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MainlandDubai mainland company
Verified on Invest in Dubai, run by DET. This is the route most guides describe, and the right one for a mainland license.
About the DED dashboard and DET eServicesFree, official, in minutes
How to Check a Dubai Trade License Online
Which portal to use for mainland, free zone, or DUL lookups, and the one mistake that makes a real license look fake.
Checked against DET, IID, and NER pages.
DUL under Law No. 6 of 2023, DBLC-issued
VerifyTrade license check
What is a Dubai trade license check?
A free instant status check on any Dubai company, through DET for mainland or the relevant zone portal for a free zone entity.
FreeInstant status check, no fee
1-3 daysIf you need a certified extract
DULOne ID that spans mainland + free zone
The process
How to check a Dubai trade license online
The DET/Invest in Dubai path for a mainland company. If you're checking a free zone company, use the comparison table below instead.
Gather your identifier
License number, DUL number, or the exact registered company name.
Go to DET's license search
Invest in Dubai handles setup services; DET runs the actual license lookup.
Enter your search details
Type the license number or DUL number for the most exact match.
- Critical stage
Review status and expiry
Confirm active, expired, or suspended, and check the listed activity.
- Critical stage
Match the activity to reality
A valid license doesn't confirm the company does what it claims.
Scan the DUL QR code, if shown
Newer licenses carry a QR code for an instant cross-zone check.
Save your result
Screenshot or download; a certified extract needs a separate request.
Mainland vs free zone
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Free zoneFree zone company
Verified through the issuing free zone, not DET. DIFC and DMCC publish public registers; other zones keep their own. A free zone company will not appear on the DET portal, and that does not mean it is fake.
Mainland vs free zone, compared03
Not sureDon't know the authority
Start with the National Economic Register, the Ministry of Economy's UAE-wide platform that covers mainland and free zone licenses in one search.
Identify the issuing authority first, then search the right register. The wrong portal returns nothing, even for a real company.
The scope
Other ways to verify a Dubai trade license
Online
Official digital checks
- Invest in Dubai (DET) for a Dubai mainland license
- National Economic Register for any UAE license
- DIFC and DMCC public registers for those free zones
- The issuing free zone's own register or verification desk
Offline
Direct and physical checks
- Visit the registered office and see the original license
- Cross-check stamps and layout against the online record
- Ask DET to confirm a mainland license and its dates
- Confirm free zone entities with the relevant authority
Start here
What a licence check costs and covers
At a glance
Free
The basic online status check costs nothing. A certified extract, if you need one, may carry a small fee.
~2-3 min
How long a typical online check takes. It's a common estimate, not an official guarantee.
3 systems
Mainland, free zone, and cross-emirate checks each run through a different portal.
Law No. 6/2023
The law behind the Dubai Unified Licence (DUL), the ID that actually spans mainland and free zone.
Which method
Which trade license check fits your situation?
Mainland, free zone, and DUL lookups run through different systems. Here's which one to use and what it can actually find.
| Factor | Mainland | Free Zone | Not Sure / DUL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portal | DET license search | Zone's own portal | National Econ. Register |
| Search by | License or DUL number | License number | Name or license number |
| Works across zones? | No, mainland only | No, that zone only | Yes, DUL crosses both |
| Typical cost | Free to check | Free to check | Free to check |
| Certified extract | 1-3 business days | 1-2 business days | Confirm with authority |
| Login required? | No, for basic check | No, for basic check | UAE Pass for full record |
Who runs each check
Five different bodies can confirm a UAE trade license, and each one covers a different slice of the system.
| Authority | What they do | When you meet them | Key output |
|---|---|---|---|
| DET | Confirms status, expiry, and activity for Dubai mainland licenses. | Any mainland check | License status |
| DBLC | Runs the Dubai Unified Licence system across zones. | DUL lookups | Unified ID record |
| Free zone authority | Confirms status for companies licensed in that specific zone. | Free zone checks | Zone registration |
| Ministry of Economy | Helps when you don't know which authority issued the license. | Cross-emirate checks | Authority identified |
| DCCI & Customs | Verifies Chamber membership or customs registration directly. | Import/export due diligence | Direct confirmation |
- DETRuns the mainland license-information search directly.You meet them:Any mainland check
- DBLCCreated under Law No. 6/2023 to issue and manage the DUL.You meet them:DUL lookups
- Free zone authorityDMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, IFZA, TECOM, each with its own register.You meet them:Free zone checks
- Ministry of EconomyRuns the National Economic Register.You meet them:Cross-emirate checks
- DCCI & CustomsCan confirm registration for trade-focused businesses.You meet them:Import/export due diligence
Your result
What your trade license check result means
The system will show one of a few statuses. Here's what each one means and what to do next.
Recommended
Good to proceed3 signs
If it's active
- Status shows active and the activity matchesYou're clear to proceed with the transaction or partnership.
- The DUL confirms the same details as the licenseCross-checking both is the strongest confirmation available.
- You're comfortable with the resultSave a screenshot or request a certified extract for your file.
Act before you sign3 signs
If it's not active
- The status shows as expiredExpired licenses still appear, just marked inactive.
- Status shows suspended or cancelledDon't proceed. Ask the company to explain directly.
- The activity doesn't match what they claimA valid license doesn't cover unlisted activities.
Avoid these
The mix-ups that make a real license look fake, or a fake one look real.
Jurisdiction
Searching a free zone company on DET's portal
DET's search only covers mainland licenses. A DMCC or DIFC company won't appear there at all, license number or not.
Do this instead: check that zone's own portal, or search by DUL number if the company has one.
Identifiers
Using a company name instead of a number
Name searches can return multiple similar-sounding matches. A license or DUL number returns one exact result.
Do this instead: ask for the license number or DUL number before you search.
Status
Confusing expired with cancelled
An expired license still appears in the system and may be renewable. A cancelled one generally can't be.
Do this instead: read the exact status word, don't assume either one means the company is gone.
Scope
Checking status but skipping the activity
A license can be active while listing activities that don't match what the company is actually offering you.
Do this instead: compare the listed activity to the deal in front of you, every time.
Source
Using an unofficial lookalike site
Search results for government portals sometimes surface unofficial copies that harvest the details you enter.
Do this instead: go directly to DET, Invest in Dubai, or the named free zone authority's own domain.
Related reading
More on trade licenses in Dubai
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Found something that doesn't add up?
Send us the license or DUL number and we'll read the result, confirm the right authority, and tell you plainly whether it's safe to proceed.
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