E-commerce licence in Dubai
Selling online in Dubai needs an activity the licensing authority recognises. DET issues an e-Trader licence for home-based individuals and entrepreneurs who sell through social media or other online platforms. Free zones issue their own e-commerce and trading activities, which is a different licence and usually a different premises rule. THAJ matches the channel you sell on to one of those. We do not publish a store-setup package, and VAT registration is an introduction to licensed partners, not a THAJ tax service.
e-Trader, free zone, or a commercial licence
| How you sell | Licence to look at | Limit to know first |
|---|---|---|
| Home-based, through social media or an online platform, as an individual | DET e-Trader | It is for that home-based pattern. It is not a warehouse business and not a free zone company. |
| A company selling online, inside a zone built for e-commerce or trading | That zone’s e-commerce or commercial activity | Mainland customers may still need a distributor or a dual licence. See mainland or free zone. |
| Importing stock and selling to UAE shops as well as online | A mainland commercial licence | e-Trader and a pure zone trading licence are the wrong tools if the business is general UAE distribution. |
Activity lists are long. The wording on the licence has to match the invoices. We check that before filing.
VAT & Corporate Tax Support
Get connected with our licensed accounting and tax partners for VAT registration, Corporate Tax registration, return filing and bookkeeping.
The Federal Tax Authority’s thresholds, already stated on this site, are mandatory VAT registration above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports, and voluntary registration above AED 187,500. An online store can cross those numbers without looking like a large company. THAJ does not register you and does not file the return. The licensed partner does. Corporate tax registration is the same introduction, not a line on the trade licence.
The licence is not a Golden Visa
An e-commerce licence can support an employment or investor residence only under that permit’s own rules. It is not a Golden Visa, and a shop’s turnover is not the AED 2 million property test. Business-owner routes for a Golden Visa are on the business owners page. A solo online seller looking at a five-year self-sponsored permit should read the freelance and Green Visa pages and keep them distinct.
Frequently asked questions
What licence do I need to sell online in Dubai?
DET’s e-Trader licence if you are a home-based individual selling through social media or other online platforms. A free zone or mainland commercial licence if you are operating as a company. The channel and the customers decide.
Is e-Trader a free zone licence?
No. It is a DET licence. Free zones issue their own e-commerce activities.
Do you set up Shopify and the company as one price?
No. We license the activity. Store software, couriers and payment providers are your vendors. There is no package price on this page.
When do I register for VAT?
Mandatory registration applies above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies and imports, and voluntary registration above AED 187,500. Licensed partners do the registration. THAJ makes the introduction.
Official sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 5 November 2026. Rules and fees can change; the authority’s current page always prevails.
- Business licensing — licence types and set-up process — Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)
- Business set-up options: mainland or free zone — Government of Dubai (dubai.ae)
- Starting a business in a free zone — The UAE Government portal (u.ae)
- Registration for VAT — Federal Tax Authority (FTA)
- Value Added Tax (VAT) — The UAE Government portal (u.ae)
- Corporate Tax registration — Federal Tax Authority (FTA)
Describe the shop in one sentence
What you sell, who you sell it to, and whether you hold stock in the UAE. We match the licence to that sentence.