A Dubai trade license issued by the DET (Department of Economy and Tourism) costs between AED 10,000 and AED 50,000 annually depending on the license type and the number of business activities listed. This is the license fee alone — the annual charge paid to DET to maintain your right to operate. It does not include office space, visa costs, or registration administration fees, which are separate and covered in the additional costs section below.
Understanding what the trade license fee covers, and what it does not, is the most important step in budgeting your Dubai business setup accurately. For a personalised cost estimate that includes your specific activity, structure, and visa requirements, use the Gulf Corporate Services cost calculator.
Trade License Cost in Dubai 2026: Quick Reference Table
| License Type | Annual Fee (AED) 2026 |
| Commercial License (1-3 activities) | AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 |
| General Trading License (broad activities) | AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 |
| Professional License (service activities) | AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 |
| Industrial License | AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 |
| Tourism License | AED 12,000 to AED 22,000 |
| E-commerce License (DET mainland) | AED 15,000 to AED 20,000 |
| Free Zone License (IFZA, DMCC, Dubai South) | AED 8,000 to AED 35,000 (zone-dependent) |
| Annual Renewal (same as initial fee) | AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 |
All fees are the DET or free zone authority’s annual license charges. They do not include the initial approval fee (AED 2,000-5,000 one-time), trade name reservation (AED 600-1,500 one-time), Ejari office registration, or visa costs. The annual renewal fee equals the initial license fee, there is no discount for renewal.
Dubai Trade License Cost by Type 2026: Commercial, Professional and General Trading
DET issues trade licenses under distinct activity categories, each with its own fee structure. The license type that suits your business determines your starting cost point.
Commercial and General Trading Licenses
A commercial license authorizes buying and selling of specific goods. The DET fee ranges from AED 10,000 to AED 20,000 annually for up to 3 commercial activities. Adding activities increases the fee — each additional activity beyond the base allocation typically adds AED 1,000 to AED 3,000 per activity per year.
A general trading license is a broader commercial license authorizing import, export, and trading across multiple goods categories. Its annual fee is AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 — higher than a standard commercial license because it covers a wider scope of tradeable goods. If your business deals in diverse product categories that would otherwise require multiple commercial activities, the general trading license is the more cost-effective choice over the long term.
Both commercial and general trading licenses require a physical office with Ejari registration. The office cost is entirely separate from the license fee — see the additional costs section below.
Professional and Service Licenses
A professional license covers service-based business activities: consultancy, management services, IT, design, marketing, HR services, medical services, education, and most professional activities. The DET fee is AED 10,000 to AED 15,000 annually — consistently lower than commercial license fees because service businesses have a narrower regulatory scope.
Professional licenses can be issued to a sole establishment (an individual owner without a corporate entity) or to an LLC. The sole establishment is the most common and most affordable structure for solo consultants and small service businesses, as it has no minimum share capital requirement and slightly lower registration fees than an LLC.
Free Zone Trade License Cost vs Mainland DET License 2026
Free zone trade licenses are issued by the individual free zone authority, not by DET. Their costs are different from mainland DET fees and come with different market access rules.
| License | Annual Fee (AED) | Key Difference |
| DET Mainland Commercial | 10,000-20,000 | Full UAE market access; Ejari office mandatory |
| DET Mainland General Trading | 15,000-25,000 | Broadest activity scope; mandatory office |
| DET Mainland Professional | 10,000-15,000 | Service activities; sole establishment eligible |
| IFZA (free zone) | 12,500-20,000 | Flexi-desk accepted; no direct UAE mainland sales |
| DMCC (free zone) | 20,000-55,000 | Premium address; commodities/crypto community |
| Dubai South (free zone) | 15,000-40,000 | Airport logistics; Business Park or Logistics District |
| RAKEZ (RAK free zone) | 5,800-15,000 | Cheapest option; RAK emirate address |
The important distinction: a free zone license is typically cheaper than a mainland DET license, especially for professional and technology activities, because flexi-desk facilities replace the mandatory Ejari office requirement. However, free zone companies cannot sell directly to UAE mainland retail customers or hold government contracts without a local distributor arrangement — which adds cost for businesses targeting the UAE domestic market. For businesses focused on international trade, online sales, or B2B services, free zone company setup is often the more cost-effective long-term structure.
Dubai Trade License Renewal Cost 2026
Your Dubai trade license must be renewed annually before its expiry date. The renewal fee is the same as the initial annual license fee — there is no reduced renewal rate. A commercial license that cost AED 15,000 for year one will cost AED 15,000 for year two, AED 15,000 for year three, and so on.
Renewal deadlines matter significantly. The DET imposes a late renewal fine for licenses renewed after their expiry date. The fine accumulates daily and can become substantial on licenses that are overlooked or delayed. Renew your license at least 30 days before expiry to avoid fines. Most DET license holders renew 30 to 60 days in advance to build in processing time.
Additional recurring annual costs alongside the license renewal:
- Office rental (Ejari): Due for renewal annually at market rate. Dubai commercial rents have increased 10-20% annually in high-demand areas in recent years
- Ejari re-registration: AED 220 to AED 1,000 each renewal cycle
- Visa renewals: AED 2,500 to AED 4,000 per employee every 2 years
- External audit (from year 2 for LLCs): AED 8,000 to AED 20,000 annually, for accounting and corporate tax compliance from your first year, engage a UAE-licensed accountant before your license renewal is due
Total annual renewal budget for a small mainland business with one office and 2 employees: AED 35,000 to AED 70,000 including the license fee, office renewal, and visa renewals.
