Consumer and FMCG Goods
Packaged food, beverages, personal care, household products, and everyday consumer items.
- Packaged Food and Beverages
- Personal Care Products
- Household Essentials
- Health and Wellness Products
- Cleaning and Hygiene Goods
General Trade License in Dubai, UAE
Dubai's General Trading License offers entrepreneurs a powerful gateway to global commerce, enabling the import, export, and sale of diverse products under one entity. With fast setup, tax advantages, and scalable options, it remains a top choice for businesses aiming to expand efficiently in 2026.
Excellent
Allows trading of multiple product categories under one license
Enables import, export, distribution, and retail activities
Available in both mainland and free zone setups
Offers 100% ownership options (especially in free zones)
Fast setup with scalable business growth potential
Tax-efficient trading environment
Excellent
General Trading License
What Is a General Trading License in Dubai?
The name implies fewer limits than the reality. A general trading license gives permission to trade across multiple unrelated categories under one registration, without applying separately for each product you add.
That is the key difference from a specific commercial license, which locks you to one product type. Adding a second line needs an amendment. A general trading license removes that constraint entirely.
The license is issued by the DET for mainland companies or by a free zone authority. The standard mainland structure is an LLC. Since the 2021 reform, 100% foreign ownership applies to most commercial trading activities.
What You Can Trade
What Can You Trade Under a General Trading License?
Most physical goods trade under this license. Regulated categories need authority clearance on top. Here are the main categories and what requires extra approval.
Electronics and Technology
Consumer electronics, IT hardware, telecom devices, home appliances, and accessories.
- Consumer Electronics
- IT Hardware and Accessories
- Telecom Equipment
- Home Appliances
- Electronic Components
Fashion, Textiles, and Home
Clothing, fabrics, footwear, furniture, and interior furnishing products.
- Clothing and Apparel
- Textiles and Fabrics
- Footwear
- Furniture and Fixtures
- Interior Products
Building and Industrial
Construction materials, machinery, tools, hardware, and industrial supply goods.
- Building Materials
- Industrial Machinery
- Tools and Hardware
- Safety Equipment
- Raw Materials
Auto Parts and Transport
Auto spare parts, vehicle accessories, lubricants, and transport-related goods.
- Auto Spare Parts
- Vehicle Accessories
- Lubricants and Oils
- Transport Equipment
- Workshop Supplies
Regulated Categories
Not prohibited, but each needs a separate authority approval before goods can legally move.
- Pharmaceuticals: MOH or DHA clearance
- Food perishables: Dubai Municipality
- Chemicals: MOCCAE clearance required
- Precious metals: DMCC or DM approval
- Tobacco: Ministry of Health compliance
- Alcohol: separate specialist license
Jurisdiction Decision
Mainland or Free Zone for a General Trading Company?
For a trading company, this decision carries more financial weight than for a service business. It shapes your import duty position, VAT recovery timing, corporate tax treatment, and which buyers you can reach without a distributor.
A mainland general trading license from DET gives unrestricted UAE market access. You sell to retailers, wholesalers, government bodies, and individual consumers. You need an Ejari-registered office. The standard structure is an LLC, with 100% foreign ownership for most activities since 2021.
A free zone general trading license needs no office beyond a flexi-desk. Free zone companies need a local distributor or a DET permit for mainland buyers. Under Resolution No. 11 of 2025, free zone companies can apply for a DET permit to trade on the mainland. That income is taxed at 9%.
Side-by-Side
Mainland vs Free Zone: General Trading
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone |
|---|---|---|
| UAE Market Access | Direct, all buyers | Via distributor or DET permit |
| Foreign Ownership | 100% most activities | 100% |
| Government Tenders | Eligible to bid | Not permitted |
| Office Requirement | Physical office and Ejari | Flexi-desk accepted |
| Visa Quota | 1 visa per 9 sq m office | Package-dependent |
| Customs Duty | 5% standard on imports | Exempt within the zone |
| Corporate Tax on Exports | 9% above AED 375K | 0% qualifying income |
| Corporate Tax: UAE Sales | 9% above AED 375K | 9% on mainland sales |
Free Zone Guide
Which Free Zone Works for a General Trading Company?
01
Port-Adjacent Heavy Trade
JAFZA to Jebel Ali Free Zone
Next to Jebel Ali Port. Sea freight import, export, re-export with bonded warehousing. From AED 20,000.
02
Commodities and Premium Trade
DMCC
Top-ranked free zone for commodities and precious metals. 24,000 member companies. From AED 34,140.
