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. It must be renewed annually 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. Trading outside your licensed activities is grounds for fines and licence cancellation.
Mainland trade licences typically cost AED 10,000–15,000 per year in government fees, depending on activities and location. Free-zone licences vary widely by zone. Annual renewal involves verifying tenancy (Ejari), establishment-card renewal with MOHRE, and any activity-specific approvals.
Late renewal triggers an immediate AED 2,000 fine, then AED 1,000 per month thereafter, plus business interruption (you can't process visas or government transactions on an expired licence). ZETUP PRO sends 60-day advance reminders to clients and manages the full renewal process.
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