An e-commerce licence in Dubai typically costs from around AED 12,000 to AED 25,000 in year one, covering the trade licence, a flexi-desk or office with Ejari, one visa and the establishment card. That licence also unlocks your payment gateway.
What it costs (2026)
E-commerce is often a lean setup because you can start from a flexi-desk without a shopfront. Here is where the money goes, with honest ranges:
- Trade licence (DET or free zone, e-commerce/e-trader activity): typically from around AED 12,000 upward for the initial licence and activity registration.
- Office / flexi-desk and Ejari: e-commerce usually qualifies for a flexi-desk, keeping the entry point low; a dedicated office costs more.
- 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 regulated products: selling regulated goods (cosmetics, food, supplements, electronics) needs the relevant authority approval; general goods do not.
The line most agents skip is the Year-2 renewal. Your licence, desk or office and visas renew annually, and e-commerce renewals are usually on the lower side. Get the year-two figure in writing before you commit so you know your true ongoing cost, not just the launch cost.
Requirements & approvals, and the payment gateway
A trade licence with the right e-commerce activity lets you sell online legally through your own website, social channels or marketplaces. The step founders most often overlook is the payment gateway: UAE banks and payment providers will only give you a live merchant account once you hold a valid trade licence, so the licence is the key that unlocks card payments, Apple Pay and local wallets. You will also want a UAE business bank account, and for regulated products, category approval before you list. We line up the licence, bank and gateway in the right order so you are not stuck with a store you cannot take payments on.
Process & timeline
- Confirm your e-commerce activity and legal form, then reserve your trade name and get initial approval.
- Secure your flexi-desk or office and register the Ejari tenancy (mainland) or select your package (free zone).
- Obtain approvals for any regulated products you plan to sell.
- Pay fees and receive your trade licence.
- Open your establishment card, process visas, then apply for your business bank account and payment gateway.
The licence itself is often issued within a few working days to about two weeks. The bank account and payment gateway take additional time after the licence is in hand, so plan your launch around that, not the licence date alone.
Mainland or free zone for this activity?
Both work for online selling, so the choice comes down to your market and delivery model. Mainland wins if you want to sell and deliver directly to customers across the UAE, hold local stock, and work seamlessly with local couriers and marketplaces that prefer mainland sellers. Free zone wins if you sell mainly internationally or dropship, want the leanest cost, or fit a specific e-commerce free zone package; the trade-off is selling into the UAE mainland can need a local distribution arrangement. For most stores targeting UAE shoppers, mainland is the smoother route to payments and delivery.
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 an e-commerce licence in Dubai really cost?
Most owners pay from around AED 12,000 to AED 25,000 in year one for the licence, a flexi-desk or office, one visa and the establishment card. A lean free zone package sits at the lower end. We confirm your exact all-in figure, renewal included, before you commit.
Do I need a licence to sell online in Dubai, and to get a payment gateway?
Yes. Selling online through your own store, social media or a marketplace needs a valid trade licence with an e-commerce activity, and UAE banks and payment providers will only issue a live merchant account and gateway once that licence is in place. We arrange the licence, bank and gateway in the right order.
What is the Year-2 renewal cost for an e-commerce licence?
Your licence, desk or office and visas renew annually, and e-commerce renewals are usually on the lower side. The exact figure depends on your office choice and visa count. This is the number many 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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