Procedure per Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (dubaidet.gov.ae) / official UAE portal (u.ae). Fees and timelines change — check the authority's website. We don't invent numbers.
How the licence and its fees are decided
- 1
Identify your business activity first
Everything starts here. The business activity you want to conduct is the basis for selecting the legal form and the type of licence you need — whether commercial, industrial or professional. Get this right before you look at any fees, because it determines which licence, and therefore which cost, applies to you.
Dokumente:List of intended business activities - 2
Know the type of licence you are applying for
As per the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, there are six types of licences. As per the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, there are 7 types of licences. As per the Invest in Dubai website, there are 8 types of licences. The type you fall under shapes the requirements — and the fees — so confirm your category before budgeting.
- 3
Reserve your trade name
An investor can apply for the trade name through the economic department in each emirate, either through its website or its mobile application. This is a separate step in the process and is done directly with the authority.
Dokumente:Proposed trade name - 4
Check the current fees with the authority
The official material sets out the process and the licence types, but the actual amounts change over time. Rather than quote a number that may be out of date, the honest approach is to confirm the current fees directly on the economic department's website or application for your specific activity and licence type.
- 5
Pay within the stated period
You have to pay for your trade licence within 30 days of receiving the payment voucher. In the event of non-payment within the specific period, the application will be cancelled — so treat the voucher as time-sensitive and settle it promptly to avoid starting over.
Dokumente:Payment voucher
Gebühren und Fristen können sich ändern — prüfen Sie die offizielle Quelle.
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We can handle the licence setup with you
Our relocation team helps newcomers in Dubai identify the right business activity, pick the correct licence type and move through the economic department's process without missing a step or a deadline. If you would rather not navigate it alone, we will walk it with you.
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