What Else Do You Pay Besides the Trade License Fee? Additional Costs 2026
The trade license fee is the core annual charge, but the total cost of getting set up with a Dubai trade license includes several one-time and recurring items that are separate from the license itself:
| Additional Cost Item | AED 2026 |
| Initial approval fee (one-time) | AED 2,000 to AED 5,000 |
| Trade name reservation (one-time) | AED 600 to AED 1,500 |
| Memorandum of Association notarization (LLC, one-time) | AED 1,000 to AED 3,000 |
| Office space (Ejari, annual minimum) | AED 12,000 to AED 40,000 |
| Ejari registration fee (annual) | AED 220 to AED 1,000 |
| Investor/partner visa (per person, one-time) | AED 3,500 to AED 5,000 |
| Emirates ID + medical fitness | AED 700 to AED 1,200 |
| Corporate bank account deposit requirement | AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 (bank policy) |
| VAT registration (if revenue > AED 375K) | Free (FTA portal) |
| Business setup service fee (optional) | AED 3,000 to AED 10,000 |
Office rental is the single largest additional cost for mainland DET license holders. Ejari registration is mandatory for all mainland companies, you cannot complete your trade license without a registered tenancy agreement. For businesses that do not need a physical office for daily operations, a free zone company setup with a flexi-desk option eliminates the Ejari requirement entirely and significantly reduces total setup cost.
E-Commerce Trade License Cost in Dubai 2026
An e-commerce trade license authorizes an online business to sell products or services through a website or digital platforms in Dubai. On the mainland, DET issues e-commerce licenses as an activity that can be added to an existing commercial license for approximately AED 5,000 to AED 10,000, or you can apply for a standalone e-commerce license at AED 15,000 to AED 20,000 annually.
Free zone e-commerce licenses are cheaper than mainland equivalents. IFZA’s e-commerce license starts from AED 12,500-15,000 annually. DMCC and Dubai South free zones also offer e-commerce activity coverage. If your business sells exclusively online to UAE and GCC customers without needing a physical retail presence, a free zone e-commerce license is the most cost-efficient starting structure in most cases.
Conclusion
A Dubai trade license fee in 2026 ranges from AED 10,000 for a basic professional license to AED 25,000 for a general trading license at DET, with free zone options starting lower at AED 8,000 to AED 12,500 from zones like RAKEZ and IFZA. The license fee is one component of total setup cost; office rental, visa fees, and one-time registration charges add AED 20,000 to AED 50,000 to your year-one budget on the mainland.
If you are still deciding between license types, our trade license guide covers what each license authorizes and which activities fall under commercial versus professional categories. To get an accurate setup cost estimate for your specific business, use the cost calculator. For full end-to-end support from license selection through to DET approval, Gulf Corporate Services provides a complete mainland company formation service in Dubai. Contact us for a free consultation.
FAQs: Dubai Trade License Cost 2026
How much does a trade license cost in Dubai in 2026?
DET mainland trade license fees in 2026 range from AED 10,000 for a basic professional license to AED 25,000 for a general trading license. Free zone licenses start from AED 5,800 (RAKEZ) to AED 12,500 (IFZA) for entry-level activities. DMCC and Dubai South free zone licenses cost AED 20,000 to AED 55,000 depending on the activity and office type.
Is the trade license renewal fee the same as the initial fee?
Yes. Dubai trade license renewal costs the same annual fee as the initial license — there is no reduced renewal rate. A license that costs AED 15,000 in year one costs AED 15,000 to renew in year two. Late renewal incurs daily fines from DET. Renew at least 30 days before expiry to avoid penalties.
What is included in the Dubai trade license fee?
The DET trade license annual fee covers the government’s authorization for your company to conduct the listed commercial activities in Dubai. It does not include the initial approval fee (AED 2,000-5,000 one-time), trade name reservation (AED 600-1,500), Ejari office registration (AED 12,000-40,000 annual rent + AED 220-1,000 Ejari fee), or visa costs (AED 3,500-5,000 per person).
Is a free zone license cheaper than a DET mainland license?
Generally yes for the license fee alone. IFZA starts at AED 12,500 vs DET mainland at AED 10,000-15,000. The bigger cost difference is in office requirements: free zones accept flexi-desks (AED 5,000-8,000/year), while mainland DET requires Ejari office registration (AED 12,000-40,000/year minimum). Free zone total year-one cost is typically AED 25,000-55,000 vs mainland at AED 38,000-100,000+.
Can I get a trade license in Dubai without an office?
For mainland DET licenses, a physical office with Ejari registration is mandatory — you cannot complete the trade license without a registered tenancy contract. For free zone licenses, many zones accept flexi-desk arrangements instead of a dedicated office, significantly reducing the premises cost. If you want a Dubai business registration without a full office lease, a free zone license is the appropriate route.
How much does a general trading license cost in Dubai?
A DET mainland general trading license costs AED 15,000 to AED 25,000 annually. It is more expensive than a standard commercial license because it covers a broader range of tradeable goods without specifying individual product categories. The annual renewal fee equals the initial fee. Total year-one setup cost including office and one visa is typically AED 50,000 to AED 80,000 for a mainland general trading setup.
What is the difference between a commercial license and a professional license cost?
Commercial licenses (for trading, retail, import-export) cost AED 10,000-25,000 annually at DET. Professional licenses (for consultancy, services, professional activities) cost AED 10,000-15,000 annually — slightly lower. Both require Ejari office registration on the mainland. The key difference is that professional licenses can be issued to a sole establishment with no minimum capital requirement, while commercial LLCs require a Memorandum of Association with stated share capital.
About the Author
Adil Ahmad
Adil Ahmad is a business setup consultant at Gulf Corporate Services, based in Dubai. He advises entrepreneurs, investors, and small business owners on UAE trade licensing, DET registration, free zone selection, and setup cost planning. Adil writes to give first-time business applicants the accurate, complete cost information they need to plan their Dubai trade license budget without surprises.
