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Trade License Cost in Dubai

The fees behind the license, the renewal bill, and why quotes differ.

In 2026, a new mainland trade license in Dubai typically costs AED 8,000 to 25,000 in government fees, covering the trade name, initial approval, license, Chamber membership and establishment card. General trading costs more. A free zone license comes bundled with a desk and often starts lower. Renewal costs less than year one.

Updated October 2026. Fees are ranges at the time of writing and are confirmed before we quote.

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Trade license documents prepared for a Dubai company

What makes up the cost of a trade license in Dubai?

A trade license isn't one fee. It's a stack of smaller ones paid to different bodies, some once and some every year. This is how the stack looks on the mainland at the time of writing.

Government fees and Startex service fee, shown separately
ItemGovernment fee (paid to)Startex service fee
Trade name reservationAED 600 to 750, once (DET)Quoted separately
Initial approvalAED 120 to 250, once (DET)Quoted separately
License fee, most activitiesAED 5,000 to 15,000 a year (DET)Quoted separately
License fee, general tradingCommonly AED 15,000 to 30,000 a year (DET)Quoted separately
Dubai Chamber of Commerce membershipAED 1,200 to 3,000 a year (Dubai Chamber of Commerce)Quoted separately
Establishment cardAED 750 to 3,500, then with renewal (immigration)Quoted separately
MOA drafting and notarisationAED 500 to 1,500, once (notary and DET)Quoted separately
Ejari tenancy registrationAbout AED 220, plus the rent (Dubai Land Department)Quoted separately
Residence visa, per personAED 3,500 to 8,000 every two years (GDRFA Dubai and ICP)Quoted separately

Added up, most commercial and professional activities land between AED 8,000 and 25,000 in first-year government fees, before office rent and visas. General trading sits higher. See the general trading license page for its own range.

How does the cost compare for mainland, free zone and e-trader licenses?

Trade license cost by license route
License routeWhat you payWhat you get
Mainland (DET)AED 8,000 to 25,000 in government fees, plus office and visasThe right to trade anywhere in the UAE, with an office on Ejari.
Free zoneAED 8,000 to 30,000 as one packageLicense, desk and visa quota. You trade inside the zone and overseas.
E-traderFrom about AED 1,070A license for UAE residents who sell online from home.

The right comparison isn't the price. It's who your customers are. A free zone license that can't legally sell to your local buyers isn't cheaper, it's useless. Read about the commercial license, the mainland license or the e-trader license to see what each one allows.

How much does it cost to renew a trade license in Dubai?

Renewal costs less than year one, because you don't pay for the trade name, the initial approval or the notarised MOA again. You still pay the license fee, Chamber membership and, on the mainland, a municipality market fee tied to your annual rent.

For a typical commercial license, plan on roughly AED 8,000 to 20,000 a year at the time of writing, plus the rent for your office and visa renewals every two years.

Don't let it lapse. Late renewals collect fines month by month. Trading on an expired license can bring fines from AED 5,000, it blocks visa renewals, and banks may restrict your account. Our trade license renewal service tracks the date and files on time.

Why can two quotes for the same license be thousands apart?

Some consultants quote only their service charge and add government fees later. Others bundle the Chamber fee, establishment card and Ejari. A few leave out the office altogether.

Before you compare, ask each consultant for three things in writing:

  • Government fees line by line, separate from the service charge.
  • What's excluded, such as office, visas, insurance, bank deposit and the market fee.
  • Next year's renewal cost, so you know the full price of keeping the license.

If you're not sure which license to price, start with our trade license in Dubai guide, then ask us for a quote.

Hidden costs to check before you pay

A license quote that looks low usually leaves one of these out. Ask for each in writing.

  • Market fee. Dubai Municipality charges a market fee on mainland licenses at renewal, worked out from your annual rent.
  • Activity approvals. Regulated activities need approval from another authority first, and each approval has its own fee.
  • Office rent and Ejari. On the mainland the lease is often the biggest line, and the license cannot be issued without it.
  • Health insurance. Every visa holder needs cover, and it is a yearly cost.
  • Amendments. Adding an activity, partner or trade name change later costs a new round of fees.
  • Late renewal fines. Fines build month by month, and trading on an expired license can bring fines from AED 5,000.

How long does it take?

A trade license is quick once the documents are right. These are typical times at the time of writing.

Typical timeline
StepTypical timeWho decides
Trade name reservationSame day to 2 working daysDET
Initial approval1 to 2 working daysDET
Approvals from other authoritiesA few days to several weeksThe regulator for your activity
License issued after fees are paid1 to 2 weeks from first call, in totalDET
Establishment cardAbout one week after the licenseImmigration
Renewal1 to 3 working days, filed before expiryDET

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.

Frequently asked questions

At the time of writing, a new mainland trade license costs about AED 8,000 to 25,000 in first-year government fees for most activities, including the trade name, initial approval, license, Chamber membership and establishment card. General trading costs more. Office rent and visas are extra.

Most commercial licenses cost roughly AED 8,000 to 20,000 a year to renew, because the trade name and initial approval aren't charged again. The exact figure depends on your activity, Chamber membership and the market fee linked to your office rent.

The core license fee is charged every year and stays close to the first-year amount for the same activity. The one-off items, such as the trade name and initial approval, drop away. Fees can change when the authority revises its schedule, so confirm the current figure before you renew.

Late renewals collect fines month by month. Trading on an expired license can bring fines from AED 5,000, you can't renew visas, and banks may restrict the account. Renew before the expiry date, and ask us to set a reminder.

The core license fee covers the right to trade your listed activities for one year. The trade name, initial approval, Chamber membership and establishment card are separate government lines. Office rent and visas are not part of the license fee, so ask for each one on its own line.

A general trading license commonly costs AED 15,000 to 30,000 a year in license fee, while most service and professional activities cost AED 5,000 to 15,000. Product groups, approvals and the office decide the final figure.

A free zone license often starts lower because the license, desk and visa quota come as one package, with our packages from AED 5,000 without a visa. A mainland license costs more but lets you sell directly across the UAE, so the better price is the one that suits your customers.

Dubai licenses are renewed through the DET channels, usually with a service provider such as a PRO company filing for you. You need a valid tenancy contract, a paid Chamber membership and clear fines. We track the date and file before it falls due.

Yes. The license is issued for a year from its start date and the annual fee is paid in full when it is issued. There is no part-year price, so choose the start date with that in mind.

Government fees already paid are normally not refunded. Cancelling needs a clear tenancy, no fines and settled staff visas first. Ask us for the checklist before you cancel, because unpaid items block the cancellation.

Some quotes bundle the Chamber fee, establishment card and Ejari, and others add only the service charge. Others include a premium office address. Match the quotes line by line before comparing the totals.

Know the full price before you commit

Send us your activity and we list every government fee on its own line, including next year's renewal.

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Startex Hub Businessman Services is a private business consultancy. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any UAE government authority.