Cost of a Trade Licence in Dubai by Activity (2026)
The trade licence cost in Dubai is not a fixed single figure. The total cost depends on four key variables: the specific business activity selected (the activity group determines the activity fee charged by DET), the legal structure (civil company or LLC each have different fee implications), the number of owners and partners (affecting MoA attestation and other notarisation costs), and the annual office rent registered through Ejari (which feeds into the DET’s cost calculation for mainland companies). Understanding these variables is the only way to arrive at an accurate trade license cost in Dubai for a specific business.
The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai, the authority responsible for issuing mainland trade licences, provides an official online cost estimation tool at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae that calculates the trade licence cost for a specific activity combination before any application is submitted. This tool is the authoritative resource for activity-specific costs; the DET does not publish a comprehensive publicly accessible fee table listing the cost for every one of the 2,000+ individual business activities available in the UAE.
This guide covers the complete picture of the trade license cost in Dubai in 2026: the confirmed DET fee components, how activity type affects the cost, the total first-year cost including all mandatory components, a comparison with major free zone costs, the annual recurring cost components, and the external regulatory approval costs that add to the trade licence cost for regulated activity sectors. All fees are sourced from the DET Dubai official website (dubaided.gov.ae), the UAE Government Portal (u.ae), and official free zone authority websites.
What determines the trade licence cost in Dubai for a specific business?
How does the business activity group affect the trade licence cost in Dubai?
The DET Dubai’s online cost estimation tool (eservices.dubaided.gov.ae) requires the applicant to select the activity group before computing the trade licence cost. This confirms that the trade licence cost in Dubai is not a single fixed rate but varies by the category of activities selected. The DET divides business activities into groups corresponding to the six licence types: commercial, professional, industrial, tourism, agricultural, and occupational. Within the commercial category, general trading activities attract the standard general trade activity fee of AED 15,000 per year (confirmed from DET Dubai). Activities in other licence categories (professional services, industrial, tourism) have different fee structures that must be confirmed through the DET’s cost estimation tool or directly with the DET commercial licence section.
The UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026) confirms that there are more than 2,000 business activities available in the UAE. Given this volume, a single universally applicable trade licence cost in Dubai is not meaningful; the activity-specific cost must always be verified through the DET’s official cost calculator before making any financial commitment. Source: DET Dubai, eservices.dubaided.gov.ae; UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026).
How does the legal type affect the trade licence cost in Dubai?
The DET cost estimation tool specifically asks for the legal type of the business (civil company or LLC) as a cost input. This confirms that the trade licence cost in Dubai differs depending on whether the business is structured as a civil company (typically for professional licence activities) or an LLC (typically for commercial activities). For an LLC, the Memorandum of Association must be prepared and notarised at a UAE public notary, generating attestation fees that a civil company or professional establishment may not incur to the same extent. The MoA attestation fee is: AED 300 per party for capital below AED 100,000; 0.5 per cent of the document value (maximum AED 15,000) for capital above AED 100,000; and AED 100 per party for e-signature. These are confirmed from the DET Dubai Request to Issue Trade Licence service page (dubaided.gov.ae).
How does the annual office rent affect the trade licence cost in Dubai?
The DET’s online cost estimation tool specifically includes a field for the annual office rent (Yearly Rent in AED) as a variable in the trade licence cost calculation. This is because the Ejari-registered lease, which is mandatory for all Dubai mainland trade licence holders, generates fees that are included in the overall trade licence cost structure. The UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026) confirms that, in Dubai, the lease agreement must be registered with Ejari (administered by RERA). The Ejari registration itself generates a small registration fee (Ejari service fee), and the office rent is the largest single component of the total trade licence cost in Dubai for mainland companies, typically ranging from AED 15,000 to AED 50,000+ per year depending on the size and location of the office. Source: DET Dubai, eservices.dubaided.gov.ae; UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026).
What are the officially confirmed DET Dubai trade licence fees for 2026?
