Licence types
| Licence | Covers |
|---|---|
| Commercial | Buying and selling goods |
| General trading | Broad basket of product categories |
| Professional | Services and consultancy |
| Industrial | Manufacturing and processing — see industrial licence |
| E-commerce | Online selling |
Who issues it
Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET). Related: Dubai trade licence and the UAE-wide trade licence guide.
How to choose
- Start with your main revenue activity
- Check approvals for regulated goods or services
- Match premises to the activity
- Add activities carefully — extra activities carry cost
Sources and verification
Government-fee figures are those published by Dubai’s authorities as compiled in public guides and reviewed July 2026; amounts marked indicative come from market guides and vary. Confirm every figure with Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) before paying. Reviewed September 2026.
- UAE Government portal
- Federal Tax Authority
- Market guide: Mainland company formation Dubai cost (2026)
- Market guide: How to set up a company in Dubai (2026)
Fee-data status: Published (government) and Indicative (market) as labelled in each table.
Dubai mainland licence: FAQs
What licence do I need to start a business in Dubai?
It depends on your activity: commercial for goods, professional for services, industrial for manufacturing, e-commerce for online retail.
Can I hold more than one activity?
Yes, subject to DET rules and fees.
Get a written quote for Dubai mainland
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.