Myth
A mainland license needs a UAE national partner.
Reality
Not since June 2021. 100% foreign ownership covers the large majority of Dubai mainland activities. A short strategic list still differs.
DED Trade License
DED Trade License Dubai
The DET permit that lets you run a mainland business in Dubai, and trade anywhere in the UAE.
DMC Setup Trust:100% Approval RateOfficial DED Channel Support
What it is
What a DED trade license is
In plain terms
A trade license, also called a commercial registration, makes a business legally allowed to operate on Dubai's mainland.
UAE-wideTrade across the mainland market
AnnualRenewed each year with DET
Activity-ledLists the exact activities you can trade
DED, the Department of Economic Development, was renamed DET, the Department of Economy and Tourism. Its powers and systems did not change, only the name - they are not two bodies.
See the license typesLicense types
Types of DET trade license in Dubai
DET issues several categories, each tied to the nature of the activity rather than its size. Picking wrong means re-applying for approvals.
See which license fits my activity
Commercial license
Trading, buying, selling and general commercial activity, including retail, general trading and distribution.
- Best for
- Retail, general trading, distribution
- Key consideration
- Indicatively AED 15,000 to 50,000 for 2026, depending on activity.
Professional license
Service-based and consultancy activities where the value is expertise rather than a physical product.
- Best for
- Consulting, IT, marketing, accounting
- Key consideration
- Indicatively AED 10,000 to 25,000. Some structures need a Local Service Agent.
Industrial license
Manufacturing, processing, assembly or industrial activity, tied to a factory or industrial unit.
- Best for
- Factories, processing, assembly
- Key consideration
- Indicatively AED 20,000 to 60,000, plus site and safety approvals.
Tourism license
Travel agencies, tour operators and inbound tourism services, licensed in coordination with DET's tourism function.
- Best for
- Travel agencies, tour operators
- Key consideration
- The tourism activity itself is what triggers the extra approval, not the company structure.
E-commerce / virtual trade
Selling goods or services online without a physical retail storefront.
- Best for
- Digital-first operators
- Key consideration
- Indicatively AED 15,000 to 20,000 for 2026, varying by activity and structure.
eTrader license
A low-cost license for individuals trading through social media and online platforms.
- Best for
- Eligible Dubai residents trading online
- Key consideration
- Single-owner only. No physical shop, no visas. Mainly UAE and GCC nationals, plus some expat residents on service activities.
Instant license
A fast-tracked online flow for a defined list of pre-approved, lower-risk activities.
- Best for
- Straightforward, pre-approved activities
- Key consideration
- Initial approval can issue in as little as 15 minutes, without every downstream approval upfront.
- Activity-based selection
- External approvals may apply
- Banking profile can vary
- Cost depends on activity and office setup
Not sure which DET category your activity falls under?
Tell us what the business actually does and we will confirm the category and any second-authority approval before you file.
Straight answers
Six things worth getting right
Ownership, activities, eTrader limits, Ejari, approvals and visa quota.
Myth
One license only ever covers one activity.
Reality
DET lists more than 2,000 activities and one licence can hold several related ones. Some need a second authority, such as RERA.
Myth
An eTrader license is just a cheaper trade license.
Reality
It carries real restrictions. Single owner only, no physical shop, and it cannot sponsor employee or investor visas.
Myth
One visa per 9 square metres is the mainland rule.
Reality
That figure is a free zone convention. Mainland allocation is tied to office size but assessed case by case by GDRFA and MOHRE.
Myth
Ejari can be sorted out after the license is issued.
Reality
The order runs the other way. DET requires a registered lease before it issues most mainland licenses, so Ejari comes first.
Myth
DET approval is the only sign-off a license needs.
Reality
Not for regulated activities. Construction, healthcare, education, food and brokerage need external clearance before DET issues.
The process
How to get a DED trade license
The exact sequence varies slightly by activity, but a standard mainland application runs through these steps.
Applying, new license8 steps
1
Choose your structure and activity
This decides your license type and whether you need a Local Service Agent. The structures are sole establishment and LLC.
2
Reserve your trade name
DET checks the proposed name against naming rules and existing registrations, then issues a trade name certificate.
3
Apply for initial approval
DET's initial no-objection to the concept, activity and structure. For pre-approved activities this can be completed online.
4
Draft and notarise the MOA
Required for most multi-shareholder structures, setting out ownership shares, activities and governance.
5
Secure an office and register Ejari
DET requires a valid, registered lease before it issues most mainland licenses.