The table below sets out every trade licence fee component confirmed from official DET Dubai sources (dubaided.gov.ae). These are the fees published on the DET Request to Issue Trade Licence service page and the DET FAQ. All amounts are in AED.
| Fee Component | Amount (AED) | Type | Official Source | Notes |
| General Trade Activity Fee (commercial) | 15,000 per year | Annual (recurring) | DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae) | Applies to standard general commercial trading activities; other activity groups may have different rates |
| Licence Registration Fee | 600 | One-time (per new licence) | DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae) | Paid once on initial licence issuance; separate from the annual activity fee |
| Trade Name Reservation Fee | 620 | One-time | DET Dubai FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae) | Reserves the trade name before licence application; mandatory first step |
| Initial Approval Fee | 120 | One-time | DET Dubai FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae) | Confirms UAE Government has no objection to the proposed business; prerequisite for subsequent steps |
| MoA / Service Agent Attestation (below AED 100,000 capital) | AED 300 per party signature | One-time per MoA execution | DET Dubai, Request to Issue Trade Licence (dubaided.gov.ae) | Applies per signatory on the MoA; for a 2-party LLC this is AED 600 total |
| MoA Attestation (above AED 100,000 capital) | 0.5% of document value (maximum AED 15,000) | One-time per MoA execution | DET Dubai, Request to Issue Trade Licence (dubaided.gov.ae) | Applicable for higher-capital companies; maximum fee is capped at AED 15,000 |
| e-Signature (each party) | AED 100 per party | Per MoA execution | DET Dubai, Request to Issue Trade Licence (dubaided.gov.ae) | Fee for each party using e-signature rather than physical notary visit |
| Transaction Postponement Fee (next day) | 500 | Per postponement | DET Dubai, Request to Issue Trade Licence (dubaided.gov.ae) | Applied if a party requests postponement of document completion after registration |
| Signature at Different Service Centre | 500 | Per occurrence | DET Dubai, Request to Issue Trade Licence (dubaided.gov.ae) | Applied if one party signs at a different DET service centre from the primary transaction |
| Knowledge Dirham | 10 per government transaction | Per transaction (recurring) | UAE Government Portal (u.ae) | Applied at each DET government service transaction including licence issuance and renewal |
| Innovation Dirham | 10 per government transaction | Per transaction (recurring) | UAE Government Portal (u.ae) | Applied at each DET government service transaction including licence issuance and renewal |
| Dubai Chamber of Commerce Membership | 300 per year | Annual (recurring) | Applicable to DET commercial licence holders | Confirm current mandatory status with DET; traditionally applicable to commercial licences |
| DET Trade Licence Cost Calculator | Free to use | Not a fee | DET eServices (eservices.dubaided.gov.ae) | Official DET tool to calculate the trade licence cost in Dubai for a specific activity before applying |
How does a founder calculate the accurate trade licence cost for their specific activity?
For the most accurate trade licence cost in Dubai for a specific business activity, the DET Dubai provides an official online cost estimation tool at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae. The ‘Estimated Cost of Issue Licence’ enquiry function requires the founder to enter: the activity group (selecting from the DET activity classification); the legal type (civil company or LLC); the number of owners and partners; and the annual office rent in AED. The DET’s tool then calculates and displays the average cost of each stage of the trade licence issuance process separately, with the overall cost calculated as well. This is the authoritative source for the specific trade licence cost in Dubai for any given combination of activity, legal form, ownership, and office size. Source: DET Dubai, eservices.dubaided.gov.ae.
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We calculate your specific trade licence cost in Dubai using the official DET tool and present a complete first-year cost breakdown for your activity and legal form.
How does the business activity type affect the trade licence cost in Dubai?
What is the trade licence cost in Dubai for commercial (trading) activities?
