Business Trade License in Dubai

Choose the Right Business Trade License in Dubai. Get Your Dubai Business Trade License by Choosing Emirates Business Setup! 

Business Trade License Dubai Made Simple!

Setting up your company in Dubai, the first step is always to obtain a trade license in Dubai. A trade license is a primary document. To obtain a trade license in Dubai, approvals from the Dubai Economic Department are required. If you are interested in obtaining a trade license from any other Emirate, either in a free zone or mainland then specified UAE government department approvals will be required.    

Entrepreneurs often get confused when starting their own business in Dubai. But no need to worry! Emirates Business Setup is here to help you with all your business trade license processes in Dubai and all other Emirates in the UAE. You can save time, energy, and expenses by giving us all the heavy weight. Indeed, our professional advisors will provide you with the best advice for your dream business setup in UAE. Moreover, we can assist with acquiring a license, doing all the amendments, and timely reminders for your trade license renewal. If you want to start your business in the UAE, the first mandatory thing is to obtain a trade license. We ensure you the most straightforward process! 

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Types of Trade License in UAE

Multiple business licenses fall under the trade license category in Dubai and in the UAE. The type of license depends on the business activities you will conduct in your business. The Department of Economic Development introduced thousands of business activities that all fall under the category of four major trade licenses in the UAE. 

Commercial License

A commercial license in UAE is a type of business trading license where the business plans to buy and sell any product. The best part of the UAE commercial trade license is that you don't require any local Emiratis to operate your business in the UAE. The activities held under UAE commercial license are imports and exports, real estate, rental services, trading, logistics, etc.

Professional License

A professional trade license is a service-orientated license in UAE given to individuals with a specific area of expertise and educational background. A professional license always has a local Emirati who functions as a local service agent, but they will never hold any shares. The activities held under UAE professional licenses are IT consultancy, auditing and accounting, law firms, and other technical services.

Industrial License

An industrial license in Dubai is required to conduct business activities related to manufacturing. It is mandatory to have a physical office in the UAE to obtain an industrial license. The industrial license is issued by the UAE Department of Economic Development. The business activities included under industrial license in UAE are product manufacturing, product furnishing, and product packaging.

Tourism License

A tourism license is a type of UAE business trade license that includes tourism-related activities, such as travel agency. As per new amendments, now you are allowed to obtain the UAE tourism license with or without having any local Emirati. It is mandatory to have a deposit worth 1- 2 million to get a tourism license in the UAE.

Benefits of Dubai Trade License

Benefits of obtaining a trade license in Dubai or the UAE offers enormous benefits, such as: 

Import and export duties are exempted.

No share capital is required.

100% full ownership

International market access

no currency restriction

skilled labor workforce

100% repatriation on capital and gains.

low corporate tax rates

What are the Requirements to Obtain a Trade License in Dubai?

To obtain a business trade license in Dubai, you need to fulfill the requirements issued by the government authorities. The requirements may vary according to the business activities, it’s location and the type of license. Here are the common requirements such as:   

3 Unique Trade Names

Memorandum of Association

Proof of Address for All Shareholders

Business Plan or CV

Passport-sized Photos of All Shareholders

Passport Copies of All Shareholders.

EJARI

Proof of Capital

Tenancy Contract

How to Register a Business Trade License in Dubai?

To register a business trade license in Dubai, you must follow these 10 easy steps mentioned below: 

Choose your business activity.

Determine a legal structure for your Business.

Register your trade name.

Get the initial approval from the relevant authorities.

Sign the Memorandum of Association.

Choose a business location, if required. Get the additional government approvals, if required.

Submit all the prepared documents for final approval. After approval, pay the business trade license fees.

Obtain the trade license in the UAE and operate your business setup in UAE.

Trade License Renewal in Dubai

When you set up a business in Dubai, a business trade license is usually offered with one-year validity. In some cases, the validity is granted up to 2 to 3 years. Trade license renewal is important. Timely renewals help you avoid any hefty fines. You can also face interruption in your business operations if you are unable to renew your license on time in Dubai, UAE. The process for renewing your trade license in Dubai includes:   

Submit the Application

The next step is to submit the application with all the above-mentioned documents to the relevant authorities and pay the license fees.

Submit Required Documents

After clearing the due fees, you need to submit the required documentation to start your renewal process, it includes complete application form, residency visa copies of all shareholders, Emirates ID copies of all shareholders, Memorandum Of Association (MOA), fees of trade name reservation, current trade license copy, passport copies of all shareholders and tenancy contract.

Check Expiry Dates and Clear the Dues

Keep checking the renewal dates before it gets expire. The average time of license validation is one year, and it needs to be renewed annually. Additionally, ensure before starting your business license renewal process, that you do not have any dues left as it can delay your process. The dues include any remaining fees or fines you might have in the past.

Obtain the Renewed License

Once the application is approved and all dues are cleared, your renewed license will be released.

Why Choose Us?

UAE is recognized as one of the best countries for business setups. You can become a successful entrepreneur in a short period of time. With 100% full ownership, low tax rates, and many other benefits, Dubai is the best choice to start your own setup. It is always advised to choose a business setup consultancy with expertise in business setup services before setting up your business in Dubai.  

We at Emirates Business Setup help you obtain a business trade license in UAE. We not only offer business licenses but also UAE trade license renewal services, leasing office space services, and other related PRO services. You can choose us to get timely reminders before your license expires, budget-friendly packages, free initial consultation, business formation advice, and highly experienced experts to help you in every step of your business journey.   

a person hand receiving a bank card after she open a bank account in Dubai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Obtaining a trade license here in UAE is a very straightforward process and requires only a few steps to follow: 

  • First, choose your business activity or decide on our business module.  
  • Then to decide if you don’t need office premises for the initial year.  
  • After initial approval, choose a unique name for your company or business.  
  • All the shareholders must sign the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and then the license will be released.  
  • After receiving your license, then open a business bank account. 

The different types of trade licenses offered in the UAE are commercial, professional, tourism, and industrial. 

Yes, for legal proceedings of any kind of business, you must obtain a trading license here in UAE and that’s why mandatory for even small to multi-national companies or business owners to obtain a trade license before starting their businesses in UAE. 

Obtaining a trade license in Dubai usually requires a few days or a week. In some special cases, it might even take a month. But time duration depends upon the circumstances, including the type of business activities you will conduct and the jurisdiction that will determine how long it will take to obtain one. 

The cost of a trade license in UAE starts from 5,750 AED. It depends on the business activities you will conduct in your company. If you are taking an industrial trade license, additional charges for storage units and warehouses are applied.   

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