Is DED still the licensing authority in Dubai?
Not by name. In November 2021, Dubai merged the Department of Economic Development with Dubai Tourism and created the Department of Economy and Tourism. Licenses issued earlier stay valid and renew with DET.
People still say DED license because the name stuck. A few other emirates, Ajman among them, still run a Department of Economic Development, so check which emirate a document comes from. A Dubai license is issued by DET.
What types of DET (DED) license are there?
| License | Who it is for | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Trading, retail, general trading and most service businesses. | Commercial license |
| Professional | Consultants, freelancers and skill-based service firms. | Professional license |
| Industrial | Manufacturing and processing, with industrial approvals. | Industrial license |
| E-trader | UAE residents selling online from home. | E-trader license |
Some sectors, such as tourism, healthcare, real estate and gold, also need approval from a regulator. See our real estate and gold and jewellery pages for two examples.
DET mainland license or free zone license?
A DET license lets you trade anywhere in Dubai and the wider UAE and bid for government work. A free zone license is issued by the zone authority and limits where you can sell.
Read the mainland license guide for the full comparison, or the free zone license guide if you'll trade overseas or inside a zone. A DET license applies to Dubai only. To operate in another emirate, you need that emirate's license or a branch.
How do you get a DET (DED) license?
Plan one to two weeks once documents are ready. Have these to hand: passport copies for every partner, the residence visa and Emirates ID of any partner who lives in the UAE, three trade name options, passport photographs and the tenancy contract for your office.
- Choose your activity and legal form, such as a limited liability company.
- Reserve the trade name with DET.
- Get initial approval, and any approvals from other authorities your activity needs.
- Rent an office and register the tenancy on Ejari.
- Sign the memorandum of association at a notary.
- Pay the fees and receive your license, then apply for the establishment card and visas.
How much does a DED license cost?
At the time of writing, a DET license costs roughly AED 8,000 to 25,000 in first-year government fees for most activities. That covers the trade name, initial approval, license, Chamber membership and establishment card. General trading and regulated activities cost more. Office rent and visas are extra.
The license renews every year. Renewal costs less than the first year, because the trade name and initial approval aren't charged again, and an expired license can bring fines from AED 5,000 and block your visas. We track the date for every client and file before it falls due.
The full table is in our trade license cost in Dubai guide. For the total including office and visas, see the business setup cost page.
Which fees go to the government, and which are Startex's?
A DET license is a stack of government lines plus our service fee. Here they are apart.
| Item | Government fee (paid to) | Startex service fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | AED 600 to 750, once (DET) | Quoted separately |
| Initial approval | AED 120 to 250, once (DET) | Quoted separately |
| License fee, most activities | AED 5,000 to 15,000 a year (DET) | Quoted separately |
| Chamber of Commerce membership | AED 1,200 to 3,000 a year (Dubai Chamber of Commerce) | Quoted separately |
| Establishment card | AED 750 to 3,500 (immigration) | Quoted separately |
| E-trader license | From about AED 1,070 a year (DET) | Quoted separately |
| Residence visa, per person | AED 3,500 to 8,000 every two years (GDRFA Dubai and ICP) | Quoted separately |
Government figures are ranges at the time of writing, October 2026. Our service fee is quoted in writing, as its own line, before you pay anything.
How long does it take?
A DET license takes about one to two weeks once your documents are complete. These are typical times.
| Step | Typical time | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Same day to 2 working days | DET |
| Initial approval | 1 to 2 working days | DET |
| Tenancy contract and Ejari | 1 to 3 working days | Landlord and Dubai Land Department |
| MOA signed at a notary | Same day | Notary |
| License issued | 1 to 2 weeks from first call, in total | DET |
| Establishment card and visas | 1 to 3 weeks | Immigration and GDRFA Dubai |
Fee ranges come from current government schedules and typical package pricing in Dubai, October 2026. Fees and rules change without notice, so we confirm the live figure with the authority before we quote you. Authorities named on this page: Dubai Economy and Tourism, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Land Department, DMCC and the UAE Ministry of Economy. Official sources: Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and GDRFA Dubai.