For commercial trading activities, the standard general trade activity fee at DET Dubai is AED 15,000 per year. This is the activity fee for businesses engaged in general commercial trading, import/export, wholesale, and retail of goods and products. This AED 15,000 figure is the most widely cited trade licence cost in Dubai because commercial trading is the most common licence type sought by entrepreneurs and investors. The total trade license cost in Dubai for a commercial mainland LLC includes this AED 15,000 plus the registration fee, trade name reservation, initial approval, MoA attestation, Ejari office registration, and Dubai Chamber membership. Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae).
For eCommerce businesses, the commercial licence must also include the eCommerce activity, and additionally requires a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), as confirmed on the UAE Government Portal (u.ae, eCommerce page, April 2026). The TDRA NOC application is a separate process with its own timeline and fees set by TDRA (tdra.gov.ae).
How does the trade licence cost in Dubai differ for professional activities?
Professional licence activities (consulting, legal, medical, engineering, IT, design) have their trade licence costs calculated through the DET’s activity group fee structure, which differs from the commercial general trade rate. The DET does not publish a single comprehensive professional activity fee table on its public website; the specific professional activity fee must be calculated using the DET’s official cost estimation tool. Professional licence activities typically use the civil company or professional establishment legal form rather than an LLC, which affects the documentation and attestation cost components of the total trade licence cost in Dubai.
Additionally, many professional activities require external regulatory approvals before the DET will issue the trade licence, adding to the total cost:
- Legal activities and legal consultancy: Ministry of Justice approval required. Source: u.ae, Steps to Start a Business (April 2026).
- Architectural and engineering businesses: local municipal department approval required. Source: u.ae (April 2026).
- Healthcare facilities (clinics, pharmacies): Dubai Health Authority (DHA) approval required for Dubai activities. Source: u.ae (April 2026).
- Education and training centres: Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) approval required for Dubai. Source: u.ae (April 2026).
What activities affect the trade licence cost in Dubai through sector-specific components?
Certain business activities attract additional cost components beyond the standard DET activity fee:
- Travel and tourism activities: require Executive Council approval, which adds a separate approval process to the trade licence cost in Dubai timeline and budget. Source: u.ae (April 2026).
- General transport, driving schools, fire equipment, security systems, car rental: require Ministry of Interior approval. Source: u.ae (April 2026).
- Telecommunications: require TDRA licence in addition to the DET trade licence. Source: u.ae (April 2026).
- Food and beverage establishments: require Dubai Municipality approval (Food Control department). Source: DET Dubai FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae); u.ae.
Each of these external approvals has its own application process and associated fees that add to the effective trade licence cost in Dubai. These fees must be confirmed directly with each regulatory authority as they are not part of the DET fee schedule.
What is the total first-year trade licence cost in Dubai including all mandatory components?
The trade license cost in Dubai as cited in many sources refers only to the activity fee component. The true first-year cost of a Dubai mainland trade licence is significantly higher once all mandatory components are included. The following breakdown covers all DET-confirmed and legally mandated components for a standard commercial LLC (1 to 2 shareholders) on the Dubai mainland, using the general trade activity category:
- Trade name reservation: AED 620 (one-time). Source: DET Dubai FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae).
- Initial approval: AED 120 (one-time). Source: DET Dubai FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae).
- General trade activity fee: AED 15,000 (annual). Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae).
- Licence registration fee: AED 600 (one-time). Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae).
- MoA attestation (2-party LLC, capital below AED 100,000): AED 600 (AED 300 per party). Source: DET Dubai, Request to Issue Trade Licence (dubaided.gov.ae).
- Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham: AED 20 per major transaction (typically applied at each DET service step). Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae).
- Ejari-registered office lease (annual, mandatory): AED 15,000 to AED 50,000+ per year depending on office size and location in Dubai. Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026); RERA.
- Establishment Card (annual): AED 2,000 to AED 3,500 per year. Source: DET Dubai; GDRFA Dubai.