03
Lean Cost General Trading
IFZA Dubai
Most cost-effective Dubai option. License from AED 12,900. Fast setup. Best for lean operations.
04
Air Cargo and E-Commerce
Dubai South Free Zone
Next to Al Maktoum Airport. Fast-track customs and e-commerce logistics for consumer goods.
05
Airport-Adjacent High Value
DAFZA to Airport Free Zone
At Dubai International Airport. For high-value goods needing rapid air freight turnaround.
06
Low Cost Dubai Address
Meydan Free Zone
From AED 12,500 annually. Flexi-desk with good banking access. Suited to third-party storage ops.
Setup Process
How to Get a General Trading License in Dubai
A straight path from jurisdiction choice to first legal shipment 7 to 15 working days on the mainland, 3 to 7 in a free zone.
Day 1
Choose Jurisdiction and Legal Structure
Mainland for UAE access, free zone for export and lower cost. This sets cost, visa quota, and tax position.
Day 1–2
Reserve Trade Name and Select Activities
Reserve name via DET or free zone. Select up to 10 activities. General trading covers multiple product types.
Day 2–3
Obtain Initial Approval
Submit initial approval with shareholder details. Confirms acceptability before committing to office space.
Day 3–6
Notarize MOA and Register Office
Mainland LLC: notarize the MOA (AED 1,500 to 3,000). Register via Ejari. Dubai Chamber runs in parallel.
Day 6–10
Submit Application and Pay Fees
File the full document set and pay license fees. Run regulated goods approvals in parallel to save time.
After License
Register Customs Code and Apply for Visas
Register at dubaitrade.ae before goods move. Fee AED 200 to AED 500. Issued in 1 to 2 days. Visas follow.
Required Documents
Documents Required for a General Trading License in Dubai
The document list splits depending on whether the shareholder is an individual or a corporate entity. Two things most applicants miss: the Dubai Chamber registration is mandatory for mainland applications and runs simultaneously with DET to not after. Corporate documents from overseas typically need UAE embassy attestation, which adds 1 to 2 weeks.
Individual Shareholders to All Applications
- Valid passport copy with minimum 6 months validity
- Passport-sized photograph on white background
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copy (if resident)
- No Objection Certificate (if on an employment visa)
- Memorandum of Association to drafted and notarized for LLC
- Ejari-registered office or warehouse lease (mainland)
- Trade name reservation certificate from DET or free zone
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce registration (mandatory, mainland)
Corporate Shareholders and Regulated Goods
- Certificate of incorporation of the parent company
- Certificate of incumbency listing current directors
- Parent company Memorandum of Association
- Shareholder resolution authorizing UAE entity formation
- Certified translation of documents not in Arabic or English
- Food and perishables: Dubai Municipality approval required
- Pharmaceuticals and medical devices: MOH or DHA clearance
- Chemicals: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment permit
Corporate documents issued overseas typically require UAE embassy attestation. Some free zones accept notarization in place of full attestation. Confirm your chosen authority's specific requirement before submitting. Riz and Mona Consultancy provides a full document checklist tailored to your structure and jurisdiction.
Cost Guide
General Trading License Cost in Dubai
A general trading license costs more than a standard commercial license. On the mainland, DET adds an AED 15,000 annual surcharge for the multi-category classification.
Mainland LLC to General Trading
AED 38,000 – 55,000 (Year 1)
DET base license fee AED 12,500 to AED 15,000, plus the AED 15,000 general trading surcharge, MOA notarization AED 1,500 to AED 3,000, Ejari registration, Dubai Municipality market fee at 2.5% of annual rent, and Chamber registration. Office rent and visas are priced separately.
Free Zone to Lean Setup (IFZA, Meydan)
AED 22,000 – 38,000 (Year 1)
License fee AED 10,000 to AED 30,000 depending on zone, flexi-desk AED 6,000 to AED 15,000, establishment card AED 2,000 to AED 3,000, and one investor visa. No on-site logistics infrastructure. Third-party warehousing is arranged separately.
Free Zone to Port Setup (JAFZA, DS)
AED 30,000 – 55,000+ (Year 1)
License plus dedicated warehouse or bonded storage in a port or airport-adjacent zone. Higher facility costs offset by on-site customs clearance, sea or air freight infrastructure, and full logistics support within the zone.
What Drives the Cost Higher
The AED 15,000 general trading surcharge
This applies annually on mainland setups, on top of the DET base fee. It does not apply to specific commercial licenses. It is the most common cost that founders miss when comparing general trading to a standard commercial license.
Mainland market fee
Dubai Municipality charges 2.5% of your annual office or warehouse rent as a mandatory fee. A warehouse for physical stock can cost AED 30,000 to AED 150,000 annually before this surcharge is added.
