How to Check a UAE Trade License Online: 2026 Complete Guide to DET

Checking a trade license online in the UAE is something businesses need to do for two very different reasons. The first is due diligence on a supplier, partner, or service provider before contracting, verifying that the company you are dealing with is legally registered, active, and authorized for the activities they are offering. The second is checking your own trade license status, expiry date, or activity details through the issuing authority’s portal.

Both are straightforward, but the correct portal depends on which authority issued the license, and that varies by emirate and by whether the company is mainland or free zone. A Dubai mainland license is verified through the DET (Department of Economy and Tourism) portal. An Abu Dhabi mainland license is verified through the ADCD (Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development) portal. A DMCC free zone company is verified through the DMCC portal. Using the wrong portal returns no results, which can incorrectly suggest a company is unlicensed when it is simply registered elsewhere.

How to Check a UAE Trade License Online 2026: Which Portal to Use

Before searching, identify which authority issued the license. If you have the license number or the company name, the license number prefix usually indicates the issuing authority. Here is the correct portal for each common scenario:

If you only have the company’s trade name and are unsure which emirate or zone it belongs to, start with the Ministry of Economy commercial register for a federal-level search, then narrow down using the trade name or license number.

How to Verify a UAE Trade License: Portal Step-by-Step 2026

The exact steps differ slightly by portal but follow the same general sequence across all UAE authorities.

DET Dubai Portal: Dubai REST and Online Verification

The Dubai DET (Department of Economy and Tourism) is the licensing authority for all mainland Dubai companies. Verification is available through two channels: the Dubai REST app (mobile) and the DET e-services portal (web). Both are free and instant.

1. Visit the DET e-services portal or open the Dubai REST app
2. Select ‘Trade License Verification’ or ‘Business Verification’ from the services menu
3. Enter either the trade license number or the registered company name. The license number is more reliable as company names can have slight spelling variations
4. The portal returns the license status (Active / Expired / Cancelled), the license expiry date, the registered trade name, the licensed business activities, and the registered business address
5. Screenshot or save the result. For formal due diligence documentation, DET also offers a paid trade license certificate download that carries an official stamp and QR code

Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Other Emirates

Each UAE emirate operates its own economic development department with its own online portal. The verification steps are similar to DET’s but use different websites:

• Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADCD) at added.gov.ae provides online license verification for all Abu Dhabi mainland companies. Search by trade license number or company name
• Sharjah: The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) at sedd.ae offers trade license verification. Sharjah also has several of its own free zones (SAIF Zone, SHAMS, HAMRIYAH) with separate verification portals
• Ras Al Khaimah: RAK Chamber of Commerce and the RAK Department of Economic Development both maintain online search portals for RAK-licensed businesses
• Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain: Each emirate’s Department of Economic Development operates its own portal. License numbers from these emirates have distinct prefix codes that identify their issuing authority

For any emirate portal, the same search approach applies: license number first (fastest and most accurate), company name as a fallback. If the portal returns no results and you are confident the company is UAE-registered, it may be a free zone company rather than a mainland company.

How to Check a Free Zone Company License in UAE 2026

Free zone companies are not registered with emirate economic departments. They are registered with their specific free zone authority and must be verified through that authority’s own portal or member directory. Here are the most commonly used free zone verification portals in 2026:

• DMCC: ae/member-search — Search by company name or registration number. Results show status, registration date, and authorized activities
• DIFC: ae company search — DIFC’s public register lists all licensed entities with license type and status
• JAFZA (Jebel Ali): Dubai Economic Zones portal verifies JAFZA companies. JAFZA license numbers have a distinct JLT or JAFZA prefix
• Dubai Internet City / Dubai Media City / TECOM zones: Verified through the TECOM group portal or Dubai Economic Zones directory
• IFZA: com — IFZA’s online portal allows company name or registration number search for all IFZA-registered entities
• Abu Dhabi free zones (Masdar, twofour54, ADGM, KIZAD): Each has its own authority portal. ADGM’s Companies Registrar is publicly searchable at en.adgm.ae/companies-registrar

If you know a company is in a free zone but are unsure which one, check the company’s letterhead or email domain for clues — most free zone companies include their free zone in official correspondence. The license number format often has a prefix code that identifies the free zone.

What Information Does a UAE Trade License Verification Show?

A successful license verification through any UAE portal typically returns the following information:

• License status: Active, Expired, Cancelled, or Suspended. This is the most critical field — an active status confirms the company is currently authorized to operate
• License number and type: Confirms the issuing authority and license category (commercial, professional, industrial)
• Registered trade name: The official name as registered with the licensing authority. Compare this to the name used in contracts and invoices
• Licensed business activities: The specific commercial activities the company is authorized to conduct. A company invoicing you for activities not listed on its license is operating outside its authorization
• License issue and expiry dates: Confirms whether the license is current. A license expired more than 90 days ago without renewal is a significant red flag
• Registered address: The official business address. Compare to the address on contracts and invoices for consistency
• Owner/shareholder information: Available in full detail on paid official certificates from most portals; may be partial on free portal searches

For formal contract due diligence, procurement compliance, or legal documentation, an official trade license certificate with QR code and official stamp is available for download or request from most UAE portals at a nominal fee (typically AED 50 to AED 300). This version is more appropriate for court filings, bank submissions, or formal procurement processes than a screenshot of the online search result.