- Investor visa (all-in: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, health insurance): AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 per investor. Source: ICP (icp.gov.ae); GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae).
- Dubai Chamber membership (annual, for commercial licences): AED 300 per year. Confirm current status with DET.
- Annual external audit (not universally mandatory for mainland, but required for VAT and CT compliance for many businesses): AED 3,000 to AED 6,000+ per year.
Using the mid-range office cost of AED 25,000 per year and one investor visa at AED 5,500, the realistic total first-year trade licence cost in Dubai for a standard commercial mainland LLC is approximately AED 49,000 to AED 65,000. This includes the DET activity fee, registration, trade name, initial approval, MoA notarisation, office lease, Establishment Card, investor visa, and Dubai Chamber membership. Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae); u.ae (April 2026).
See the Full First-Year Trade Licence Cost for Your Activity
The headline DET fee is just one of eight mandatory cost components. We provide a complete first-year cost breakdown specific to your activity and legal form.
How does the Dubai mainland trade licence cost compare to UAE free zone licences?
The table below compares the trade licence cost in Dubai and other UAE options, showing both the headline licence fee and the total first-year cost with all mandatory components included. All free zone fees are from official free zone authority websites.
| Cost Component | Dubai Mainland (DET, commercial) | DMCC Dubai (Free Zone) | RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) | Meydan Free Zone (Dubai) | Shams (Sharjah) |
| Annual Licence / Activity Fee | AED 15,000 (general trade) | AED 20,285 standard (dmcc.ae) | Incl. in AED 14,000 | AED 12,500 (meydanfz.ae) | From AED 5,750 (shams.ae) |
| One-Time Registration Fees | AED 600 + AED 620 (trade name) + AED 120 (initial) | AED 9,020 (reg) + AED 1,035 (app) + AED 2,020 (AoA) | Included | AED 9,000 to 12,000 | Included in package |
| Physical Office / Workspace | AED 15,000 to AED 50,000+ (Ejari, mandatory) | Incl. in Basic Biz Package (flexi-desk) | Incl. (coworking) | From AED 15,000 (flexi, for visa) | Included in package |
| Establishment Card (annual) | AED 2,000 to AED 3,500 | AED 1,825 (incl. in Basic Biz) | Included | AED 1,825 to AED 3,500 | Included in package |
| MoA Attestation (one-time) | AED 300/party (below AED 100,000) | Included in registration | Included | Included | Not required (zone template) |
| Investor Visa (1, all-in) | AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 | Incl. in Basic Biz Package | Included (1 visa) | AED 3,500 to AED 6,500 | From AED 7,350 (with visa, shams.ae) |
| Annual Audit | AED 3,000 to AED 6,000 | AED 3,000 to AED 8,000 | AED 3,000 to AED 6,000 | AED 3,000 to AED 6,000 | AED 3,000 to AED 6,000 |
| All-In Package Option | None: components separate | AED 35,484 (Basic Biz, incl. VAT, dmcc.ae) | AED 14,000 all-in (rakez.com) | No single all-in; Fawri AED 15,000 (licence only, 60 min) | Media + visa from AED 7,350 |
| Est. First-Year Total (1 visa, mid-range) | AED 49,000 to AED 65,000 | AED 38,484 to AED 46,484 (Basic Biz + audit) | AED 17,000 to AED 20,000 | AED 25,000 to AED 38,000 | AED 10,350 to AED 16,350 |
Why is the mainland trade licence cost in Dubai higher than free zone alternatives?
The mainland trade license cost in Dubai is typically higher than equivalent free zone costs for two reasons: first, the mandatory Ejari-registered physical office lease (AED 15,000 to AED 50,000+ per year) is the single largest cost component and is not required for free zone companies that use flexi-desks or virtual addresses; second, the mainland formation process involves multiple one-time costs (MoA notarisation, multiple DET service fees) that most free zones bundle into a single package price. The DET activity fee itself (AED 15,000 for general trade) is lower than or comparable to the standard annual licence fee at many premium free zones like DMCC (AED 20,285). The cost difference lies in the office and the formation process, not in the activity fee alone.
