, with every fee listed.
Commercial, Professional and Industrial Licences
A commercial licence covers trading, buying and selling goods and most services. A professional licence covers services based on qualifications and skill, such as consultancy, design or accounting. An industrial licence covers manufacturing and processing. Our guide to the commercial vs professional licence in Dubai explains the difference.
Special Licences
Emirates also issue licences for narrower cases: Dubai's eTrader licence for UAE and GCC nationals selling online, Abu Dhabi's Tajer and Virtual licences, and Sharjah's Eitimad licence for home businesses. Freelancers have their own permits in several emirates, and residence visas follow the licence; see free zone visa quota and costs. Read our guide to the freelance licence in the UAE.
Trade Licence Fees by Emirate
Government licence fees are lower than most agent quotes suggest. The office, visas and the agent's own fee make up most of a quote. These are the published government figures.
Emirate | Published government fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
Dubai | Licence issue or renewal AED 600, initial approval AED 100, trade name AED 200 | Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2011 |
Abu Dhabi | Standard licence from AED 1,200 for 6 activities; Tajer and Instant AED 790 to AED 5,500 | Abu Dhabi Registration Authority |
Sharjah | 8% or 13% of the lease basis; AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 in the first year | Sharjah Economic Development Department |
Ajman | Economic licence AED 600, plus register, signboard and National Fund fees | Ajman government service catalogue |
Ras Al Khaimah | AED 400 to AED 10,000 by category; LLC registration AED 2,500 | RAK government, 2019 schedule |
Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah | No published schedule | Not published |
Dubai adds higher fees for some activities, such as AED 15,000 for a general trading licence. Our guide to the general trading licence in the UAE covers it.
The UAE Business Licence Cost Beyond the Fee
The UAE business licence cost in practice includes the office lease, the establishment card, visas and medicals, the Chamber of Commerce and the audit. In Dubai, Ejari registration of the lease costs AED 177.75. Our guide to the cost of business setup in the UAE builds a full budget.
Free Zone Trade Licences
A free zone trade licence bundles the licence with a desk or office in the zone. Activities are limited to the zone's approved list, and trading on the mainland needs extra approval. Only a few zones publish prices.
Free zone | Published price |
|---|---|
RAKEZ | From AED 6,000, set up within 24 hours |
Umm Al Quwain Free Trade Zone | AED 5,500 without a visa, AED 12,500 with one visa |
Fujairah Creative City | From AED 5,520 |
Masdar City Free Zone | AED 7,000 to AED 27,000, VAT included |
Meydan Free Zone | From AED 12,500, up to 3 activity groups |
ADGM | Non-financial licence USD 5,500 to register, USD 5,000 to renew |
DMCC, IFZA, SHAMS, Ajman Free Zone and KEZAD quote on request. Our guide to the best free zones in the UAE for company formation compares them, and our guide to free zone company formation in the UAE covers the process.
Trading on the Mainland From a Free Zone
Two emirates now publish a route. In Dubai, Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 allows a branch licence at AED 10,000 a year or a permit at AED 5,000 for up to 6 months. In Abu Dhabi, the Dual Licence lets an Abu Dhabi free zone company open a mainland branch from AED 1,200, within 24 hours where no outside approval is needed.
UAE Company Incorporation
Binderr
Corporate tax
0% up to AED 375,000 / 9% above
Freezone Tax
0%
Time to Incorporate
1 Week
Cost
€1,899
Mainland or Free Zone Trade Licence
The first choice for any trade licence in the UAE is mainland or free zone. Both allow 100% foreign ownership for most activities; the difference is where you can trade and what you must rent.