6
Obtain activity-specific approvals
Regulated activities such as construction and healthcare need sign-off from Dubai Municipality, RERA or a federal ministry.
7
Pay fees and collect the license
Once approvals and payments clear, DET issues the license itself.
8
Establishment card and visas
With the license in hand, apply for the company's immigration establishment card, then investor and employee visas.
Renewing, existing license2 steps
9
Pre-renewal check
We confirm your Ejari is valid and no fines or approvals are outstanding, the usual cause of renewal delays.
10
Renewal filing
We submit the renewal so your license stays active without a lapse.
A clean renewal can complete same-day to a few days. A new license typically issues in 7 to 14 days. Timelines are indicative and subject to authority processing and any outstanding approvals.
Documents
Documents required
Typical requirements9 items
- Passport copies of all shareholders and managers
- Emirates ID for UAE residents already in the country
- Trade name reservation certificate
- Initial approval certificate from DET
- Memorandum of Association, for applicable structures
- Tenancy contract registered on Ejari
- Local Service Agent agreement, where required
- Passport-size photographs
- NOC from a current sponsor, for some activities
A Local Service Agent is a UAE national appointed as local representative for certain structures, typically a sole establishment or civil company running a professional activity. The LSA holds no equity, no profit share and no management role. Where one is required, the annual fee is indicatively AED 5,000 to 15,000 for 2026.
Full document checklist
The cost
DET trade license cost in 2026
Figures are indicative for 2026 and vary by activity, structure, office size and visa count.
Lowest entry
Professional license
Service and consultancy activities where the value is expertise.
Consulting, IT, marketing
LSA where required
Standard DET issuance
AED 10,000 to 25,000
Most common
Commercial license
Trading, buying, selling and general commercial activity.
Retail and distribution
General trading available
Standard DET issuance
AED 15,000 to 50,000
Digital-first
E-commerce / virtual
Selling online without a physical retail storefront.
Online-only trading
No shopfront required
Varies by activity
AED 15,000 to 20,000
Site-based
Industrial license
Manufacturing, processing and assembly tied to an industrial unit.
Factory or industrial unit
Site and safety approvals
Municipality sign-off
AED 20,000 to 60,000
Want the figure for your exact license?
Tell us your activities, office, and visa count and we return an itemized quote, not a headline number.
All figures are indicative for 2026. Neither route is universally cheaper: a free zone package looks lower upfront, but a mainland DET license buys direct market access.
How a DET license fee actually adds up
Government line items plus the activity-based fee.
Typical license rangeAED 15,000-50,000+Before visas, office fit-out or PRO fees. Year 1 all-in commonly runs AED 25,000-70,000+.
Trade name reservationAED 600-1,070Reservation and registration.
Dubai Chamber membershipAround AED 300Annual membership charge.
Trade name advertisementAround AED 350Charged at the name stage.
Service request formAround AED 50Per application.
Activity-based licensing feeAED 5,000-25,000The largest variable. General trading around 15,000, building contracting around 10,000, real estate 5,000 to 25,000.
Added on top
- MOA notarisation
- Ejari registration for your office
- Annual market fee, a percentage of your office rent
- Local Service Agent fee where the structure needs one, indicatively AED 5,000-15,000 a year
Possible additional costs
- External Authority Approvals
- Additional Visas
- Larger Office Space
- Activity Amendments
Side by side
Mainland vs Free Zone
A free zone package looks lower upfront. A mainland license buys direct market access.
Route comparison
MainlandDET licence
Free zoneZone authority
Foreign ownershipWho can hold shares
100% most activities
100%, long standard
Market accessWhere you can sell
Trade anywhere in UAE
Needs a distributor
Government tendersPublic contracts
Eligible
Not eligible
Office requirementPhysical space
Physical, Ejari registered
Flexi-desk available
Year 1 costIndicative range
AED 25,000-70,000+
AED 10,000-25,000+
Visa sponsorshipHow visas scale
By leased office size
By package tier
Activity rangeWhat you can licence
More than 2,000 activities
Zone sector focus
Best for reach
Selling inside the UAE
Export-led operations
Our take
Choose mainland if you sell inside the UAE or bid for government work. A free zone suits export-led businesses that never trade onshore.
Timelines
How long a DET license takes
The real driver is how regulated your activity is. Banking runs on its own clock afterwards.
