By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Summary
To add activities to your trade licence in the UAE, search the official activity list, confirm the new activity is compatible with your licence type, legal form and office, then apply to your licensing authority, such as DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi or your free zone. Simple additions take one to three working days and usually cost AED 1,500 to 7,000, including any external approvals.
What Does Adding an Activity Mean?
Every UAE trade licence lists the business activities your company is allowed to carry out. Each activity has an official name, a code and a description. If you want to sell a new product, offer a new service or enter a new market, it must appear on your licence first.
From my experience with clients, most activity additions happen when a business grows. A consultancy wants to add training, an e-commerce store wants to add new product categories, or a trading company wants to start importing. Adding the activity is usually far cheaper and faster than opening a new company.
When Should You Add a New Activity?
- You want to offer services or products not listed on your licence
- A client or bank asks why your invoices do not match your activities
- You plan to bid on contracts that require a specific activity
- You are expanding into e-commerce, import and export or consultancy
- Your free zone package allows more activities at no extra cost
Trading outside your licensed activities can lead to fines, problems with your bank and issues at renewal. It is always better to update the licence first.
Rules to Know Before You Add Activities
- Compatibility: the new activity must fit your licence type, such as commercial, professional or industrial, and your legal form.
- Activity groups: many authorities allow several activities on one licence if they belong to related groups. Unrelated activities may need a separate licence or branch.
- Number of activities: there is no single UAE-wide maximum. DET assesses each combination, while many free zones allow a set number of activities or groups per package.
- Premises: some activities need a specific type of office, shop, warehouse or larger space.
- External approvals: regulated activities need approval from bodies such as health, education, food safety or financial regulators.
- Ownership: a few activities have different ownership rules on the mainland.
How to Find the Right Activity and Activity Code
Before applying, find the exact activity in the official list. In Dubai, use the Invest in Dubai business activity search to search by activity name or number.
- Read the full description and exclusions, not just the title
- Check which legal forms and licence types the activity allows
- Note any external approval listed for the activity
- Avoid old activity list PDFs, because codes and descriptions change
Our guides to mainland business activities and free zone business activities explain the main categories in more detail.
General Trading Licence Activities in the UAE
Many people ask what activities a general trading licence covers. A general trading licence lets you trade a wide range of unrelated, non-restricted products under one licence. However:
- It does not automatically cover regulated goods, such as food, medicines, chemicals, alcohol, weapons or precious metals
- Regulated products still need their own approvals
- General trading usually costs more than a single-product trading licence
If your trading company keeps adding product categories, switching to general trading can be simpler than adding activities one by one. Read our full guide to the general trading licence in Dubai and its benefits.
How to Add an Activity to Your Trade Licence in Dubai (Mainland)
Mainland licences in Dubai are managed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
- Search the activity on the Invest in Dubai platform and confirm it suits your licence.
- Apply for a licence amendment online through Invest in Dubai or through a service centre.
- Get initial approval for the new activity.
- Obtain external approvals if the activity is regulated.
- Amend the MOA if your legal form or authority requires it.
- Update your Ejari or premises if the activity needs different space.
- Pay the fees and download the amended trade licence.
The updated licence usually keeps the same expiry date. Our PRO services team can handle the full amendment for you.
How to Add Activities in Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, mainland licences are managed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), with most services available through the TAMM platform.
- Log in to TAMM with UAE Pass.
- Select the licence amendment service and choose “add activity”.
- Upload documents and any external approvals.
- Pay the fees and receive the amended licence.
Adding an activity in Abu Dhabi is often quick for compatible activities. See our guides to a business license in Abu Dhabi and how to renew a trade license in Abu Dhabi.
How to Add Activities in a Free Zone
Each free zone has its own process, usually through its online portal:
- Submit an “add activity” request
- Upload a board resolution or shareholder approval if needed
- Pay the amendment fee
- Receive the amended licence, often within a few working days
For example, the Dubai Development Authority lets companies add activities within a segment through its online portal, with an estimated two working days.
Many free zone packages, such as those in Meydan Free Zone and IFZA, allow several activities from related groups. Adding a different group may cost extra. If you need to serve mainland clients, read how to transfer a free zone company to the mainland.