The commercial and operational advantage that mainland companies have over free zone companies is direct access to the UAE mainland market: a mainland DET commercial licence allows the business to sell goods and services directly to UAE consumers, bid for government contracts, and operate physical retail locations throughout Dubai and the other UAE emirates. Free zone companies cannot conduct direct UAE mainland commercial activities without a mainland distributor arrangement. For businesses that need this mainland market access, the higher trade licence cost in Dubai on the mainland is the commercial price of that access. Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026).
What annual recurring costs must be budgeted beyond the DET trade licence fee?
What are the annual renewal costs for a Dubai mainland trade licence?
The trade licence cost in Dubai on an ongoing basis includes the annual renewal of the trade licence itself. The DET confirms that trade licences must be renewed periodically after the expiration date to continue practising the trade licence activities legally (DET, Renewal of Trade Licence service page, dubaided.gov.ae). The annual renewal includes the activity fee (AED 15,000 for general commercial trade, or the applicable rate for other activity types), the Dubai Chamber membership renewal (where applicable), and the Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams applied per transaction. Ejari office lease renewal must also be registered annually, with the updated lease submitted to DET as part of the renewal documents.
What visa and Establishment Card renewal costs apply annually?
Annual and periodic costs for visa and establishment registration include:
- Establishment Card annual renewal: AED 2,000 to AED 3,500 depending on entity type and emirate. The Establishment Card must remain active for the company to continue sponsoring investor and employee visas.
- Investor visa renewal (every 5 years): the Green Visa (5 years) for investors means the full visa renewal cost (including medical fitness test, Emirates ID renewal, and stamping fees) applies every 5 years rather than annually. Annual cost is health insurance renewal: AED 800 to AED 1,500 or more per visa holder.
- Employee visa renewal (for staff): each employee visa has its own renewal cycle and associated costs including the MOHRE work permit, medical test, and Emirates ID.
What corporate tax and audit costs apply to all Dubai trade licence holders?
All Dubai trade licence holders, both mainland and free zone, are subject to ongoing UAE corporate tax compliance costs:
- Corporate tax registration: free to register via EmaraTax (eservices.tax.gov.ae); mandatory within 3 months of licence issuance; AED 10,000 penalty for late registration (FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024). Source: FTA (tax.gov.ae).
- Annual corporate tax return: must be filed annually with the FTA via EmaraTax. The cost of preparing and filing a CT return varies depending on whether an external auditor or tax agent is used.
- Annual external audit: mandatory for most free zone companies and increasingly required for mainland businesses for CT compliance verification. Cost: AED 3,000 to AED 10,000+ per year depending on business size and auditor.
- VAT compliance (if applicable): businesses above AED 375,000 annual taxable supplies must register for VAT and file quarterly VAT returns. VAT registration is free through EmaraTax; ongoing quarterly filing and accounting costs depend on transaction volume. Source: FTA (tax.gov.ae).
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What external regulatory approval costs add to the trade licence cost in Dubai?
The UAE Government Portal (u.ae, Steps to Start a Business on the Mainland, April 2026) confirms that some activities require approvals from specific government entities before the initial DET approval can be obtained. These approvals add both cost and time to the total trade licence setup in Dubai. The table below maps the confirmed regulatory approval requirements by authority.
