A general trading licence in Dubai typically costs from around AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 in year one on the mainland, covering the DET licence, office and Ejari, one visa and the establishment card. Free zone trading can start lower.
What it costs (2026)
General trading is popular because one licence lets you trade a broad range of unrelated goods. Here is where the money goes, with honest ranges:
- Trade licence (DET, general trading): typically from around AED 15,000 upward, higher than a single-activity trade licence because of the broad scope.
- Office space and Ejari: mainland requires a registered tenancy; budget roughly AED 12,000 upward per year, with flexi-desk options lowering the entry point.
- Visa allocation: budget roughly AED 4,000–7,000 per visa including medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
- Establishment card: your company’s immigration file, generally a few hundred up to around AED 2,000.
- Approvals for restricted goods: most general goods are fine, but regulated items (food, cosmetics, electronics and similar) may need extra sign-off. We flag these before you start.
The number most agents leave out is the Year-2 renewal. Your licence, office and visas renew annually, and for mainland the office renewal is the meaningful part. Ask for that year-two figure in writing before you commit, because it is the real ongoing cost.
Requirements & approvals
A general trading licence covers importing, exporting and trading a wide mix of products under one roof, which is its main draw. Standard goods need no special approval, but restricted categories, think food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco or certain electronics, require clearance from the relevant authority and sometimes product registration. If you plan to import, you will also want a customs code, which we can arrange. We check your intended product list against the restricted categories up front.
Process & timeline
- Confirm the general trading activity and legal form, then reserve your trade name and get initial DET approval.
- Secure premises and register the Ejari tenancy (mainland) or select your package (free zone).
- Obtain any approvals needed for restricted goods.
- Pay fees and receive your trade licence.
- Open your establishment card, process visas, and register a customs code if importing.
For standard goods with no restricted items, a general trading licence is often issued within a few working days to about two weeks, with visas following after. We give you a realistic timeline based on your product mix.
Mainland or free zone for this activity?
This one genuinely depends on where you sell. Mainland wins if you want to sell and distribute directly to customers and businesses inside the UAE, supply local retailers, or bid for local contracts. Free zone wins if your trade is mainly international or re-export, you want a leaner entry cost, or you value a specific trading ecosystem; the trade-off is you cannot sell directly into the UAE mainland without a local agent. If your buyers are here in the UAE, mainland is usually the cleaner route.
Ranges are a starting point, not a quote. Use our free cost calculator for your exact all-in number, or WhatsApp us for a straight answer: +971 54 332 2846.
FAQs
How much does a general trading licence in Dubai really cost?
On the mainland most owners pay from around AED 15,000 to AED 30,000 in year one for the licence, office and Ejari, one visa and the establishment card. Free zone general trading can start lower. We confirm your exact all-in figure, renewal included, before you commit.
What can I trade under a general trading licence?
A general trading licence lets you import, export and trade a broad mix of unrelated goods under one licence. Standard products are fine; restricted categories like food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or tobacco need extra approval and sometimes registration. We check your product list against the restricted categories before you start.
What is the Year-2 renewal cost for general trading?
Your licence, office and visas renew annually, and on the mainland the office renewal is the main line. That recurring figure is the true ongoing cost. This is the number most agents hide, so ask us and we will put it in writing before you pay.
See also: the full mainland company formation cost in Dubai (2026).
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