What does a general trading license cover?
It names the product groups you may trade, such as building materials, electronics, clothing or household goods. You can buy, store, import, export and sell those groups, wholesale or retail, depending on the license type.
It doesn't cover everything. Food, medicines, chemicals, tobacco, alcohol, telecom equipment and precious metals need their own approval or a specialist license. Gold and jewellery, for example, follow different rules. See our gold and jewellery license page.
We check your product list against the activity list before you apply. Adding a group later costs another round of fees and approvals.
Mainland or free zone for general trading?
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can sell | Anywhere in the UAE, retail and wholesale, plus government supply contracts. | Inside the zone and overseas. Mainland sales go through a distributor or a dual license. |
| Office | A registered office with Ejari. A flexi desk is possible for some activities. | A desk or warehouse inside the zone. |
| First-year cost | AED 20,000 to 40,000 in government fees, plus office and visas. | Roughly AED 12,000 to 35,000 as a package. |
| Best for | Shops, distributors and importers selling to local buyers. | Re-export, transit trade and importers who store goods in the zone. |
Many free zone companies can add a Dubai dual license to trade on the mainland. It costs extra and has its own conditions, so ask before you assume it's included. Our mainland license and free zone license pages compare the two in full.
Which documents do you need?
- Passport copies of every partner, and the residence visa and Emirates ID if they live in the UAE.
- A passport-size photograph of each partner.
- Three trade name options, in order of preference.
- The list of products you plan to trade.
- A tenancy contract registered on Ejari, or the free zone lease.
- Extra approvals if you handle regulated goods.
- For company shareholders, attested incorporation papers and a board resolution.
How long does it take, and what are the steps?
Allow one to two weeks from first call to license, once your documents are complete. Regulated products add approval time.
- Choose the product groups and location. We match your list to the activity codes.
- Reserve the trade name with the licensing authority.
- Get initial approval, and any external approvals your products need.
- Sign the tenancy contract and register Ejari, or sign the free zone lease.
- Notarise the MOA, pay the fees and receive the license.
- Apply for the establishment card, visas and bank account.
How much does a general trading license cost in Dubai?
On the mainland, the license fee for general trading commonly runs AED 15,000 to 30,000 a year, which brings first-year government fees to about AED 20,000 to 40,000 at the time of writing. A free zone general trading package usually costs roughly AED 12,000 to 35,000, depending on the zone and the visas included.
Office rent and visas come on top. For every line, see the trade license cost in Dubai breakdown and the full business setup cost.
Which fees go to the government, and which are Startex's?
A general trading license is priced by product groups and by the office you need. This is how the first-year lines split between the authorities and our service fee.
| Item | Government fee (paid to) | Startex service fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | AED 600 to 750, once (DET) | Quoted separately |
| License fee, general trading | Commonly AED 15,000 to 30,000 a year (DET) | Quoted separately |
| Initial approval and activity approvals | AED 120 to 250, plus the regulator's fee for controlled goods (DET and the regulator) | 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 |
| Residence visa, per person | AED 3,500 to 8,000 every two years (GDRFA Dubai and ICP) | Quoted separately |
| Free zone general trading package | Roughly AED 12,000 to 35,000 as one package (zone authority) | Free zone packages from AED 5,000 without a visa |
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?
Allow one to two weeks from first call to license for common goods. Controlled goods take longer.
| Step | Typical time | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Product list check and trade name | 1 to 3 working days | Startex and DET |
| Initial approval and activity approvals | A few days, longer for controlled goods | DET and the regulator |
| Tenancy contract and Ejari | 1 to 3 working days | Landlord and Dubai Land Department |
| License issued | 1 to 2 weeks from first call, in total | DET |
| Customs and importer registration | A few working days | Dubai Customs |
| 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.