Last updated: 2026-07-07
A general trading license in Dubai lets one company import, export, and trade multiple unrelated product categories under a single licence. On the mainland, budget AED 25,000–30,000 for first-year government fees through DET, or from AED 12,500 in a free zone (2026). DBS Group, serving 80,000+ entrepreneurs since 2009, secures general trading approvals in 5–7 working days.
What a General Trading License in Dubai Covers
The general trading activity sits under the commercial licence category issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Unlike a single-activity commercial licence, it authorises the import, export, re-export, storage, and distribution of a broad basket of goods without listing each product line separately. It is the licence structure most wholesale and re-export businesses choose when their inventory crosses categories — and it pairs naturally with a full Dubai mainland company formation, which unlocks unrestricted onshore distribution.
Five product groups dominate general trading portfolios registered in Dubai:
- Consumer electronics and mobile accessories — Dubai re-exported AED 116 billion in phones and devices through its ports in 2024 (Dubai Customs).
- Apparel, textiles, and footwear — no product-level registration required beyond standard customs codes.
- Building materials and hardware — strong demand from the AED 893 billion UAE construction pipeline (2025).
- Foodstuffs (shelf-stable) — requires an additional Dubai Municipality food trade permit on top of the licence.
- Auto parts and lubricants — a re-export staple to Africa and Central Asia via Jebel Ali.
Restricted categories sit outside the general trading umbrella: pharmaceuticals need MOHAP registration, telecom equipment needs TDRA type-approval, and alcohol, tobacco, and defence items carry separate federal permits. Trading these on a general licence triggers fines starting at AED 50,000 (DET, 2026).
Need help scoping your product list? WhatsApp DBS at +971 54 332 2846 →
Mainland vs Free Zone: Where to Hold Your General Trading Licence
The single biggest cost and capability decision is jurisdiction. A mainland licence from DET sells directly to UAE retailers, consumers, and government buyers with no intermediary. A free zone licence costs less up front but requires a locally licensed distributor — or a separately fee’d dual licence — to place goods in the onshore market. Since Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020, foreign investors own 100% of mainland trading companies; the old 51% local-partner rule is gone for general trading activities.
Here is how the five jurisdictions DBS clients compare most often stack up for a general trading activity in 2026:
| Jurisdiction | General Trading Licence (Year 1, AED) | Visas Included | Sell Onshore Directly? | Physical Office Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Mainland (DET) | 25,000–30,000 | Scales with office size | Yes | Yes (Ejari lease) |
| Meydan Free Zone | 12,500 + general trading add-on 10,000 | 1–3 | Via distributor | No (flexi-desk) |
| IFZA (Dubai) | 12,900 + general trading add-on 7,500 | 0–2 | Via distributor | No |
| SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) | 5,750 base; general trading bundle 13,165 | Up to 3 | Via distributor | No |
| RAKEZ | 6,000 base; trading bundle 14,000 | 1–4 | Via distributor | No |
Of the 80,000+ setups DBS has processed since 2009, 38% of trading-sector clients in 2025 chose the mainland route despite the higher entry cost — direct access to UAE retail chains and government tenders repaid the difference within the first supply contract. Compare this against the cheapest free zones in the UAE if your revenue is 100% export.
The Dual Licence Bridge
DET’s dual licence programme, expanded in 2024, gives established free zone companies a mainland permit without a second office lease — the free zone flexi-desk satisfies the premises requirement for eligible activities. For a general trading operation, the dual licence adds AED 1,070 in DET fees plus the mainland activity tariff (2026), and it converts a distributor-dependent free zone trader into a direct onshore seller in under 10 working days. DBS files dual licence applications for clients in DMCC, Meydan, and IFZA as a standard upgrade path once onshore purchase orders justify the tariff.
Where E-Commerce Fits
Marketplace sellers moving mixed inventory on Amazon.ae and Noon hit the general trading question early: a single-activity e-commerce licence caps the catalogue, while general trading opens it completely. In 2025, 42% of new DBS trading clients cited marketplace expansion as the trigger for upgrading to a general trading activity.
Want a jurisdiction recommendation for your exact product mix? WhatsApp +971 54 332 2846 →
Embed this infographic
<a href="https://www.dubaibusinessservices.com/general-trading-license-dubai-2026/"><img src="https://www.dubaibusinessservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/general-trading-license-cost-comparison-dubai-2026.png" alt="General trading licence cost comparison Dubai 2026 — Dubai Business Services" /></a><p>Source: <a href="https://www.dubaibusinessservices.com/general-trading-license-dubai-2026/">Dubai Business Services</a></p>The 7 Steps to Get a General Trading License in Dubai
DET’s Invest in Dubai platform digitised the entire sequence in 2023; a clean application completes in 5–7 working days (2026). These are the seven steps DBS executes for mainland clients:
- Reserve the trade name — AED 620 through the Invest in Dubai portal; names clear in 1 business day.
- Obtain initial approval — AED 120; DET confirms the general trading activity code (4690012) fits your legal form.
- Draft and notarise the Memorandum of Association — AED 1,500 for standard e-notarisation of an LLC MoA (2026).
- Secure the registered office — an Ejari-registered lease; commercial warehousing in Al Quoz starts at AED 15,000 per year (2026 market rate).
- Pay the licence issuance fee — the general trading activity carries a premium tariff over single-activity commercial licences; budget AED 15,000–25,000 in DET and market fees.
- Register with Dubai Customs — the importer code is free and issues within 1 business day against the trade licence.
- Open the corporate bank account — UAE banks approve trading companies with clear supplier contracts in 5–15 working days; DBS pre-packages the KYC file.