| Regulatory Authority | Activities Requiring Approval | When Required in DET Process | Official Source |
| Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) | eCommerce, telecommunications services; ALL eCommerce licences require TDRA NOC | Before or alongside DET initial approval; required for eCommerce commercial licence | u.ae, eCommerce (April 2026); u.ae, Steps to Start a Business (April 2026) |
| Ministry of Interior | General transport, driving schools, fire equipment, alarm and safety systems, used-car dealers, used auto-parts, car rental | Before or alongside DET initial approval for these activities | u.ae, Steps to Start a Business (April 2026) |
| Ministry of Justice | Legal activities and legal consultancy | Before or alongside DET initial approval | u.ae, Steps to Start a Business (April 2026) |
| Local Municipal Departments | Architectural and engineering businesses | Before or alongside DET initial approval | u.ae, Steps to Start a Business (April 2026) |
| Executive Council (Dubai) | Travel and tourism; general services; charter trading; ship and maritime agencies; car clubs; charter air transport; foreign company branches | Required for these activities; adds Executive Council application process | u.ae, Steps to Start a Business (April 2026) |
| Dubai Health Authority (DHA) | Healthcare facilities, clinics, pharmacies in Dubai | Required for Dubai healthcare activities; DHA issues facility licence | DHA (dha.gov.ae); u.ae |
| Dubai Municipality (Food Control Department) | Food and beverage establishments | Required for food business activities | DET Dubai FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae) |
| Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) | Education institutions and training centres in Dubai | Required for educational activities in Dubai | KHDA (khda.gov.ae); u.ae |
How should founders budget for external approval costs?
External regulatory approval costs are a distinct budget item from the DET trade licence cost in Dubai. Each authority sets its own fee schedule, and these fees are not part of the DET fee structure. For founders whose business activity triggers one or more external approvals, the total cost of establishing a Dubai business includes: the DET trade licence fees, plus the applicable external authority approval fees, plus the ongoing compliance costs of the approved entity (e.g. DHA licence renewal fees for clinics, KHDA approval renewal for schools). The time required for external approvals also extends the total setup timeline, as the UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026) confirms that some activities require external approvals before the initial DET approval can be obtained. Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026).
How do you get an accurate trade licence cost in Dubai for your specific activity?
How do you use the DET’s official cost estimation tool?
The DET Dubai’s official online cost estimation tool at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae is the correct and authoritative starting point for calculating the trade licence cost in Dubai for any specific business. The DET FAQ confirms that ‘the license holder should check with the commercial license section to confirm the validity of these fees and have full details before paying the charged fees.’ The tool requires:
- Activity group selection: from the DET’s activity classification system; this determines the primary activity fee.
- Legal type: civil company or LLC; determines MoA attestation requirements.
- Number of owners/partners: determines the number of MoA signatories and associated attestation costs.
- Annual office rent (AED): the Ejari-registered lease rent directly inputs into the total cost calculation.
After entering these inputs, the DET tool displays the average cost of each registration stage separately and the overall total. This output provides the DET-specific trade licence cost in Dubai; the total first-year budget must add the Establishment Card, investor visa, annual audit, and corporate tax registration to this figure. Source: DET Dubai, eservices.dubaided.gov.ae.
When should a founder compare mainland trade licence cost with free zone alternatives?
For any business whose activities do not require direct UAE mainland market access (i.e. the business primarily serves international clients, other free zone companies, or digital customers), the mainland vs free zone trade licence cost comparison is highly relevant. As the cost table above demonstrates, free zone packages from RAKEZ (AED 14,000 all-in) and Meydan Free Zone (AED 12,500 standard licence) can be significantly more cost-effective than the total mainland first-year cost of AED 49,000 to AED 65,000. For businesses that need UAE mainland access, the trade licence cost in Dubai on the mainland is justified by the commercial access it provides. The choice is commercial, not just financial. Source: UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026); RAKEZ (rakez.com); Meydan Free Zone (meydanfz.ae).
What is the most cost-effective way to get a Dubai trade licence in 2026?
The most cost-effective route for the trade licence cost in Dubai depends entirely on the business model:
- For a Dubai free zone digital or service business (no UAE mainland sales required): Meydan Free Zone at AED 12,500/year (standard licence) is the lowest officially published Dubai-address licence. RAKEZ at AED 14,000 all-in (including 1 visa and coworking) is the lowest overall first-year cost from any UAE free zone with a visa included. Shams at AED 7,350 (media package with visa) is the lowest visa-inclusive all-in cost from any UAE free zone.
