Mainland (DET)
- Sell directly to UAE buyers
- Run a public showroom
- RTA-approved premises and Ejari
- Higher cost, wider reach
- Best for retail and showrooms
Car Trading License in Dubai
Trade new, used, or imported cars in Dubai. See whether mainland or free zone fits how you sell, what it costs, and how Riz & Mona sets it up.
Excellent
Mainland and free zone routes
100% foreign ownership
Used, new, and import/export
Excellent
Trade cars in Dubai
What is a car trading license in Dubai? car trading license
A car trading license lets you legally buy and sell motor vehicles in Dubai, new or used. It falls under the Sale of Motor Vehicles activity, code 4510. You get it from DET for the mainland, or from a free zone authority if you trade through the ports.
One choice shapes everything else: who you sell to. Selling to UAE buyers and walk-in showroom customers points you to the mainland. Importing, exporting, and re-exporting points you to a free zone. Pick the customer and your setup follows.
Dubai moves a huge volume of cars, new and pre-owned, and re-exports across the region. Riz & Mona has set up trading companies here since 2009, and we start by matching your license to the way you actually plan to sell.
Why Dubai
Why trade cars from Dubai trade cars
Dubai is one of the world's busiest car markets and a re-export hub for the whole region. The setup rewards traders who pick the right base for their model.
- Sell into one of the region's largest car markets
- Re-export across the GCC, Africa, and Asia through top ports
- Own your company 100% with no local partner
- No personal income tax and full profit repatriation
- Choose mainland reach or free zone cost, by your model
- Access bonded warehousing for import and re-export stock
The main choice
Mainland or free zone for car trading? Mainland or free zone
Free zone
- Import, export, and re-export
- 100% ownership and customs perks
- Bonded warehouse storage
- Cannot sell direct to the local market
- Best for global trading
What you can trade
Car trading models this license covers trading models
The license covers wholesale and retail motor vehicle trading. Repair, rental, and rideshare sit under separate licenses, so we scope your activity to match.
Used car dealership
Buy and sell pre-owned cars to UAE retail buyers.
New car retail
Sell new and multi-brand vehicles from a showroom.
Luxury and exotic
Trade high-end and rare cars for a premium market.
Import and export
Bring cars in and ship them out through the ports.
Re-export and transit
Move vehicles through Dubai to regional markets.
Fleet and B2B supply
Supply cars to rental, corporate, and ride-hailing firms.
Cost
How much does a car trading license cost? car trading license
Mainland runs higher because of showroom and RTA requirements. Free zone is leaner for pure trading. Both figures below are indicative and exclude your inventory and premises.
Free zone
AED 15,000 – 30,000
Import, export, and re-export, with a flexi-desk or warehouse package.
Mainland (DET)
AED 18,000 – 35,000
Sell to the UAE market, including RTA approval and trade name.
Showroom and stock
Quoted per case
Premises, fit-out, and vehicle inventory, sized to your business.
What moves the price
Jurisdiction
Mainland carries showroom and RTA costs a free zone trader avoids.
Premises
A public showroom costs far more than a flexi-desk or warehouse.
Visa quota
More sales and operations staff means more visa cost and space.
Activities
Adding import, export, or extra codes can raise the license fee.
A note on pricing
All figures are indicative and current at the time of writing. Car trading costs vary by jurisdiction, premises, activities, and visa quota, and government fees change. Riz & Mona provides a personalised, itemised quote for your setup before any payment.
The steps
How to get your car trading license car trading license
The first step matters most, because your jurisdiction choice decides your premises, your cost, and who you can sell to.
Step 1
Choose jurisdiction and activity
We match mainland or free zone to how you sell, and set the right activity code.
Step 2
Reserve your trade name
A compliant name is filed with DET or your free zone authority.
Step 3
Initial approval
The authority confirms your activity and clears you to proceed.
Step 4
Premises and RTA
For a showroom, we secure RTA-approved premises and register the Ejari.
Step 5
License issued
On approval, your car trading license is granted, usually in 1 to 3 weeks.
Step 6
Customs code and visas
We register your import-export code where needed and process staff visas.
Where to set up
Where can you base a car trading company? car trading company
Your base follows your model. Mainland for local sales, an auto free zone for trading. These are the routes we set up most.
DET mainland
The route for selling cars directly to the UAE market from a showroom.
- Sell to local retail buyers
- Public showroom allowed
- RTA-approved premises
- Widest market reach
Dubai Auto Zone
A free zone built for the automotive trade and re-export.
- Dedicated automotive zone
- Import and re-export focus
- Storage and yard space
- 100% ownership
Dubai South
A logistics-led free zone near the port and airport for traders.
- Close to Jebel Ali and DWC
- License and office packages
- Good for import/export flow
- Warehouse options
JAFZA
A major port free zone suited to high-volume car trading.
- Direct Jebel Ali port access
- Bonded warehousing
- Strong for re-export volume
- Global trade infrastructure
Ajman Free Zone
A cost-friendly free zone for smaller import/export traders.
- Lower-cost packages
- Import and export codes
- Flexi-desk options
- Suits new traders
Luxury showroom
A mainland setup tuned for high-end and exotic car retail.
- Premium showroom location
- High-value stock handling
- Direct UAE luxury market
- Separate DET approval
Car trading license Dubai
Ready to start trading cars in Dubai?
Tell Riz & Mona how you plan to sell. We confirm mainland or free zone, your real cost, and your premises, then set up the whole license so you can start trading.
Jurisdiction matched to you•RTA and customs handled•Full setup and visas•Itemised quote first
All costs are indicative and change over time. Riz & Mona provides a personalised quote for your car trading setup.