Ready to start step 1 today? WhatsApp +971 54 332 2846 →
General Trading License Cost in Dubai: 2026 Breakdown
The table below itemises the full government fee stack for a Dubai mainland general trading licence. DBS packages bundle every line into one fixed quote — message us for current package pricing.
| Activity | Government Fee (AED, 2026) | DBS Service | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | 620 | WhatsApp for quote | 620 + service | Reserved 6 months |
| Initial approval | 120 | Included in package | 120 + service | Valid 6 months |
| MoA e-notarisation | 1,500 | Drafting included | 1,500 + service | LLC standard form |
| General trading licence issuance | 15,000–25,000 | WhatsApp for quote | Fee + service | Premium activity tariff + market fees |
| Ejari office registration | 220 | Lease sourcing support | 220 + lease | Lease from 15,000/yr |
| Dubai Customs importer code | 0 | Included in package | 0 | Issues in 1 day |
| First-year total (govt only) | 25,000–30,000 | One fixed DBS quote | WhatsApp us | Excludes visa stack |
Renewals run materially lower than year one because name, MoA, and setup fees fall away — see current trade license renewal fees in Dubai. Each investor or employment visa adds AED 3,500–5,500 in government charges (2026). For the complete capital picture across company types, our business setup cost in Dubai guide itemises every scenario.
Confused about which fees apply to you? Ask DBS — WhatsApp +971 54 332 2846 →
Compliance After Licensing: Tax, VAT, and Customs in 2026
Three regimes govern a trading company’s ledger. First, corporate tax under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it, with registration mandatory even below the threshold. Second, VAT at 5% under Federal Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017 — registration becomes compulsory once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 in a rolling 12 months, and import VAT applies at customs clearance. Third, customs duty at the standard 5% of CIF value on most goods entering UAE free circulation, with GCC-origin goods clearing at 0% (Dubai Customs, 2026). Trading businesses that sell online should also weigh the DED e-Trader versus mainland LLC question before structuring.
The Federal Tax Authority issued AED 302 million in administrative penalties for late corporate tax registration in 2025 (FTA) — a AED 10,000 fine per late entity that DBS clients avoided entirely through registration bundled at licence issuance.
Save 40 hours of FTA paperwork — let DBS handle it. WhatsApp +971 54 332 2846 →
The DBS Advantage on General Trading Setups
General trading is DET’s most fee-sensitive activity: the licence tariff, the warehouse Ejari, the customs code, and the bank KYC each fail independently when sequenced wrong, and every resubmission costs weeks. DBS runs all four tracks in parallel through dedicated government liaison desks at DET, Dubai Customs, and the FTA — the same-week outcome a first-time applicant cannot replicate alone. Every DBS general trading package includes activity-code verification against your real product list, so a shipment of AED 500,000 in mixed goods never sits at Jebel Ali because one HS code fell outside the licence scope.
Skip the paperwork — WhatsApp DBS at +971 54 332 2846 →
FAQ: General Trading License in Dubai
How much does a general trading license cost in Dubai in 2026?
A Dubai mainland general trading licence costs AED 25,000–30,000 in first-year government fees through DET, including the premium activity tariff (2026). Free zone alternatives start at AED 12,500 plus a general trading add-on of AED 7,500–10,000. Renewals cost materially less once setup fees fall away.
What activities are allowed under a general trading license in Dubai?
DET activity code 4690012 covers import, export, re-export, storage, and wholesale distribution of unrestricted goods — electronics, apparel, building materials, auto parts, and shelf-stable foodstuffs among them. Pharmaceuticals, telecom equipment, alcohol, tobacco, and defence items require separate federal approvals; trading them without permits draws fines from AED 50,000 (2026).
Can foreigners own 100% of a general trading company in Dubai?
Yes. Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 removed the 51% Emirati-partner requirement for commercial activities including general trading, and Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 consolidated the regime. Foreign investors have held full mainland ownership since June 2021, with no local service agent needed for LLCs.
How long does it take to get a general trading license in Dubai?
A complete mainland application clears in 5–7 working days through DET’s Invest in Dubai platform (2026): 1 day for trade name, 1–2 days for initial approval and MoA notarisation, and 2–3 days for licence issuance after the Ejari lease registers. Free zones issue in 2–4 working days.
Is a general trading license cheaper in a free zone or on the mainland?
Free zones win on entry price: Meydan totals roughly AED 22,500 and IFZA AED 20,400 with general trading add-ons, against AED 25,000–30,000 on the mainland (2026). The mainland wins on market access — direct onshore sales without a distributor margin of 5–15% per transaction.
Do general trading companies pay corporate tax in the UAE?
Yes. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, trading companies pay 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Registration with the FTA is mandatory regardless of profit level; late registration carries a AED 10,000 administrative penalty (FTA, 2026).
Can a free zone general trading company sell in mainland Dubai?
Only through a licensed onshore distributor, a mainland branch, or a DET dual licence — direct retail sales from a free zone entity into the mainland breach licensing rules and carry fines from AED 50,000 (2026). Re-export and B2B sales to other free zone entities remain unrestricted.
Start Your General Trading Licence This Week
DBS Documents Clearing LLC has processed 80,000+ business setups since 2009 and holds direct liaison desks at DET, Dubai Customs, and the FTA. Send us your product list today and receive a fixed, all-inclusive quote within 2 business hours.
WhatsApp: +971 54 332 2846 | Email: inquiry@dubaibusinessservices.com
Sources: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Federal Tax Authority, Invest in Dubai, Dubai Customs.
Author: Salem Basheer, DBS Documents Clearing LLC — Last updated: 2026-07-07
