A UAE Trade License is the official, legally binding document issued by government authorities that grants a company the legal right to operate commercial, professional, or industrial activities within the country. Depending on your business model, it is issued either by a Free Zone Authority or by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for Mainland setups.
The 4 Main Types of Trade Licenses: Your exact day-to-day operations determine the specific legal license category your business must obtain:
Commercial License: Issued to businesses engaged in tangible goods movement, including wholesaling, retailing, importing, exporting, and e-commerce distribution.
Professional License: Issued to service-oriented businesses, individual professionals, and consultancies that rely on specific intellectual expertise, professional degrees, or technical skill sets (e.g., marketing agencies, management consulting, IT developers).
Industrial License: Mandatory for companies that manufacture, process, or transform raw materials into finished or semi-finished physical products (requires a physical factory or assembly plant footprint).
Tourism License: Specifically required for businesses operating directly within the travel, hospitality, and leisure sectors, such as travel agencies, outbound tour operators, and holiday home rentals
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Trade License
Passport Copies: High-resolution color passport scans for all shareholders, directors, and managers (valid for 6+ months).
Current UAE Visa Status: A copy of the current tourist visa, visit visa entry stamp, or a previous visa cancellation paper (if already inside the UAE).
Proof of Residential Address: A recent utility bill or bank statement showing a physical global address (issued within the last 3 months).Proposed Trade Names:
Current UAE Visa Status: A copy of the current tourist visa, visit visa entry stamp, or a previous visa cancellation paper (if already inside the UAE).
Proof of Residential Address: A recent utility bill or bank statement showing a physical global address (issued within the last 3 months).Proposed Trade Names:
The administrative lifecycle to secure a trade license spans 5 to 7 business days (Free Zone) or 1 to 3 business days (Mainland Instant License Track).
Step 1: Activity Selection & Trade Name Reservation
We align your exact business operations with the official activity codes listed by the registry. Next, we submit your desired trade names for screening to ensure they do not violate national trademarks or contain offensive words.
Step 2: Securing Initial Approval
The registry conducts a preliminary compliance background check on the shareholders. Upon passing, they issue an Initial Approval Certificate, which states that the government allows you to proceed with company creation.
Step 3: Legal Chartering & Office Lease (Ejari)
Our legal team drafts the Memorandum & Articles of Association (MOA) detailing your company bylaws and share distributions. Simultaneously, you map your physical office space into the system by securing an official lease agreement (or Ejari for Mainland setups).
Step 4: Final Payment Voucher & License Issuance
We submit the signed MOA and lease documents to the authority. The government issues a final registration payment voucher. Upon payment, your active physical Commercial Trade License and Share Registers are instantly printed and issued.
We align your exact business operations with the official activity codes listed by the registry. Next, we submit your desired trade names for screening to ensure they do not violate national trademarks or contain offensive words.
Step 2: Securing Initial Approval
The registry conducts a preliminary compliance background check on the shareholders. Upon passing, they issue an Initial Approval Certificate, which states that the government allows you to proceed with company creation.
Step 3: Legal Chartering & Office Lease (Ejari)
Our legal team drafts the Memorandum & Articles of Association (MOA) detailing your company bylaws and share distributions. Simultaneously, you map your physical office space into the system by securing an official lease agreement (or Ejari for Mainland setups).
Step 4: Final Payment Voucher & License Issuance
We submit the signed MOA and lease documents to the authority. The government issues a final registration payment voucher. Upon payment, your active physical Commercial Trade License and Share Registers are instantly printed and issued.