What to Do If a UAE Trade License Is Expired or Invalid

Finding that a company’s license is expired or invalid during your verification check changes how you should proceed with any planned business relationship.

If you are verifying a supplier or partner: do not proceed with contract signing or payments until the company provides evidence of a valid, current license. An expired license means the company has no legal authorization to conduct commercial activities in the UAE at that time. Invoices from unlicensed entities may not be tax-deductible for VAT purposes and could create legal exposure for your business. Contact the company directly, inform them of the expired status, and request their renewed license before proceeding.

If you are checking your own license and find it has expired: the renewal process must be completed as quickly as possible. Operating with an expired trade license in the UAE is a violation that carries fines from the issuing authority. DET imposes fines for operating with an expired mainland license, and the fine increases the longer the license remains unrenewed. In some cases, a grace period applies, but this varies by authority and circumstances. Contact your licensing authority immediately or engage a PRO services provider to manage the renewal process urgently.

If the verification returns ‘cancelled’ or ‘revoked’: a cancelled license indicates the company has formally ceased operations or had its license terminated by the authority. This is more serious than an expiry. Do not proceed with any business relationship with a cancelled-license entity.

Conclusion

Verifying a UAE trade license online in 2026 takes two to three minutes once you know which portal applies to your company’s emirate and jurisdiction. The key steps are: identify whether the company is mainland (emirate portal) or free zone (zone-specific portal), search by license number where possible, confirm active status and licensed activities match what the company is offering, and save the verification for your records.

If you need help with your own license renewal, want to register a new company, or need ongoing compliance support, Gulf Corporate Services provides mainland company formation, free zone company setup, trade license registration and renewal, PRO services for DET coordination, and accounting and compliance services. Contact us for a free consultation.

FAQs: UAE Trade License Check Online 2026

How do I check a Dubai trade license online?

Visit the DET (Department of Economy and Tourism) e-services portal at dubaidet.gov.ae or use the Dubai REST app. Select ‘Trade License Verification’, enter the license number or company name, and the portal returns license status, expiry date, authorized activities, and registered address instantly. For formal documentation, a certified license certificate with QR code can be downloaded for a nominal fee.

Is there one portal to check all UAE trade licenses?

No single portal covers all UAE trade licenses. Dubai mainland licenses are checked through DET; Abu Dhabi through ADCD; Sharjah through SEDD. Free zone companies must be checked through their specific free zone authority’s portal (DMCC, DIFC, IFZA, JAFZA, etc.). The Ministry of Economy portal at economy.gov.ae offers a federal commercial register search that covers some entities but is not comprehensive for all license types.

Can I check if a UAE company’s license is expired?

Yes. The online verification portal for any UAE licensing authority shows the license status (Active, Expired, or Cancelled) and the expiry date. If a license is expired, the portal clearly shows this. Do not proceed with contracts or payments to a company with an expired license until they provide a renewed, active license certificate.

How do I verify a free zone company in UAE?

Free zone companies must be verified through their specific free zone authority’s portal. DMCC companies are verified at dmcc.ae/member-search; DIFC at difc.ae; IFZA at ifza.com; ADGM companies through the ADGM Companies Registrar at en.adgm.ae. If you know the company’s free zone from their license number prefix or letterhead, go directly to that zone’s portal and search by company name or registration number.

What information does a UAE trade license verification show?

A standard UAE trade license verification shows: license status (active/expired/cancelled), license number and type, registered trade name, licensed business activities, license issue and expiry dates, and registered business address. Full shareholder and ownership details may require a paid official certificate request from the licensing authority, rather than the free portal search.

What should I do if a supplier’s UAE license is expired?

Do not proceed with contract signing or payments until the supplier provides a current, active trade license. Contact the company and request their renewed license certificate. Expired-license entities have no legal authorization to conduct commercial activities in the UAE, and payments to them may create VAT and legal compliance issues for your business. A genuine UAE-registered business will be able to provide an active license promptly.

Can I check if a company is registered in all UAE emirates at once?

There is no single unified UAE business registry covering all emirates and free zones in real time. The Ministry of Economy portal covers some federal registrations but is not comprehensive. For thorough due diligence on a UAE company whose emirate you do not know, start with the Ministry of Economy search, then check the main emirate portals (DET Dubai, ADCD Abu Dhabi, SEDD Sharjah) and the major free zone directories if the company is not found on the emirate portals.

About the Author

Adil Ahmad

Adil Ahmad is a business setup and compliance consultant at Gulf Corporate Services, based in Dubai. He advises businesses and investors on UAE company registration, trade license management, and regulatory compliance across Dubai and all emirates. Adil writes to give business owners and procurement teams the practical, accurate guidance they need to verify UAE companies and manage their own trade license compliance correctly.