By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services · Last updated
Summary
You can check a UAE trade license online for free on the issuing authority’s portal. Use Invest in Dubai (DET) for Dubai mainland companies, TAMM for Abu Dhabi, SEDD for Sharjah, and each free zone’s own registry for free zone companies. The National Economic Register covers licences across the UAE. This guide covers every portal, the step-by-step checks, red flags, renewal status and FAQs.
Why You Should Check a UAE Trade License Before Doing Business
A trade license check takes two minutes and can save you from serious losses. I advise every client to verify a company before they:
- Pay a supplier or sign a contract
- Hire a recruitment, real estate or visa agent
- Enter a partnership or joint venture
- Accept a large order from a new customer
- Check their own license expiry and renewal status
A valid license confirms the company legally exists, what it is allowed to do and whether the license is active, expired or cancelled.
UAE Trade License Check: Which Portal to Use
The most common mistake is searching the wrong portal. A free zone company will not appear in the Dubai mainland system, and vice versa.
| Where the company is licensed | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Dubai mainland | Invest in Dubai portal by DET |
| Abu Dhabi mainland | TAMM, managed by ADRA under ADDED |
| Sharjah mainland | SEDD e-services portal |
| Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain | That emirate’s Department of Economic Development |
| Any emirate, if you are unsure | National Economic Register (Ministry of Economy) |
| DMCC, JAFZA, IFZA, Meydan and other Dubai free zones | The free zone’s own company directory or verification page |
| DIFC and ADGM | Their public company registers |
| RAKEZ, SAIF Zone, Hamriyah, SPC, Ajman Free Zone | The free zone’s own portal |
Tip: look at the license document or the company’s letterhead. It always names the issuing authority, such as “Department of Economy and Tourism” or “IFZA”.
How to Check a Dubai Trade License Online (DET and Invest in Dubai)
Dubai mainland licenses are issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which many people still call DED. The fastest free check is the Invest in Dubai platform.
- Open the Invest in Dubai business search or DET e-services.
- Choose license or business search.
- Enter the trade license number, the Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) number or the trade name in English or Arabic.
- Review the license status, expiry date, legal form and licensed activities.
Khaleej Times explains how Dubai trade licence applications and verification run through the Invest in Dubai portal and service centres.
Note: search by license number whenever you can. Many companies have similar names, and a name search can return the wrong business.
UAE Company Registration Search: The National Economic Register (NER)
If you do not know which emirate or zone issued the license, start with the National Economic Register, the federal database run by the Ministry of Economy. It collects licence data from the economic departments of all seven emirates and many free zones.
- Search options: trade name, license number or economic registry number
- What you see: trade name, license number, issuing authority, status, activities and expiry
- Access: some searches may need a UAE PASS login on the newer “Growth” platform
Use NER results as a first check, then confirm the details on the issuing authority’s own portal.
How to Check an Abu Dhabi Trade License Online
Abu Dhabi mainland licenses are registered by the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), part of ADDED. Use the TAMM portal:
- Open TAMM and search for the trade license inquiry or business search service.
- Enter the license number or trade name.
- Check status, activities and expiry.
For more on licensing in the capital, see our guide to the business license in Abu Dhabi.
How to Check a Sharjah Trade License Online
Sharjah mainland licenses are issued by the Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD). Use the SEDD e-services portal:
- Search by license number, English trade name or Arabic trade name
- Results show status, activities and expiry date
- Sharjah free zones, such as SAIF Zone, Hamriyah Free Zone, SHAMS and SPC, have their own separate portals
How to Check Ajman, RAK, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain Trade Licenses
Each northern emirate runs its own Department of Economic Development with an online inquiry service:
- Ajman: Ajman DED e-services
- Ras Al Khaimah: RAK DED, or RAKEZ for free zone companies
- Fujairah: Fujairah DED, or Fujairah Free Zone
- Umm Al Quwain: UAQ DED, or UAQ Free Trade Zone
If you cannot find the company online, ask for a copy of the license and call the authority to confirm. Our guide to business setup in Ras Al Khaimah explains how RAK’s two licensing routes differ.