MOA notarization
Mandatory for mainland LLC formation. Cost is AED 1,500 to AED 3,000 depending on the notary and shareholder complexity. Free zones typically include this in their package pricing.
Regulated goods approvals
Each regulated category such as food, pharma, or chemicals adds its own authority fee and processing timeline. These must be secured before trading begins and must factor into both the budget and the setup schedule.
Activity count and zone penalties
Some free zones charge extra per additional activity group. DMCC charges AED 10,000 or more annually for each group added beyond the primary license. Confirm activity bundling rules before choosing a zone.
Pricing Disclaimer
All figures are indicative. Final costs depend on jurisdiction, office type, visa count, activity scope, and regulated goods requirements. Riz and Mona Consultancy provides a personalized, itemized quote before you commit to any setup.
Visa Eligibility
What Visas Does a General Trading License Unlock?
A general trading license opens full visa eligibility for the owner and the trading team. On the mainland, your facility size determines how many staff you can legally sponsor.
Once your license and establishment card are active, you can apply for an investor residency visa. This gives you UAE residency, an Emirates ID, and access to both personal and corporate banking.
On the mainland, visa quota is tied to registered space at one visa per nine square meters. A trading company needing warehouse staff, drivers, and sales people must size the facility accordingly.
Riz and Mona Consultancy works out the right facility size for your headcount before you commit, so visa capacity is built into the setup from day one.
- Investor / Partner Visa, 2 to 3 years
- Employee Visa, tied to office or warehouse size
- Dependent Visa, spouse, children, and parents
- Green Visa, 5-year for AED 360K earners
- Golden Visa, 10-year for qualifying investors
Visa Notice
Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE visa holders. Mainland quota is 1 per 9 sq m. Free zone quotas are set by package. Visa costs are billed separately.
Banking
Opening a Corporate Bank Account for Trading Companies
Banks apply closer scrutiny to general trading companies than to single-activity license holders. Multi-product exposure raises questions about transaction volumes, supplier networks, and buyer markets.
Banks and Timelines
Banks That Work With Trading Companies
Emirates NBDMainland and Free Zone
Mashreq BankTrade Finance Ready
HSBC UAEInternational Trade
Commercial Bank of DubaiSME Friendly
RAKBankStartup Friendly
Wio BankDigital Business Banking
Typical Approval Timelines
Mainland Trading Company4 to 8 weeks
Free Zone Trading Company3 to 6 weeks
Digital or Fintech Banks5 to 14 days
- Unclear supply chain documentation is the top reason general trading company accounts are rejected. Know your supplier origins and buyer destinations before your first bank meeting.
- As of 2026, UAE trading companies must register on the goAML portal and conduct regular customer due diligence under updated AML requirements from the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit.
- UAE banks require an average minimum balance of AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 depending on the institution. This capital is locked from daily operations. Build it into your working capital plan from the start.
- Riz and Mona Consultancy prepares your full banking KYC package, introduces you to the right bank for your trading profile, and supports the account opening process to reduce rejection risk and waiting time.
Avoid These Mistakes
What Catches General Trading Applicants Off Guard
These are the mistakes that cost the most in time and money. None of them are obvious before you start, which is why they catch experienced business owners as often as first-time applicants.
Missing the AED 15,000 DET Surcharge
The general trading surcharge applies annually on top of the base DET fee. It recurs every year at renewal. Most cost guides omit it.
Trading Regulated Goods Too Early
Food, pharma, chemicals, and tobacco each need separate authority clearance first. Trading before that approval is a compliance violation.
Signing a Lease That Is Too Small
Mainland visa quota is 1 per 9 sq m. An office too small for your planned team means paying to upgrade before your first full year is done.
Missing the Dubai Chamber Registration
Dubai Chamber registration is mandatory for mainland license issuance and runs with the DET application. Missing it stalls the process.
Importing Without a Customs Trader Code
A general trading license does not authorize goods movement on its own. A customs trader code from dubaitrade.ae must be in place first.
Free Zone Setup for a UAE Market Business
A free zone license needs a distributor or DET permit to reach UAE mainland buyers. If the UAE market is the goal, start on the mainland.
Get Started
Ready to Set Up Your General Trading Company in Dubai?
Whether you are building an import and export operation, a wholesale distribution company, or a multi-category retail business, Riz and Mona manages every step to your first customs clearance.
Free initial consultation•License and visa handling•Customs code registration•Annual renewal management
All costs are indicative. A personalized, itemized quote is provided after your consultation.