- For a Dubai free zone premium trading company (institutional banking required): DMCC at AED 35,484 (Basic Biz Package) is the best-value all-in option for a DMCC entity with the strongest banking recognition in Dubai.
- For a Dubai mainland company (direct UAE mainland market access required): the total first-year trade licence cost in Dubai is AED 49,000 to AED 65,000; the activity fee component of AED 15,000 for general trade is fixed, and cost optimisation is primarily achieved through selecting the smallest permissible Ejari-registered office size.
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Practical tips for managing the trade licence cost in Dubai effectively
- Use the DET’s official online cost estimation tool before committing to any Dubai mainland licence. The DET cost calculator at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae computes the trade licence cost in Dubai based on your specific activity group, legal type, owner count, and annual rent. The DET FAQ confirms: ‘the license holder should check with the commercial license section to confirm the validity of these fees and have full details before paying.’ Use this tool first, not third-party cost guides.
- Calculate the total first-year trade licence cost in Dubai, not just the activity fee. The AED 15,000 general trade fee is one of eight mandatory cost components. The Ejari office lease (AED 15,000 to AED 50,000+), Establishment Card, investor visa, MoA attestation, and audit fees collectively make the true first-year total AED 49,000 to AED 65,000 for a standard mainland commercial LLC. Planning a budget around the activity fee alone understates the real cost by three to four times.
- Register for UAE corporate tax via EmaraTax the day the trade licence is issued. The AED 10,000 fixed penalty for late corporate tax registration (FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024) is an entirely avoidable cost that applies equally to all Dubai trade licence holders. The registration is free and takes approximately 30 minutes.
- Check whether your business activity triggers external regulatory approvals before starting the DET application. The UAE Government Portal (u.ae, April 2026) confirms that some activities require external approvals from TDRA, Ministry of Justice, local municipality, DHA, KHDA, Ministry of Interior, or Executive Council BEFORE the DET initial approval can be obtained. Identifying these requirements before the application prevents the application from being held while the approvals are obtained separately.
- For non-mainland-dependent businesses, model the free zone trade licence cost against the mainland total before deciding. The trade licence cost in Dubai through free zones like RAKEZ (AED 14,000 all-in including visa) and Meydan (AED 12,500 standard licence) is significantly lower than the mainland total cost. If the business does not require direct UAE mainland commercial operations, the free zone route may deliver AED 30,000 to AED 50,000 in first-year savings. Source: RAKEZ (rakez.com); Meydan Free Zone (meydanfz.ae); DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae).
How can BusinessSetupHQ help you calculate and manage your Dubai trade licence cost?
The trade licence cost in Dubai involves more variables than most cost guides acknowledge. The activity group, legal type, owner count, office size, and external regulatory approval requirements all affect the total, and none of these can be calculated accurately from a single headline fee. Getting it wrong means either underbudgeting the first-year cost or overpaying by not exploring the right structure.
BusinessSetupHQ is a licensed UAE company formation and compliance services provider with over 22 years of combined experience. Our cost modelling team uses the DET’s official tools and authority fee schedules to build a precise, line-by-line trade licence cost model for any specific activity, legal form, and ownership structure. We manage the complete process from activity selection and DET cost calculation through to licence issuance, Establishment Card, investor visa, and corporate tax registration.
Contact BusinessSetupHQ at businesssetuphq.com for a free consultation. Our team will provide a complete, verified trade licence cost breakdown for your specific Dubai business activity and structure within 24 hours.
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Frequently asked questions: trade licence cost in Dubai
The trade licence cost in Dubai depends on four variables: the activity group, the legal type (civil or LLC), the number of owners, and the annual office rent. For a standard commercial general trading LLC, the DET activity fee is AED 15,000 per year. The total first-year cost including all mandatory components (trade name, initial approval, registration, MoA notarisation, Ejari-registered office, Establishment Card, investor visa, Chamber membership) ranges from approximately AED 49,000 to AED 65,000. Use the DET’s official cost calculator at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae for your specific activity. Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae).
