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Commercial License
in Dubai

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Dubai Commercial License

This type of  Dubai Trade License is issued to those who are into commercial trading. The difference between a General Trading License and a Commercial License is that a Commercial License Dubai is more specific in nature and covers a limited number of products. The General Trading License also doesn’t cover all goods and/or commodities; some items such as automobiles and software can be traded only with a Commercial License.

Depending on the number of shareholders, a trading establishment can be incorporated as a Limited Liability Company. For a Limited Liability Company, the minimum number of shareholders is one and the maximum number is 50. The liability of the company is limited by its paid-up capital, and each shareholder’s liability is limited to his/her financial participation in the company. A subsidiary company is one that is owned by another
company and not individual shareholders.

As of 1st June 2021, Dubai Economy now allows 100% foreign ownership for some 1,000 designated commercial activities. Prior to this date, any company established on the mainland had to have 51% of the company’s shareholding owned by a Local Partner. The Local Partner had to be an Emirati (this is the term used to refer to citizens of the UAE) or another company incorporated in the United Arab Emirates which was 100% owned by Emiratis. The rule is still very much in existence for companies that are into commercial activities not mentioned by Dubai Economy. So it is recommended that you check with an experienced business setup consultant to determine if the commercial license in dubai activity proposed to be undertaken by your company is on the list or not.

Activities Covered by Commercial License Dubai

Some of the activities that require a Commercial License Dubai, UAE are as follows

Advantages of Commercial License Dubai

Documents Required for a Commercial License Dubai

To obtain a commercial license in Dubai, the following documents are needed:

documents for commercial license

How to Get a Commercial License Dubai

The first step is to decide on the name of your company. It may happen that the name that you have in mind has already been registered, so a good business setup consultant can run a search for you and see if the name is available. You can then proceed to form a company under this trade name with the Trade License in Dubai. This step requires a company formation expert who can draw up the Memorandum of Association / Articles of Association and get the documents registered.

Once you have established your company, the next step is to get a Dubai Commercial License for your company, paying the requisite fees. The fees vary, depending on the number of business activities included in the Commercial License for your establishment and also on the type of company. The rule of thumb is that the higher the number of business partners, the more will be the fees payable. Similarly, having more activities included in the Commercial License also increases the cost of the License. So there are no hard and fast answers to how much a Commercial License costs in Dubai or elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates. The fees also vary by emirate, and a business setup consultant can help you determine the exact costs of getting a Commercial License for the intended business activity by your proposed company.

Which is the best Business Setup Consultant in Dubai, UAE?

The best business setup consultant in Dubai listens to you and your needs, advising you on company formation. At A&A Associate LLC, we work closely with our in-house team of legal experts and company formation in dubai to ensure that everything is done just the way it should be. We pay extreme attention to detail, because we know that it is the small details that make up the larger picture. Even after your company has been established, we continue to support you and your journey by offering you cost-effective bookkeeping, accounting, and audit solutions. This way, you can focus on what you do best – running your business.

Why Us?

Customised Solutions​
Customised Solutions
Experienced Consultants​
Experienced Consultants
Hassle-Free Procedure​
Hassle-Free Procedure
Multiple Payment Options​
Multiple Payment Options

Frequently Asked Questions

A commercial license in Dubai can cost anywhere from AED 12,500 to over AED 70,000 and depends on factors like your business activities, jurisdiction, and the number of visas you can sponsor. Offshore businesses in UAE allow your company to trade outside UAE as well as take efforts to safeguard your wealth and assets. Offshore companies get a certificate of incorporation and not a trade license. All types of companies can be started in UAE and more than a thousand activities are allowed by the Economic Department.
Commercial trade is the buying and selling of good and services which is a key activity covered by a commercial trade license in Dubai. A&A Associate supports entrepreneurs in obtaining their business license in Dubai and timely renewal of the same.
You’ll need to choose a business activity, legal structure, register a trade name, get initial approval, and then submit documents and pay the fees to apply for a license. UAE has mind-blowing business opportunities; business setup Consultant in UAE can guide you through the entire company formation process!
A commercial license allows businesses to engage in trading activities. A trade license is a broad term for all types of business permits. If you’re not consulting a business consultant, it will take up to few weeks and it’s becomes difficult to clear all the legal procedures. So, consider A&A for your free zone business setup!
You can hire foreign workers if you have a commercial license as long as you have the legal work permits from the relevant licensing authority.
A healthcare company in Dubai needs a commercial license, but they also need special approvals and a separate facility license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to legally operate.
A commercial license in Dubai is valid for one year. You can renew your license every year by paying the renewal fees.
You can include up to 10 activities on a single commercial license as long as they are related activities that fall under the same business group.
You need to apply for a commercial license when you’re incorporating a new company. A business setup consultant can help you with starting a new company.
If you’re operating a business that deals with activities related to retail, e-commerce, or any kind of general trading, you need a commercial license.
You can get a commercial license in Dubai from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) if you’re starting a business on the mainland or the relevant free zone authority if you’re doing it in a free zone.
Businesses conducting commercial activities in Dubai need to apply for a commercial license. Examples of commercial activities include buying and selling goods.