Trade Licence
Also known as: Trade License, Commercial Licence, DET Licence
Quick Answer
A trade licence is the official permit issued by DET (for mainland) or a free-zone authority that allows a company to legally conduct business activities in Dubai. A Dubai mainland licence is valid for one year (up to four years on request, with DET's approval), is renewed within the last month before it expires (Law No. 13 of 2011, Art. 8), and lists every approved activity.
Every company in Dubai operates under a trade licence — there is no informal trading. The licence is issued for a specific entity (e.g., a mainland LLC) and lists each business activity the company can perform, drawn from DET's master activity catalogue. DET's fee schedule fines AED 2,000 for varying the authorised activity or adding an activity without the approval of DET or the competent government entity (Executive Council Resolution 13/2011).
DET's published fee to issue or renew a mainland licence is AED 600 (AED 10,000 to issue a contracting licence and AED 15,000 for general trading or investment, each AED 3,000 to renew), under Executive Council Resolution 13/2011. Dubai Chambers membership and premises-linked charges come on top and are not published as one figure, so the total depends on activity and premises. Free-zone licences vary widely by zone. What a renewal needs depends on the licence and its activities, so check DET's renewal requirements for yours.
Late renewal triggers a fine of AED 200 per month of delay (a part-month is rounded up to a full month), and u.ae lists a valid trade licence, free of violations, among the conditions for a MOHRE work permit. ZETUP PRO sends 60-day advance reminders to clients and manages the full renewal process.
Official sources: Dubai Legislation Portal — Executive Council Resolution 13/2011 (DET fees)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dubai trade licence cost?
DET's published licence fee is AED 600 to issue or renew (AED 10,000 to issue a contracting licence, AED 15,000 for general trading or investment, each AED 3,000 to renew) under Executive Council Resolution 13/2011; Dubai Chambers membership and premises-linked charges come on top, so the total depends on activity and premises. Free-zone licences vary widely by zone.
What is the penalty for late trade-licence renewal?
AED 250 for failing to renew within the prescribed period and AED 200 per month of delay, with a part-month rounded up (Executive Council Resolution 13/2011). u.ae also lists a valid trade licence among the conditions for a MOHRE work permit.
How often must a trade licence be renewed?
A Dubai mainland licence is valid for one year, or up to four years on request with DET's approval, and must be renewed within the last month before it expires (Law No. 13 of 2011, Art. 8).
Related
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DET (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism)
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