The official general trade activity fee for a commercial trading licence at DET Dubai is AED 15,000 per year, as confirmed from the DET Dubai fee schedule (dubaided.gov.ae). This is the activity fee for standard general commercial trading activities. The trade name reservation fee is AED 620 and the initial approval fee is AED 120, both confirmed from the DET FAQ (dubaided.gov.ae). These three figures together (AED 15,740) represent the DET government fee components; additional mandatory costs (office lease, Establishment Card, visa) make the total first-year cost significantly higher.
No. The AED 15,000 is only the annual DET general trade activity fee for commercial activities, which is one of eight mandatory cost components for a Dubai mainland trade licence. The total first-year trade license cost in Dubai also includes: AED 620 (trade name), AED 120 (initial approval), AED 600 (registration), AED 300 to AED 600 (MoA attestation), AED 15,000 to AED 50,000+ (Ejari-registered office), AED 2,000 to AED 3,500 (Establishment Card), AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 (investor visa), and audit fees. The realistic total is AED 49,000 to AED 65,000 for a standard setup.
Use the DET Dubai’s official ‘Estimated Cost of Issue Licence’ tool at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae. This tool calculates the trade licence cost in Dubai based on your specific activity group, legal type, number of owners, and planned office rent. The DET FAQ confirms that licence holders should check with the commercial licence section for full fee details. The DET tool gives the most accurate activity-specific cost; comparing with this official tool before any application is submitted is the recommended approach. Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae).
For a Dubai-address trade licence, the lowest officially published figure is Meydan Free Zone standard licence at AED 12,500 per year (meydanfz.ae). The Meydan Fawri instant licence is AED 15,000 (issued within 60 minutes). For a Dubai mainland trade licence, the DET general trade activity fee is AED 15,000 per year, but the total first-year cost is AED 49,000 to AED 65,000 when the mandatory office lease and other components are included. For a UAE trade licence outside Dubai, RAKEZ all-in package is AED 14,000 per year including 1 visa and coworking (rakez.com, 2026).
Free zone trade licence costs in 2026 (official sources): Shams from AED 5,750 (licence only, shams.ae); RAKEZ AED 14,000 all-in (1 visa, coworking, rakez.com); Meydan AED 12,500 standard (meydanfz.ae); DMCC AED 35,484 Basic Biz Package (1 visa, flexi-desk, incl. VAT, dmcc.ae). These compare favourably with the Dubai mainland total of AED 49,000 to AED 65,000 primarily because free zones do not require Ejari-registered offices, reducing the single largest cost component.
Annual recurring costs for a Dubai trade licence include: DET activity fee renewal (AED 15,000 for general commercial trade); Dubai Chamber membership (AED 300, where applicable); Establishment Card renewal (AED 2,000 to AED 3,500); health insurance for visa holders (AED 800 to AED 1,500+ per person); office lease renewal (Ejari re-registration of updated lease); annual audit (AED 3,000 to AED 10,000+); and corporate tax return filing compliance. Source: DET Dubai (dubaided.gov.ae); FTA (tax.gov.ae).
The Dubai trade licence renewal cost includes: the annual DET activity fee (AED 15,000 for general commercial trade); Dubai Chamber membership renewal (AED 300, where applicable); Establishment Card renewal (AED 2,000 to AED 3,500); Ejari-registered lease renewal registration with the updated lease; and the Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams (AED 10 each) per transaction. The DET provides an ‘Estimated Cost of Renew Licence’ tool at eservices.dubaided.gov.ae that calculates the renewal cost based on the licence number, serial number, and current yearly rent. Source: DET Dubai, Renewal of Trade Licence page (dubaided.gov.ae).