Point | Mainland licence | Free zone licence |
|---|---|---|
Issued by | The emirate's economic department | The free zone authority |
Where you can trade | Anywhere in the UAE and abroad | Inside the zone and abroad; the mainland needs extra approval |
Office | Registered lease in most emirates | Flexi desk or office in the package |
Visas | Under the MOHRE quota | Tied to the office package |
Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 | 0% on qualifying income if the conditions are met |
Choose the mainland if your customers are in the UAE. Choose a free zone if you serve clients abroad or want a lower first-year cost. Our guides to mainland company formation in the UAE and the types of companies in the UAE go deeper.
Popular Zones by Emirate
In Dubai, founders often compare IFZA, Meydan and DMCC. In the northern emirates, RAKEZ and SHAMS publish low entry packages. In Abu Dhabi, Masdar City and ADGM lead; see our guide to business setup in Abu Dhabi.
Documents for a Trade Licence in the UAE
The documents for a trade licence in the UAE are much the same in every emirate and free zone.
- Passport copy of each shareholder and manager
- Emirates ID and residence visa for UAE residents
- Passport photo
- Trade name options and the chosen activities
- Memorandum of association, signed before a notary or the licensing authority
- The office lease or free zone desk agreement
- For a corporate shareholder, its certificate of incorporation, articles, good standing certificate and board resolution, attested for use in the UAE
- Any regulator approvals the activity needs
Foreign documents must be notarised, legalised by the UAE embassy and attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Plan 2 to 4 weeks for that chain.
How to Get a Trade Licence in the UAE
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism sets out the same core steps for every emirate. Online setup through the federal Basher platform can take as little as 15 minutes for simple cases, and the ministry puts a standard setup at about 4 days.
Choose the Activity and Legal Form
Pick the activity that matches what you do and the legal form, such as an LLC, a sole establishment or a branch. Our guide to LLC formation in the UAE covers the most common form.
Reserve the Trade Name
Reserve a trade name that follows the naming rules. In Dubai, a standard name costs AED 200, a foreign name AED 2,000.
Get Initial Approval
Initial approval confirms that the government has no objection to the company. In Dubai it costs AED 100.
Get Any Extra Approvals
Some activities need a regulator's approval first, such as TDRA for telecoms and e-commerce, the Central Bank for finance, the GCAA for aviation or the National Media Council for media.
Sign the Memorandum and the Lease
Sign the memorandum of association and register the office lease: Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi, or a municipality-attested lease in Sharjah.
Pay and Receive the Licence
The ministry says fees must be paid within 30 days of the payment voucher or the application is cancelled. The licence is then issued, and you register with the Chamber of Commerce.
Getting a Trade Licence UAE Banks Accept
After the licence, get the establishment card and register with MOHRE before visas. The licence, the memorandum and a registered lease are the core of every UAE bank file.
Activities That Need Extra Approval
Some activities cannot be licensed until another authority agrees. These are published examples.
- E-commerce: TDRA's approval, free, about 2 working days, with a .ae domain.
- Training institutes in Dubai: a KHDA permit from AED 15,000, 8 working days.
- Health facilities in the northern emirates: MOHAP initial approval from AED 1,000.
- Finance, insurance and payments: Central Bank licensing.
- Strategic activities: a regulator decides the national share within 14 working days under Cabinet Resolution No. 55 of 2021.
Our guide to the e-commerce licence in the UAE covers online selling.
Renewal and Penalties
A trade licence in the UAE must be renewed every year, and late renewal is fined.
Dubai
A Dubai licence is valid for one year and can be issued for up to four years on request. Renewal is due in the last month. Late renewal costs AED 200 a month, capped at AED 100,000, and operating without a licence is fined AED 5,000 under the fee schedule.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi waived late renewal fines from 15 May to 15 August 2026, and more than 7,800 businesses had over AED 11.6 million waived. Normal fines resumed on 16 August 2026.
Sharjah and Ajman
Sharjah lets you renew up to 3 months early, with late fines from AED 200 a month. Ajman publishes an itemised renewal: the licence is AED 600 and the National Fund contribution AED 1,500, before the Chamber fee.
