The four DMCC licence types
| Licence | Covers | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Service licence | Consultancy, IT services, marketing, management and business support | Professional and service firms |
| Trading licence | Importing, exporting, distributing or selling goods | Traders, distributors, commodities |
| Commercial licence | Broader trading across multiple product categories under one licence | Diversified traders |
| Industrial licence | Manufacturing and processing, including gold and precious metals | Manufacturers and processors |
How your activity decides the licence
Each activity sits within a licence category, so the activity you choose determines whether you need a service, trading, commercial or industrial licence. Consultancy, IT and management services typically sit under a service licence; importing, exporting or selling goods under a trading licence; manufacturing under an industrial licence.
Detail pages: trading · professional (service) · e-commerce · activities.
Choosing well
- Define your main revenue-generating activity first
- Check it on DMCC’s approved-activities list
- Note any external approval (financial, crypto, healthcare, energy)
- Match office type to the activity — manufacturing and retail need suitable premises
- Adding activities later is possible but can carry fees and rules
Cost
See DMCC licence cost: DMCC indicates roughly AED 20,000–50,000 a year depending on type, size and sector.
Sources and verification
Facts attributed to DMCC come from its own published guide and package pages (links below), accessed September 2026. Prices and rules change — confirm on dmcc.ae before paying. Figures from market guides are labelled as such.
- DMCC — Business Activities and Licences: A Complete Guide (9 Apr 2026)
- DMCC — Business setup packages
- DMCC — Schedule of charges
- DMCC — Public register
- DMCC — Set up a new business
Fee-data status: Published fees — DMCC package prices as published by DMCC; other costs are indicative.
DMCC trade licence: FAQs
What is a DMCC trade licence?
The licence that authorises your company to carry out its approved activities in DMCC. DMCC lists service, trading, commercial and industrial types.
How many activities does DMCC offer?
DMCC states more than 1,000 approved activities across 20 sectors.
Can I hold more than one activity?
Yes, within the rules DMCC sets; some packages (for example Prime Plus) state that adding activities carries no extra charge. Confirm current terms.
Get a written quote for DMCC
Tell us your activity and how many visas you need. We reply on WhatsApp or email with government fees shown separately from any service fee.
- Free, no obligation
- Honest advice — including when a different zone or mainland fits better
- No guarantee of visa or bank-account approval; both are subject to the relevant authority or bank
Information on this page is general and was compiled from public sources; fees and rules are set by the relevant authorities and change. Figures were last reviewed in July 2026 and exclude professional-service fees, office rent beyond any bundled desk, external approvals and bank requirements. This is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before paying. See our Disclaimer.