Dubai Business Licensing — Current 2026 Framework
Dubai Trade License Types & Renewal Guide
Compare Dubai mainland licence types, E-Trader and Instant Licence routes, foreign ownership, premises requirements and the correct way to determine current renewal costs.
Final fees are transaction-specific. Verify the current amount in the official Invest in Dubai licensing/renewal transaction.
Do not use a fixed AED 12,000 / 9,000 / 28,000 fee table. Dubai licensing fees vary with the activity, legal form, licence type, approvals and transaction.
Understanding Dubai business licensing
Dubai mainland business licensing is administered through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), with digital licensing transactions available through Invest in Dubai.
The actual setup or renewal cost depends on the chosen activity, legal form, licence route, premises, external approvals and other transaction-specific requirements.
Licence Planning Calculator
This is a planning tool. It intentionally does not invent a fixed government fee where the current DET transaction determines the actual amount.
Commercial Licence
Used for permitted commercial activities such as many trading, retail, logistics, import/export and related activities.
The final official fee depends on the activity, legal form, licence type, approvals and transaction. Use the live Invest in Dubai transaction.
Used only as a premises-budget figure. It is not multiplied by 5% to manufacture a government Market Fee.
Live official-fee method
Check Invest in Dubai
Licence: Commercial Licence
Premises planning cost: AED 60,000
DET licence fee: Transaction-specific
Market Fee: Not hard-coded as 5%
Additional approvals: Not selected
Final amount: open the official government transaction for the exact activity and legal form.
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Dubai licence options
| Licence | Typical purpose |
|---|---|
| Industrial | Approved manufacturing, production, packaging, processing and other industrial activities. |
| Commercial | Many trading, retail, logistics, import/export and other commercial activities. |
| Professional | Professional, technical or service activities based on the approved activity. |
| E-Trader | Eligible home-based online activities conducted through electronic/social-media channels. |
| Dual Licence | Available to eligible free-zone companies seeking to operate on the mainland under the applicable framework. |
Foreign ownership
100% foreign ownership
Available for most activities, subject to strategic-sector and activity restrictions.
Legal form
The selected legal form can affect ownership structure, liability and additional requirements.
Professional activities
The approved activity and legal form determine the applicable ownership and agent framework.
External approvals
Certain regulated activities require additional approvals before the licensing transaction is completed.
Instant Licence
Purpose
Streamlined licence issuance for qualifying activities that do not require certain external approvals.
First-year premises
Dubai’s Instant Licence framework can allow a virtual site/no physical location during the first year under the applicable conditions.
Legal forms
The published Instant Licence framework covers qualifying legal forms including LLC, single-owner LLC, sole establishment and civil company.
Later renewal
Do not assume the first-year virtual-site treatment automatically continues. Check the current renewal requirements for the exact activity and legal form.
Cost components to check
| Component | Treatment |
|---|---|
| DET licence issuance / renewal | Transaction-specific. Obtain the amount from the live Invest in Dubai transaction. |
| Trade name / registration charges | Can be separate depending on the setup or transaction. |
| External approvals | Regulated activities may require separate approvals and associated charges. |
| Premises / Ejari | Ordinary licences can require compliant premises. Instant Licence first-year treatment is a special case. |
| Establishment / related government charges | Can vary according to the transaction and legal structure. |
| Immigration / visa costs | Separate from the core trade-licence fee and dependent on the relevant immigration transaction. |
Licence setup / renewal checklist
1
Choose the exact business activity
The activity code is one of the main drivers of licensing requirements and additional approvals.
2
Select the legal form
The legal form determines ownership structure, liability and other setup requirements.
3
Check foreign ownership
Most activities allow full foreign ownership, but strategic/restricted activities require additional checking.
4
Check premises requirements
Ordinary licences can require compliant premises and tenancy documentation; qualifying Instant Licences have a different first-year framework.
5
Check external approvals
Healthcare, education, food, transport, finance and other regulated sectors can require approvals from other authorities.
6
Use the live Invest in Dubai transaction
The exact payable amount should come from the current government transaction rather than a generic fee table.
Licence renewal
Dubai provides a dedicated online trade-licence renewal service through Invest in Dubai. The applicable requirements and fees should be checked against the live licence record because they can depend on the activity, legal form and licence status.
Avoid hard-coding an unsupported universal expired-licence fine. The previous “30 days + AED 200/month up to AED 2,000” formula has been removed because it was not adequately supported by the current official DET material reviewed for this page.
Related UAE Tools & Guides
2026 VerifiedFrequently Asked Questions
Dubai’s official business portal identifies multiple licensing options, including Industrial, Commercial, Professional, E-Trader and Dual licensing, together with different legal forms and specialised structures. The correct licence depends on the business activity, legal form and business model.
There is no reliable universal Dubai renewal price such as AED 12,000, AED 9,000 or AED 28,000. DET licensing costs depend on the activity, legal form, licence type, external approvals and transaction. The current amount should be obtained from the live Invest in Dubai licensing or renewal transaction.
The page should not hard-code a universal 5% formula for every 2026 mainland business licence. Market-fee rules and rates have changed historically and the applicable amount depends on the current legal and transaction framework. Use the current government transaction instead of automatically multiplying Ejari rent by 5%.
The Dubai E-Trader licence is a home-business licence for eligible individuals conducting permitted product or service activities through social media and electronic platforms. Dubai’s official information states that it operates under the sole-establishment legal form and only permitted activities may be carried out. The current fee should be verified in the live transaction.
It depends on the licence and transaction. Dubai’s Instant Licence framework allows a virtual site/no physical location during the first year for qualifying activities. That does not create a universal exemption from premises or Ejari requirements for ordinary licences. The exact renewal requirements must be checked for the specific activity and legal form.
No. Dubai’s official business portal says most activities allow 100% foreign ownership, but certain strategic activities and structures can have restrictions. Ownership also depends on the legal form and any additional regulatory approvals. Always check the specific activity before assuming full foreign ownership.
🏬 Commercial Ejari & Lease Guide →⚡ Dubai Instant Licence Guide →🏛️ Mainland vs Free Zone Business Setup →🏦 UAE Business Bank Account Guide →
Official Dubai business-licensing sources
These links are provided for direct verification. This page is not certified or approved by DET, Dubai Municipality or Invest in Dubai.
Business-licensing notice: Dubai licensing requirements and charges can vary according to activity, legal form, ownership, premises, external approvals and current government policies. Verify the live transaction before paying or renewing.
Last reviewed for this page: 22 August 2026.