StageIndicative time
Standard, pre-approved activities
7-15 business days
Activities needing regulated approval
2-8 weeks
Overall band across activities
1-4 weeks
Bank account, UAE resident
2-4 weeks
Bank account, non-resident
6-12 weeks
Digital banking providers
3-7 days
Employee visa processing
5-15 working days
Treat these as an indicative range rather than a guarantee. Timelines move with the authority handling your approval.
Visas
Visa sponsorship on a DET license
A mainland license sponsors both investor and employee visas. Processing runs through GDRFA and MOHRE, not DET.
| Visa type | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Investor or partner visa, 2 years | AED 3,500 to 6,000+ |
| Employee visa, 5-15 working days | AED 3,000 to 5,000 |
| Establishment card, before any visa | Fixed fee |
| Medical fitness test, per applicant | Included per visa |
| Emirates ID issuance, per applicant | Included per visa |
| Dependent visa, per family member | Varies |
Mainland visa allocation is linked to leased office size but assessed case by case by GDRFA and MOHRE.
Figures are indicative for 2026 and vary by activity, office and applicant profile.
Keeping the license active, and closing it properly
A Dubai trade license is valid for one year from issue and must be renewed annually. Closing a business means formally cancelling, not letting it lapse.
- 01
Renew annually
Indicatively AED 5,000 to 25,000 depending on activity and structure, with a commonly referenced 30-day grace period after expiry.
- 02
What renewal needs
An up-to-date Ejari tenancy contract, settled government fees, and confirmation that any activity-specific approvals are still current.
- 03
Verify a license online
Check any Dubai company through DET's eServices at dubaidet.gov.ae, by license number or company name, for status and activities.
- 04
Cancel, do not let it lapse
Settle fees and fines, cancel visas and the establishment card, close bank accounts, get final clearance. Letting it expire leaves liabilities on the shareholders.
Outgrowing your license
Already on an eTrader license?
Not upgraded in place. Past their limits you apply fresh for a full licence.
A pre-submission review, every time
We screen your file against each trigger before it reaches DED, so issues are fixed at the desk, not at the counter.
How we prevent it
An eTrader license cannot sponsor visas at all. We map the full commercial application, trade name through MOA and Ejari, so you never hit a gap in your ability to hire.
How we prevent it
An eTrader license cannot run a physical shop. We confirm the Ejari-compliant premises and the license category together, so the lease and the license match from day one.
How we prevent it
We check your real activity list against DET's categories and file the correct one, rather than stretching an entry-level license past what it permits.
How we prevent it
It does not. We plan the transition before you outgrow the restrictions, so trading and sponsorship continue uninterrupted.
We check all of these before filing, not after a rejection.
Why DMCS
A mainland desk, not a package shop
We handle trade name reservation, DET approvals, MOA drafting, Ejari-compliant office arrangements and visa processing end to end.
Where setups fail most
Banking-aware structure
We set up your company with the bank's review in mind. Activity wording, office type, structure, all chosen to open accounts, not block them.
01
We confirm the category before filing
Your activity decides your license type, your approvals and whether you need a Local Service Agent. We get that right first, so you never pay for an amendment.
02
We flag the second authority early
Construction, healthcare, education, food and real estate all need another regulator before DET issues. We identify it before you commit to a timeline.
03
We quote against your real setup
Activity, structure, office size and headcount, itemised, rather than a headline package figure that moves at signing.
04
We stay past issuance
Establishment card, visas through GDRFA and MOHRE, corporate tax registration and annual renewal, tracked so nothing lapses.
Real results from our clients
What our clients say about working with us
Real Google reviews from founders we have set up and kept compliant on the Dubai mainland.
A
Abdul Sami3 months ago
Thank you to the team for supporting us with our company setup. Our case was not straightforward, especially the bank account opening, but they stayed committed and got it done.
P
Paolo Chua8 months ago
I had a great experience opening a corporate bank account. The process was smooth and efficient. The staff were friendly, professional, and explained everything clearly.
A
Amy Elliott Dunne4 months ago
The accounting and bookkeeping service has been exceptional. Attention to detail is impressive, and communication is always clear. Tasks are handled promptly.
R
Rashed Al Falasi5 months ago
They confirmed our activity grouping before filing and flagged an issue the bank would have raised. Licensed in under two weeks with no surprises on the invoice.
M
Marwa Khalil2 months ago
We came for a mainland LLC and stayed for renewals and PRO work. The same team answers the phone after the license is issued, which is rare here.
Common questions
DED trade license, answered
Get a fixed quote for your DET license
Tell us your activity and headcount and we will price it against your actual setup.
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