Part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism services
Trade License Issuance in Dubai
Trade license issuance in Dubai can be delayed by choosing an activity that does not match the license type, by a missing document, or by a government approval that has not been completed. That is why it pays to define your project’s requirements before you submit the license application.
Instant PRO helps you review your project details, prepare the documents, and submit and follow up the license application with the competent authority, as part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism services.
We explain the license conditions, the steps, the government fees and the requirements for each type, while the decision to approve and issue the license remains with the government authority alone.
- Project details reviewed
- Documents prepared
- Application submitted and followed up
Who Can Apply for Trade License Issuance in Dubai?
Eligible individuals and companies can apply for a trade license in Dubai, depending on the nature of the economic activity, the legal form, and the ownership and licensing requirements. This includes resident and non-resident investors in the cases where this is permitted.
The procedures differ by type of project:
- Individuals: can choose a legal form that suits their activity, such as a sole establishment where available, subject to the licensing conditions.
- Companies: setting one up requires defining the partners, the legal form and the activity, and completing the memorandum of association and the approvals needed in each case.
- Non-resident investors: can set up businesses on the Dubai mainland within the activities and legal forms available, once the identity, entry and ownership requirements are met.
Our service covers license issuance transactions on the Dubai mainland; free zone licenses are handled by the licensing authorities of those zones.
No one may conduct an economic activity without the required license, under Article 6 of Dubai Law No. (13) of 2011 Regulating the Conduct of Economic Activities, as amended by Law No. (14) of 2015.
Types of Trade Licenses in Dubai
The Invest in Dubai portal sets out three routes for issuing a license, which differ in their requirements and their announced completion times.
| License type | Core requirements | Announced completion time |
|---|---|---|
| Normal license | A memorandum of association according to the legal form, and a tenancy contract for a specific site, with the necessary approvals | 10 minutes |
| Instant license | For activities that need no external approvals, and provides a virtual site for the first year, subject to its conditions | 5 minutes |
| eTrader license | For freelance work and home-based trade within the eligibility conditions, and requires an ID number | 5 minutes |
These routes are separate from the classification of the economic activity itself: an activity may be commercial, professional or industrial, and the suitable license type is determined by what the competent authority allows.
Important: The times in the table are the government’s announced completion times for the issuance service. They do not necessarily include the time needed to prepare the memorandum of association or to complete the preceding approvals and documents.
Source: Invest in Dubai portal – Request to issue a trade license.
Trade License Requirements in Dubai
The conditions for issuing a license vary with the activity and the legal form of the business. The main requirements to review before applying are:
- Defining the economic activity: choosing the main activity and any additional activities the owner wants to conduct, and confirming that they can be licensed.
- Choosing the legal form: selecting the form that suits the business, such as a sole establishment or a limited liability company, according to the activity and ownership conditions.
- Completing the initial approval: obtaining it as part of the setup route when it is required.
- Reserving the trade name: choosing a name that meets the government rules and completing the reservation procedure.
- Securing the business premises: meeting the site requirements and the tenancy contract for licenses that require them.
- Obtaining additional approvals: completing the approvals of other regulatory authorities if the activity requires them.
The requirements may differ for the instant license and the eTrader license, so confirm the suitable route before preparing the application.
Steps to Issue a Trade License in Dubai
The procedures for issuing a trade license in Dubai begin with defining the activity and the legal form, then completing the setup requirements and submitting the license application through the government channels.
The main steps are:
Step 1 - Choosing the Business Activity and Legal Form
The activity the business will conduct is defined, and the legal form is then chosen to suit the nature of the project, the number of partners and the ownership requirements.
Step 2 - Entering the Business and Partner Details
The details of the owner or partners and of the chosen activities are prepared, and the identity requirements and the documents needed for submission are reviewed.
Step 3 - Completing the Initial Approval and Reserving the Trade Name
The initial approval and the name reservation are completed according to the available setup route, and the name may be reserved before the initial approval where the service allows.
Step 4 - Preparing the Required Contracts and Approvals
The legal documents are completed, including the memorandum of association and the premises tenancy contract where they are required, and the approvals of the competent authorities are obtained according to the activity.
Step 5 - Submitting the License Application
The application is submitted electronically through the Invest in Dubai portal, or through one of the approved service centres.
Step 6 - Paying the Fees and Receiving the License
Once the requirements are met and the application is approved, the prescribed government fees are paid and the license is issued by the competent authority.
Instant PRO helps you prepare the license application, submit it and follow up its requirements, without assuming that every project goes through the same detailed procedures.
Documents Required for Trade License Issuance in Dubai
There is no single list of documents that applies to every license; the papers required depend on the license type, the activity and the legal form of the business.
| Document or detail | Cases in which it may be required |
|---|---|
| Emirates ID or passport | Depending on the applicant’s residence and capacity |
| Owner and partner details | According to the legal form of the business |
| Initial approval | As part of the setup procedures, when required |
| Company memorandum of association | For legal forms that require one |
| Tenancy contract for the business premises | For licenses that require a specific site |
| Regulatory approvals | For activities that need additional approvals |
| Unified number or ID number | For the instant license, according to the service requirements |
| ID card number | For the eTrader license |
The requirements for non-resident partners or branches of companies differ from those for some sole establishments, so review the required details before submitting the transaction.
If setting up the project requires a memorandum of association, Instant PRO also helps with preparing the memorandum of association for a company in Dubai and following up its approval with the competent authority.