Adding Activities in Other Emirates
Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain each have their own economic departments and free zones. The steps are similar, but fees, activity lists and timelines differ. For example, see our guide to a trade license in Ras Al Khaimah.
Documents Required
- Copy of your current trade licence
- Passport and Emirates ID copies of the owners and manager
- Application form or online request
- Board or shareholder resolution approving the new activity
- Amended MOA, where required
- Ejari or lease agreement
- External approvals for regulated activities
Cost of Adding Activities to a Trade Licence
These are approximate figures from published guides. Confirm current fees with your authority.
| Cost item | Approximate cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Activity amendment fee | 500 to 2,000 |
| External approvals (if needed) | 1,000 to 5,000 |
| MOA amendment and notarisation | 1,000 to 2,000 |
| Consultant or PRO service fee | 1,000 to 3,000 |
| Typical total | 1,500 to 7,000+ |
Your annual renewal fee may also rise if the new activity carries a higher licence fee. Compare general fees in our guide to the cost of a trade license in Dubai.
Not sure if your new activity fits your licence? Our business setup consultants will check compatibility before you apply.
Regulated Activities That Need Extra Approvals
| Activity type | Typical approval needed |
|---|---|
| Healthcare and clinics | Health authority (DHA, DoH or MOHAP) |
| Education and training | KHDA or ADEK |
| Food trading and restaurants | Municipality food safety |
| Financial services | Central Bank, DFSA or capital markets regulator |
| Media and advertising | UAE Media Council |
| Tourism and travel | DET tourism approval |
How Adding Activities Affects Visas, Tax and Banking
- Visas: your visa quota normally stays the same unless you change premises.
- Bank account: inform your bank, because activities are part of your KYC profile.
- Corporate tax and VAT: update your registration details if your business model changes.
- Free zone tax status: new activities can affect qualifying income, so check with a tax adviser.
Removing or Changing Activities
You can also remove activities you no longer use, or replace one activity with another, through the same amendment service. This can reduce renewal fees and keep your licence clean for banks.
Other Licence Amendments: Partners, Name and Legal Form
Adding activities is one of several licence changes you can make. Others include:
- Adding or removing a partner, which needs an amended MOA and new share details
- Changing the trade name, subject to naming rules
- Changing the legal form, for example from sole establishment to LLC
- Changing the manager or adding branches
These amendments often go together. If you are adding a partner and an activity at the same time, submit them in one request where your authority allows it.
Expanding to Saudi Arabia
If your new activity is aimed at Gulf clients, Saudi Arabia may be the next step. Saudi licences follow their own activity classification. See how to get a trade license in Saudi Arabia and explore our business setup in Saudi Arabia services.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing an activity by its title without reading the description
- Adding an activity that needs a different legal form or office
- Starting the new activity before the licence is amended
- Forgetting external approvals for regulated activities
- Not updating your bank and tax registrations
Expert Tip from Our Desk
Plan your activity list at renewal time. Adding or removing activities together with your renewal saves time, avoids paying amendment fees twice and gives you a clean, updated licence for the year ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add an activity to my trade licence in Dubai?
Search the activity on Invest in Dubai, apply for a licence amendment with DET, get any external approvals, pay the fees and download the updated licence.
How much does it cost to add an activity?
Usually AED 1,500 to 7,000 including approvals and service fees, depending on the activity and authority.
How long does it take?
Simple additions take one to three working days. Regulated activities take longer.
Is there a limit on activities?
There is no single UAE-wide limit. DET assesses combinations, and free zones set their own limits per package.
Can I add activities in Abu Dhabi online?
Yes, through the TAMM platform with UAE Pass.
What activities does a general trading licence cover?
A wide range of non-restricted products. Regulated goods still need separate approvals.
Can a free zone company add mainland activities?
Not directly. It needs a mainland branch, dual licence or permit to work with mainland clients.
Can I remove an activity from my licence?
Yes, through the same amendment process, which may lower renewal costs.
Update Your Licence with Confidence
Adding the right activities keeps your business compliant and ready to grow. Our team checks compatibility, handles approvals and updates your licence quickly. Explore our full business setup in Dubai services, or talk to us about business setup in Saudi Arabia when you are ready to expand.
