Trade licence types in Dubai
Mainland trade licences in Dubai are issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The main types are commercial (buying and selling goods and services), professional (services based on intellectual or artistic ability), industrial (manufacturing, production and packaging), tourism (hospitality such as hotels and holiday homes), e-Trader (home-based online sellers) and the dual licence for companies in participating free zones. One licence can include more than one activity; the UAE lists more than 2,000 economic activities, and the activity decides the licence type and legal form.
DET licence types
| Licence | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Commercial | Buying and selling most goods and services, including import and export, logistics, physical products, software, construction and real estate. |
| Professional | Individuals and firms offering services based on intellectual or artistic ability, such as consulting. |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, production, packaging, segregation or collection, including food, textiles, paper, petroleum products, equipment and appliances. |
| Tourism | Hospitality activity such as hotels, holiday homes and timeshares. |
| E-Trader | Home-based individuals and entrepreneurs selling products and services through social media or other online platforms. |
| Dual licence | Lets companies in participating free zones extend to the mainland without leasing additional office space or taking a local shareholder. |
Nationally, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism lists six licence types: industrial, commercial, crafts, tourism, agricultural and professional.
Free zone licence categories
Each free zone issues its own licences. The exact names and permitted activities differ from zone to zone, but these are the categories you will usually choose between.
Commercial and general trading
Import, export, distribution and re-export.
Service and consultancy
Consulting, marketing, IT, accounting and professional services.
Industrial and manufacturing
Light manufacturing, assembly and packaging where the zone provides warehousing or land.
E-commerce
Online retail and marketplace trading.
Freelance permit
A single-practitioner permit for consultants, creatives and specialists.
Holding company
Holding shares, property or intellectual property.
Activities that need extra approvals
Some activities need approval from another federal or local authority before the licence is issued. For example, the Ministry of Interior approves public transport services, driving centres, fire-fighting equipment, alarm and protection systems, and used car, used spare parts and car rental dealers.
How we choose the licence
- Match each activity to the official activity list
- Confirm the licence type and the legal form it allows
- Identify any external approvals and their timing
- Check that the activity can be fully foreign-owned
Common intents have their own pages, still without a package price: general trading, consultancy, IT and technology, real estate brokerage, restaurants and F&B, digital marketing, e-commerce and freelance permits. The zone, if you need one, is chosen on the free zone hub.
Frequently asked questions
What are the types of trade licence in Dubai?
On the mainland, DET issues commercial, professional, industrial and tourism licences, plus the e-Trader licence and the dual licence. Free zones issue their own licence categories.
What is the difference between a commercial and a professional licence?
A commercial licence covers buying and selling goods and services. A professional licence covers services based on intellectual or artistic ability, such as consulting.
Can one licence cover several activities?
Yes. A licence may include more than one business activity, as long as the activities are compatible with the licence type and legal form.
What is an e-Trader licence?
A DET licence for home-based individuals and entrepreneurs who sell products and services through social media or other online platforms.
Who renews and amends the licence?
The licence holder, through the licensing authority. THAJ’s PRO services handle renewals, activity changes and partner amendments.
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 set-up options: mainland or free zone — Government of Dubai (dubai.ae)
- Business licensing — licence types and set-up process — Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)
- Establishing business in the UAE (licence types, trade names, premises) — UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism
- Starting a business in a free zone — The UAE Government portal (u.ae)
Get the licence right first time
Tell us exactly what the business does. We will match it to the licence and activities.