Trade License Issuance Fees and Cost in Dubai
The cost of issuing a trade license in Dubai varies with the license type, the activity and the setup requirements. The Invest in Dubai portal does not announce a fixed amount covering all normal or instant licenses.
Government fees announced on the service page, as verified on 25 October 2026:
| License type | Government fees |
|---|---|
| Normal license | Determined by the activity, the license type and the application requirements |
| Instant license | Determined by the activity, the license type and the application requirements |
| eTrader license | AED 1,070 for license, knowledge and innovation fees, plus AED 300 for Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership |
Other government requirements or fees may apply depending on the transaction, so no general amount should be taken as a final estimate for every project.
The Invest in Dubai portal lets you explore the options for setting up a business and their estimated costs once you enter the activity and legal form details.
The final reference for fees is the amount displayed by the government channel when you submit the application and pay. The fees above are government fees and are not payment for Instant PRO’s services.
How Long Does Trade License Issuance Take in Dubai?
The announced completion time for the normal license issuance service is 10 minutes, while 5 minutes is announced for the instant license and the eTrader license.
However, the time needed to prepare the whole project can vary with the completeness of the details and documents, the nature of the activity, and the need for a memorandum of association, a tenancy contract or additional regulatory approvals.
Points worth checking to avoid delaying the application:
- Choosing an economic activity that does not fit the intended license route.
- An incomplete memorandum of association or premises documents where they are required.
- An additional approval that has not been completed with the competent authority.
- Differences between the owner’s or partners’ details in the documents and in the application.
That is why we review the transaction’s requirements before submitting it, and we do not guarantee a set completion time or the issuance of the approval.
How Does Instant PRO Help With Trade License Issuance?
Instant PRO provides a specialised administrative service in preparing and following up trade license issuance transactions on the Dubai mainland, aiming to organise the procedures and identify the requirements suited to each project before submission.
Our assistance includes:
- Reviewing the activity and legal form: studying the project details provided and identifying the procedural options available for licensing.
- Preparing the documents: reviewing the identity, partner, contract and approval requirements for the transaction.
- Following up the setup procedures: coordinating the initial approval, the memorandum of association and the trade name reservation where needed and within the scope of available services.
- Submitting the license application: preparing the application and submitting it through the approved channels in line with the available procedures and authorisations.
- Following the application status: following up comments and requests to complete documents until the competent authority issues its decision.
- Explaining the government fees: reviewing the amounts shown in the application and explaining the government payment steps.
The client can submit the application personally through the government channels, or ask us to prepare the transaction and follow it up.
Our services do not include issuing the government decision or guaranteeing approval; the license is issued by the competent authority alone once the requirements are met.
What Comes After Trade License Issuance?
After the license is issued, the business may need to complete registrations or open files with other government authorities, depending on its activity and operating requirements.
This includes issuing the establishment record with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation when the company needs to deal with the ministry’s labour and permit services. You can read about the establishment card service with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to learn its requirements and procedures.
These transactions remain separate from trade license issuance, and it should not be assumed that every business needs the same procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trade License Issuance in Dubai
Can I get a trade license in Dubai online?
Yes, an application for a trade license in Dubai can be submitted through the Invest in Dubai portal after defining the activity and legal form and completing the required details. The application may need additional documents or approvals depending on the license type. It can also be submitted through the approved service centres.
Can a non-resident get a trade license in Dubai?
Yes, a non-resident can set up a business in Dubai in the cases permitted by the activity, the legal form and the ownership requirements. The required documents vary with the investor’s status and the type of company. So the entry, identity and licensing requirements should be checked before starting the setup procedures.
Can a trade license be issued in Dubai without premises?
Some licenses can be issued without a traditional tenancy contract at setup, such as the eligible instant license, which provides a virtual site for the first year subject to its conditions. The normal license, however, requires a tenancy contract for a specific site according to the official service description. The suitable route depends on the activity and the license type.
How much does trade license issuance cost in Dubai?
The fees vary with the activity, the license type and the setup requirements. The Invest in Dubai portal announces AED 1,070 for the eTrader license, plus AED 300 for Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership, while the fees of other licenses are determined by the details of the application.
Is the initial approval enough to start trading?
No, the initial approval does not replace issuing the appropriate trade license. The licensing procedures and the required approvals must be completed before starting an activity that requires a license. The sequence of procedures varies with the license type and the activity, so review the approved setup route for each project.
What is the difference between reserving a trade name and issuing a trade license?
Reserving a trade name is a procedure for obtaining a document confirming the name chosen for the project, in line with the competent authority’s rules. Issuing a trade license is a separate procedure for obtaining the license needed to conduct the specified economic activities. So a name reservation alone does not allow you to start trading.
Next step
Start Your Trade License Issuance in Dubai With Instant PRO
Need help with trade license issuance in Dubai? Instant PRO helps you review your project's requirements and prepare, submit and follow up the license application. Tell us the activity you want to conduct and whether the project is individual or between partners, and we will explain the suitable procedures and documents.
WhatsApp: +971 56 232 7778
Office 805, Opal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai
Working hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Activity and legal form reviewed
- Documents prepared
- Application status followed up
Instant PRO is an independent private company and does not represent the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism or any other government entity. Approval of the application and issuance of the license remain subject to the conditions and procedures approved by the competent authority.