Looking to trade, retail, or import-export in the UAE? A Dubai commercial license is essential to operate legally. With the right license, you can sponsor employees, access local and international markets, and grow your business with full regulatory compliance and peace of mind.
A commercial license in Dubai authorizes businesses to buy, sell, import, export, distribute, or retail physical goods. It is issued by the DET for mainland companies or by a free zone authority for zone-based setups.
It sits alongside professional licenses for services and industrial licenses for manufacturing. If revenue comes from moving or selling goods rather than expertise, the commercial license is the right category.
A single commercial license covers up to 10 related trading activities. A general trading license extends this to multiple unrelated product categories under one legal entity, without separate licenses for each.
The DET permits hundreds of commercial trading activities under this license. These are the six most common product categories and what falls under each.
For a service business, the mainland versus free zone decision is mainly about who your clients are. For a trading business, it also involves where goods move, how they clear customs, where inventory is stored, and what logistics infrastructure sits nearby.
A mainland commercial license from DET gives you unrestricted UAE market access. You can sell to consumers, retailers, corporates, and government buyers across all seven emirates. An Ejari office is mandatory. An LLC is the standard structure, with 100% foreign ownership for most activities.
A free zone commercial license is faster and cheaper with 100% ownership and no mandatory local partner. Zones like JAFZA and Dubai South sit near major ports, making them suited to import, export, and re-export. Selling to UAE mainland buyers requires a local distributor or a mainland branch.
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Ownership | 100% most activities | 100% |
| UAE Market Access | Full, all emirates | Via local distributor only |
| Government Tenders | Eligible to bid | Not permitted |
| Office / Warehouse | Physical office + Ejari | Flexi-desk or zone warehouse |
| Port / Logistics | Any UAE port or airport | Zone-specific, often near port |
| Legal Structure | LLC / Sole Establishment | FZE / FZCO |
| Setup Timeline | 7 to 10 working days | 3 to 7 working days |
| Starting Cost | From AED 14,900 | From AED 12,500 |
A step-by-step path from decision to first shipment typically completed in 7 to 10 working days.
Choose: specific or general trading. Mainland for UAE access, free zone for lower cost and port proximity.
Submit preferred names to DET or your free zone. Names must follow UAE rules and must be unique.
Apply for initial approval to confirm your activities are accepted before investing in premises.
Notarize the LLC MOA. Lease an Ejari-registered office or warehouse. Free zones accept flexi-desk options.
File your application. Run any external approvals for food, pharma, or chemicals in parallel.
After your license is issued, register with Dubai Customs for an importer/exporter code before goods can move.
A clean, complete document pack submitted from the start is the fastest route through the application process. Here is what a standard commercial license application requires and what regulated product categories add on top.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, legal structure, and product category. Some free zones require fewer documents for entry-level packages. Riz and Mona Consultancy provides a complete, activity-specific document checklist as part of your initial consultation.
Costs range considerably depending on whether you want specific or general trading, mainland or free zone, and what product categories are involved. These figures reflect typical setups, not fixed quotes.
AED 14,900 – 24,500
Covers DET license fees, trade name reservation, initial approval, MOA notarization, Chamber of Commerce registration, and Ejari market fees. One to three specific trading activities. Visa costs and warehouse are separate.
AED 24,500 – 35,000+
Includes all mainland LLC costs plus higher DET activity fees for multi-category general trading. A larger office or warehouse is typically required. External approvals for regulated goods are charged separately.
AED 12,500 – 22,000
Includes free zone license, one visa quota, and flexi-desk or workspace option. JAFZA, DMCC, and Dubai South packages vary. Best suited for import, export, and re-export operations without UAE mainland retail.
A general trading license carries higher DET activity fees than a single-category specific trading license. More product lines means a higher license fee.
Trading businesses that stock inventory need registered warehouse space, which costs significantly more than a standard office. Mainland market fees are calculated on your total lease value.
Each residency visa adds AED 3,500 to AED 6,000. Commercial operations with warehouse staff, drivers, and sales teams typically require more visas than service setups.
Food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, and alcohol all require external authority approvals before the license can be issued. Each approval carries its own fee and timeline.
JAFZA and Dubai South offer strong logistics advantages but charge premium fees. IFZA and Meydan are more affordable. The right zone depends on your trade model, not just your budget.
All figures are indicative and subject to change based on DET or free zone authority updates, activity classification, office type, and market conditions. Riz and Mona Consultancy provides a personalized, itemized quote based on your specific setup. Contact us before finalizing your budget.
A commercial license opens your path to UAE residency and gives you the legal basis to build and sponsor a full trading team.
Once your license is issued, you can apply for an investor residency visa as the company owner. This gives you UAE residency, an Emirates ID, and the right to open personal and corporate bank accounts.
Mainland commercial companies have no fixed visa cap. Your quota grows with your office or warehouse footprint, which matters for trading businesses that need warehouse teams, drivers, and sales staff.
Riz and Mona Consultancy processes investor and employee visas alongside the license setup so both move through a single coordinated workflow without delays.
Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE visa holders. Mainland quota is tied to office or warehouse size. Visa costs are billed separately.
A commercial license gives you access to a UAE corporate bank account. Banks scrutinize trading companies more than service businesses. They want to understand your supply chain, product categories, and transaction flow.
These are the most common and most costly mistakes made during commercial license setup in Dubai. Each one is avoidable with the right preparation.
You can only trade what is on your license. Adding activities later costs time and fees. Map your product range before you apply.
A specific trading license covers one product category. If you trade across unrelated goods, you need a general trading license.
Food, pharma, cosmetics, chemicals, and alcohol need external approvals before the license is issued. Missing these stalls everything.
A commercial license does not authorize imports or exports alone. Register with Dubai Customs before your first shipment moves.
Mainland visa quota and market fees are tied to lease size. Starting too small limits headcount and forces a costly upgrade.
Trading companies face tougher KYC than service firms. Banks want supplier and trade evidence. Arriving unprepared leads to rejection.
Whether you are importing, running wholesale, launching retail, or building e-commerce, Riz and Mona manages every step from activity selection to your first cleared shipment.