Free Zones
Free zones set their own renewal. ADGM, for example, charges nothing for the first month after expiry, then USD 55 a day up to USD 20,000.
National Registers and Unified Licences
The UAE is joining up its licence data, but there is still no single federal licence that works in every emirate.
The National Economic Register
The federal National Economic Register links licence data from the emirates and free zones. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism said in August 2026 that it now classifies more than 4,000 economic activities and is being integrated with 33 authorities.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi Unified Licences
The Dubai Unified Licence, launched in December 2023, gives every Dubai mainland and free zone company a single number and QR code. Abu Dhabi unified mainland and free zone registration in 2024. Both make bank account opening faster. Read our guide to the trade licence in Dubai and the trade licence in Abu Dhabi.
Trade Licence Cost in the UAE
The trade licence cost in the UAE starts with the licence fee but rarely ends there. This is how a first-year budget usually breaks down.
- Licence and registration: from a few hundred dirhams in Ajman or Dubai to AED 1,200 in Abu Dhabi, before activity surcharges.
- Office: an Ejari, Tawtheeq or free zone desk, often the largest item.
- Visas and establishment card: per person, plus medicals and Emirates ID.
- Chamber of Commerce: annual membership in most emirates.
- Audit and tax: an LLC must appoint an auditor, and corporate tax registration is due within 3 months.
We form UAE companies from €1,899 and quote the full trade licence cost in the UAE before you commit.
Get Your UAE Trade Licence Right First Time
Most extra costs come from the wrong emirate or the wrong activity, so we check both before anything is filed.
- Emirate compared: Licence, office and renewal cost side by side.
- Activity checked: No surcharges or approvals you do not need.
- Office sorted: Ejari, Tawtheeq or a free zone desk arranged.
- Visas planned: A quota that fits the people you will bring.
- Bank ready: A file that fits the bank or partner you will use.
- Fast formation: Most companies are licensed in about a week.
Tax After the Licence
Every licensed company is inside the federal tax system. Corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it, and companies incorporated from 1 March 2024 must register within 3 months or face an AED 10,000 penalty. VAT is 5%, mandatory above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies. Read about UAE corporate tax for companies and UAE VAT registration for new companies.
Banking With a New Trade Licence
The licence is the first document every UAE bank asks for. No bank starts an application before it is issued, and most ask for a UAE-resident signatory. Our partners open multi-currency accounts for newly licensed UAE companies in days, online and with no resident signatory. Read the requirements to open a business bank account in the UAE.
Equals Money
Business Bank Account
Time to onboard
2 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
€30
3S Money
Cross-border payments
Time to onboard
4 Days
Account opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
Starting from € 100
Common Mistakes With a UAE Trade Licence
Most problems come from a few avoidable choices.
Choosing the Wrong Activity
A licence covers only the activities listed on it. Consultancy does not cover trading, and trading does not cover online retail.
Comparing Licence Fees Only
The licence fee is a small part of the UAE business licence cost. Compare the office, visas and renewal.
Assuming a Free Zone Licence Covers the Mainland
A free zone licence covers the zone and abroad. Selling on the mainland needs a distributor, a branch or a permit.
Missing the Renewal
Late renewal is fined every month in Dubai and Sharjah, and banks freeze accounts when the licence expires.
Get Advice on Your UAE Trade Licence
Not sure which emirate or licence fits your business? Talk to us before you pay any fees.
- Emirate compared: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates.
- Licence type checked: Commercial, professional or industrial.
- Free zone or mainland: Matched to where your customers are.
- Owners abroad: A plan for the licence, visa and bank together.
- A written plan: Clear next steps sent to you after the call.
Bottom Line
A trade licence in the UAE comes from an emirate's economic department or a free zone authority, and each sets its own fees, office rules and renewal. Government fees start from a few hundred dirhams, but the office, visas and audit decide the real cost. Choose the emirate and the activity first, then the licence type.
We form the company, get the licence and build the bank file with you, from €1,899.
