General and Wholesale Trade
Multi-line trading of unrelated goods across consumer and commercial categories.
- General Trading
- Wholesale Distribution
- Re-export Trading
- B2B Commodity Trade
- Multi-Category Retail
Commercial License in Dubai, UAE
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.
Excellent
3–7 working days approval
100% foreign ownership (free zones)
AED 14,900–24,500 total cost
Sponsor employees & family visas
Annual renewal required
Excellent
Commercial License Dubai
If Your Business Moves Goods, This Is Your License.
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.
License Type
Specific or General Trading License?
Before anything else, decide which type of commercial license fits your business. This one decision affects your setup cost, activity scope, and what approvals you need.
Specific Trading License
- Covers one defined product category
- Lower setup cost than general trading
- Suited for specialists: food, auto parts, electronics
- May require sector-specific external approvals
- Activities must stay within the approved category
- Best for businesses with one clear product line
General Trading License
- Trade multiple unrelated goods under one license
- Electronics, food, textiles, cosmetics all permitted
- Higher DET fees but no need for multiple licenses
- Ideal for wholesale, e-commerce, and re-export
- Suits businesses planning to expand product lines
- Requires larger office or warehouse space on mainland
Permitted Activities
What Can You Trade Under a Commercial License?
The DET permits hundreds of commercial trading activities under this license. These are the six most common product categories and what falls under each.
Food and Consumer Goods
Import, export, and distribution of packaged food, beverages, and FMCG products.
- Packaged Food Trading
- Beverage Distribution
- FMCG Wholesale
- Health Food Products
- Frozen and Chilled Goods
Electronics and Technology
Trade in consumer electronics, IT equipment, telecom devices, and accessories.
- Consumer Electronics
- IT Hardware and Peripherals
- Telecom Equipment
- Home Appliances
- Electronic Components
Fashion, Textiles and Beauty
Trading in clothing, fabrics, footwear, cosmetics, and personal care products.
- Clothing and Apparel
- Textiles and Fabrics
- Footwear Trading
- Cosmetics and Skincare
- Personal Care Products
Building, Auto and Industrial
Construction materials, automobile parts, tools, and industrial supplies.
- Building Materials
- Auto Parts and Accessories
- Industrial Equipment
- Tools and Hardware
- Safety and PPE Equipment
E-Commerce and Retail
Online retail, marketplace operations, dropshipping, and physical retail stores.
- Online Retail Operations
- E-Commerce Platform Sales
- Marketplace Distribution
- Physical Retail Store
- Cross-Border Dropshipping
Choose Your Jurisdiction
Mainland or Free Zone: A Different Calculation for Traders
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.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Mainland vs Free Zone: Commercial License
| 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 |
Setup Process
How to Get a Commercial License in Dubai
A step-by-step path from decision to first shipment typically completed in 7 to 10 working days.
Day 1
Choose License Type and Jurisdiction
Choose: specific or general trading. Mainland for UAE access, free zone for lower cost and port proximity.
Day 1–2
Reserve Your Trade Name
Submit preferred names to DET or your free zone. Names must follow UAE rules and must be unique.
Day 2–3
Obtain Initial Approval
Apply for initial approval to confirm your activities are accepted before investing in premises.
Day 3–5
Draft MOA and Secure Premises
Notarize the LLC MOA. Lease an Ejari-registered office or warehouse. Free zones accept flexi-desk options.
Day 5–7
Submit Application and Pay Fees
File your application. Run any external approvals for food, pharma, or chemicals in parallel.
Day 7–10
Receive License and Register for Customs
After your license is issued, register with Dubai Customs for an importer/exporter code before goods can move.
Required Documents
Documents Required to Apply for a Commercial License
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.
Documents Required for All Applicants
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- UAE visa or entry stamp copy (if currently in UAE)
- No Objection Certificate (if on an employment visa)
- Memorandum of Association to drafted and notarized
- Ejari-registered office or warehouse tenancy contract
- Trade name reservation certificate from DET or free zone
- Initial approval certificate from DET or free zone
Activity-Specific Approvals
- Food products: Dubai Municipality approval and food safety reg.
- Pharmaceuticals: Ministry of Health or DHA product approval
- Medical devices: Emirates Drug Establishment registration
- Cosmetics: Dubai Municipality product registration
- Chemicals: Environment and Climate Change Authority clearance
- Alcohol: Dubai Police permit and relevant authority approval
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.
Cost Guide
Commercial License Cost in Dubai
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.
Mainland – Specific Trading (LLC)
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.
Mainland – General Trading (LLC)
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.
Free Zone – General Trading Package
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.
What Affects Your Final Cost
Specific vs general trading
A general trading license carries higher DET activity fees than a single-category specific trading license. More product lines means a higher license fee.
Warehouse vs office space
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.
Number of visas required
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.
Regulated goods approvals
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.
Free zone selection
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.
Pricing Disclaimer
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.
Visa Eligibility
What Visas Does a Commercial License Unlock?
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.
- Investor / Partner Visa, 2 to 3 years
- Employee Visa, tied to office or warehouse size
- Dependent Visa, spouse, children, parents
- Green Visa, 5-year self-sponsored residency
- Golden Visa, 10-year for eligible investors
Visa Notice
Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE visa holders. Mainland quota is tied to office or warehouse size. Visa costs are billed separately.
Banking
Opening a Corporate Bank Account for Your Trading Company
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.
Banks and Processing Times
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 Company3 to 6 weeks
Free Zone Trading Company2 to 4 weeks
Digital or Fintech Banks3 to 7 days
- Banks want to understand your full supply chain. Vague answers about suppliers or destination markets are the most common reason trading company accounts are rejected.
- Source-of-goods documentation matters as much as source-of-funds. Know where your products originate and be ready to evidence it with invoices or contracts.
- Opening with an established trading track record, even from another country, significantly improves your approval odds with traditional banks.
- Riz and Mona Consultancy provides bank introduction services, KYC document preparation, and pre-application review to reduce rejection risk.
Avoid These Mistakes
What Trips Up Most Commercial License Applicants?
These are the most common and most costly mistakes made during commercial license setup in Dubai. Each one is avoidable with the right preparation.
Listing Too Few Activities
You can only trade what is on your license. Adding activities later costs time and fees. Map your product range before you apply.
Specific License for a General Business
A specific trading license covers one product category. If you trade across unrelated goods, you need a general trading license.
Missing Regulated Goods Approvals
Food, pharma, cosmetics, chemicals, and alcohol need external approvals before the license is issued. Missing these stalls everything.
Skipping Customs Registration
A commercial license does not authorize imports or exports alone. Register with Dubai Customs before your first shipment moves.
Undersizing Your Premises
Mainland visa quota and market fees are tied to lease size. Starting too small limits headcount and forces a costly upgrade.
Arriving at the Bank Unprepared
Trading companies face tougher KYC than service firms. Banks want supplier and trade evidence. Arriving unprepared leads to rejection.
Get Started
Ready to Set Up Your Commercial License in Dubai?
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.
Free initial consultation•License and visa handling•Customs registration support•Annual renewal management
All costs are indicative. A personalized quote is given after your consultation based on your activity and requirements.