Dubai Mainland Trade Licences: Types and Requirements

Your licence type follows your activity. Choosing correctly keeps the application smooth and prevents costly changes after launch.

The main licence types

Mainland licences are generally grouped into three families.

  • Commercial licence for trading and commercial activities
  • Professional licence for services, consultancy and skilled professions
  • Industrial licence for manufacturing and production

What the application usually involves

After the activity is defined, the process generally includes name approval, initial approval, premises registration, external approvals where needed and licence issuance.

Renewals and amendments

Licences are renewed annually. Changes to activities, partners, addresses or company name are handled through amendments and should be kept up to date to avoid penalties.

Frequently asked questions

Can one licence cover several activities?

Often yes, where the activities are compatible. We check which combinations are accepted for your licence type.

What if my activity needs an external approval?

We identify the regulator early, prepare the file and coordinate so the licence becomes active as soon as approvals are granted.

What happens if I do not renew on time?

Late renewal can lead to fines and restrictions, so we keep track of expiry dates for clients who use our renewal service.

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