How to Verify a Free Zone Trade License (JAFZA, IFZA, DMCC and More)
Free zone companies are licensed by their zone authority, not the emirate’s economic department.
| Free zone | How to verify |
|---|---|
| JAFZA and Dubai South | Dubai Economic Zones or the zone’s company directory |
| DMCC | DMCC member and company directory |
| IFZA | IFZA license verification page |
| DIFC | DIFC public register |
| ADGM | ADGM public register |
| RAKEZ | RAKEZ online verification |
| SAIF Zone and Hamriyah | Sharjah free zone portals |
| Ajman Free Zone | Ajman Free Zone directory |
Learn more about how free zones work in our free zone company setup and Dubai South free zone guides.
Dubai Company Name Check and Trade Name Search
Many people search for a “Dubai company name check” for two different reasons, and the tools differ:
- To find an existing company: use the Invest in Dubai business search or the National Economic Register with the trade name in English or Arabic
- To check if a name is free before registering: use the trade name reservation service on Invest in Dubai or your free zone’s name check tool
- Name rules: names cannot use religious or offensive terms, government names or the names of other famous brands, and must match your legal form, such as “LLC”
If you are about to register, reserve the name as early as possible. Popular names are often taken, and a rejected name delays your whole application.
What Details a UAE Trade License Check Shows
Most portals show:
- Company or trade name in English and Arabic
- License number and DUL or registry number
- License type: commercial, professional or industrial
- Legal form, such as LLC, sole establishment or branch
- Licensed business activities
- Issue date and expiry date
- License status: active, expired, suspended or cancelled
Shareholder and owner details are usually not public. For those, you need a certified extract or the company’s own documents.
Mainland vs Free Zone: Why It Changes Your Verification
The license type also tells you what the company can legally do:
- Mainland companies can trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government contracts. See our mainland company formation guide.
- Free zone companies mainly trade inside their zone and abroad, unless they hold a dual or distributor arrangement.
- Trading companies should hold the right activity, such as a general trading license, for the goods they sell.
Banks run the same checks before they open accounts, so a clean, active license also speeds up your own bank account opening.
Red Flags When Verifying a UAE Company
- The license number does not match the trade name
- The license is expired, suspended or cancelled
- Activities do not match the service they are selling you
- The issuing authority on the document differs from where they claim to be based
- They refuse to share a license copy or insist on cash payments
- The company was licensed very recently but claims years of experience
If you see any of these, pause the deal until you get proof.
How to Check Your Own Trade License Status, Fines and Copy
Business owners often need to check their own license:
- Expiry and status: log in to Invest in Dubai, TAMM or your free zone portal with UAE PASS
- Fines: unpaid fines and late renewal penalties show in your account and must be cleared before renewal
- License copy: download an updated e-license from the same portal
- Company name check: use the trade name search before you register a new company
Our PRO services team handles renewals, fines and amendments, and our accounting team keeps your records ready for renewal and banking.
Common Mistakes When Checking a Trade License
- Searching the Dubai mainland portal for a free zone company
- Relying on a PDF copy without checking it online
- Searching by name only and picking the wrong company
- Using unofficial third-party websites instead of government portals
- Ignoring the activity list, which decides what the company can legally sell
Expert Tip from Adil Ahmad
When a client brings me a new supplier, I always do three checks: the license online, the activity list and the bank account name. If all three match the same legal entity, the risk drops sharply. Save a screenshot of the result with the date, because it supports your file for VAT and corporate tax audits and bank compliance. If you are planning your own company, our company registration in Dubai team handles the license from day one. For Gulf expansion, see our Saudi business license guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a Dubai trade license online?
Use the Invest in Dubai portal by DET. Search by license number, DUL number or trade name.
Is a UAE trade license check free?
Yes. Basic online checks on government and free zone portals are free.
Is there one portal for all UAE companies?
The National Economic Register covers licences from all emirates, but confirm details on the issuing authority’s own portal.
How do I check a free zone company license?
Use that free zone’s own directory or verification page, such as JAFZA, DMCC or IFZA.
How can I check a Sharjah trade license by name?
Use the SEDD e-services portal and search by English or Arabic trade name.
What is the DET trade license check?
It is the Dubai mainland license search, now run through the Invest in Dubai platform.
Can I see the owners of a UAE company online?
Usually not. Ownership details need a certified extract or company documents.
How do I check trade license fines in Dubai?
Log in to Invest in Dubai with UAE PASS. Fines appear on your license record.
Get Your UAE Trade License Set Up the Right Way
From company formation to renewals and compliance, our team handles your business setup in Dubai end to end. Expanding in the Gulf? Explore business setup in Saudi Arabia or speak with our business setup consultants.
