DET
Dubai Department OF Economy & Tourism
Dubai Department OF Economy & Tourism
Explore all the services available to help get your business up and running. Whether you’re ready to begin your journey in one of the world’s most thriving business destinations or want to continue on your path to success, you will need to access a range of services to meet your needs.
From a range of licences and permits for new and existing pages that can help make your business dreams a reality, take your first step here.
For new businesses
These are the services offered for new businesses that want to begin their journey in Dubai:
- Request for initial approval
Purpose of this request
- Securing a commercial site lease contract.
- Obtaining approvals from relevant authorities for economic activities that require external approvals (e.g., Health Authority, Roads and Transport Authority, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and others).
Documents required
You will need the following to make a request for initial approval:
- Copy of the licensee’s passport/ ID
- Copy of the applicant’s residence permit/ visa (for non- GCC nationals)
- The company’s articles of association
- Feasibility study of the project
- The parent company’s board resolution to open a branch in Dubai
- Letter of authorization of the managing director
- Copy of the parent company’s commercial registration certificate
- Copy of the parent company’s memorandum of association (MOA)
- Copy of the parent company’s license
Fees
The total cost of issuing the initial approval is AED 120.
You can pay via direct debit at Dubai Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, or Emirates Islamic. To make your payment with cash or cheque, please visit Aafaq Islamic Finance, Commercial Bank of Dubai, or Emirates Islamic.
2. Request to book a trade name
Trade name guidelines
Bear these guidelines in mind when you’re choosing your trade name:
- Your trade name should be a proper name and free from obscene or indecent words and should not be offensive to the general public.
- Do not include Allah’s name nor ‘God’ or His divine attributes.
- Please refrain from using family names, tribe names or other individuals’ names – unless the name belongs to the licensee.
- Your trade name should be distinct and not similar to existing brands in Dubai, government projects, or international brands.
- Names should be written literally and not translated. For example, ‘السماء العالية’ must be written as ‘Al Samaa Al Aalya’, and if it is ‘هاي سكاي’ it must be written as ‘High Sky’.
- The trade name must be logical and reflect and indicate your business activity. For example, you cannot use ‘Al Madina Contracting’ for a building material trading licence.
- You cannot use any restricted names which include global political organisations or religious sectarian organisations.
- DET has the right to cancel or change a trade name, if it finds that a similar name already exists.
Documents required
Fees
The total cost of issuing the trade name is AED 620.
3. Request to issue a trade licence
Types of trade licences
- Normal Licence: Requires a Memorandum of Association that can be obtained electronically or manually, and a site lease contract.
- Instant Licence: Issued within five minutes for a group of activities that do not require external approvals. You can also issue a memorandum of association and get a virtual site for the first year. This licence also includes: Dubai Chamber membership for commercial activities; Establishment card from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA); and, Establishment card from The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation with the option to employ three people. This final card is available for the following legal forms: Limited Liability Company (L.L.C), Limited Liability Company Single Owner (L.L.C – SO), Sole Establishment, and Civil Company.
- eTrader Licence: A sole establishment licence for Dubai home-based businesses that have been issued with the trade name. Apply for this via the portal on Invest in Dubai with a fee of AED 1070 (licence fees and knowledge and innovation fees) + AED 300 (Dubai Chamber membership fees).
Documents required
You will need specific documents based on the type of licence you’re applying for:
For a normal licence:
- Approvals from other government agencies, if required
- If you’re using one of the approved service centres for this service, simply send the requirements via email to the centre.
For an instant licence, you will need your unified number or ID number, while for an eTrader Licence you will need an ID number.
Fees
For existing businesses
These are the services offered for existing businesses in Dubai:
- Request for cancellation of trade licence
For sole proprietorship
For a civil company
- Cancellation labour cards through the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
- A duly notarized partnership termination contract.
For the de-registration of a company
This is applicable to all legal forms of commercial companies.
Phase 1:
- Notarized minutes of the General Assembly meeting confirming the company liquidation, and the appointment of a liquidator (whose name must be mentioned).
- A letter issued by the liquidator accepting to liquidate the company along with their documents (copy of the licence, auditor registration certificate, a notarized signature specimen).
- Payment of AED 520 for the certificate of the company’s dissolution and liquidator appointment, subject to the legal advisor’s approval.
- Announcement of liquidation in two Arabic local newspapers for one day only, allowing debtors 45 days to submit their claims.
Phase 2:
- Submission of the original newspaper in which the announcement was published as well as the company’s final report.
- A declaration letter from the liquidator and the partners stating no objections were received from any other parties within 45 days from the date of the announcement.
- Cancellation of labour cards through the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
- A copy of the minutes of the General Assembly meeting and a copy of the certificate of dissolution.
For the branch of a foreign company
- The decision to liquidate the company from the Ministry of Economy’s register.
- An attested decision issued by the Board of Directors to cancel the company.
- Cancellation of labour cards through the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
For the branch of a local company
- The decision of the Board of Directors to cancel the company.
- Cancellation of labour cards through the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
For the branch of a free zone company
- The decision to delete the branches of the free zone companies registered with the Ministry of Economy.
- An attested decision of the parent company to cancel the free zone company branches (for companies not registered with the Ministry of Economy).
- Cancellation of labour cards through the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
For a company whose licence has expired for more than two years
Phase 1:
- An undertaking by the local partner that he is liable for the company’s debts.
- Submission of the documents supporting the reason for the cancellation of the licence (such as: a proof stating that the partner stayed outside the country for more than six months or that the partner’s whereabouts is unknown).
- Announcement of liquidation in widely circulated Arabic newspapers for one day only, with a 15-day grace period for debtors to submit their requests.
- A completed undertaking stating that the company has no liabilities recorded and assuming full responsibility for the validity of such statement (the form is available at authorised service centres).
Phase 2:
- Submit the original newspaper in which the announcement of the company’s cancellation was published.
- Cancellation of labour cards with the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation.
Fees
These are the fees associated with cancelling your trade licence:
- Licence cancellation fee: AED 1,020
- Company dissolution fee: AED 2,520
2. Request to renew licence
Fees
The licence renewal fee depends on the business activity.
You can pay via direct debit at Dubai Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, or Emirates Islamic. To make your payment with cash or cheque, please visit Aafaq Islamic Finance, Commercial Bank of Dubai, or Emirates Islamic.
Where to apply
Key Features of
Dubai Department OF Economy & Tourism
Strategic Location
DET is located near Khalifa Port, providing direct access to global markets. Businesses can connect with over 4.5 billion consumers worldwide.
Multimodal Connectivity
Seamless transport integration via sea, road, air, and future rail networks. This ensures efficient logistics and supply chain management.
World-Class Infrastructure
State-of-the-art industrial facilities, warehouses, and office spaces. Reliable utilities, including power, water, and telecommunication services.
Investor-Friendly Business Environment
100% foreign ownership with full profit repatriation and no currency restrictions. No import/export duties within the free zone.
Business Support & Licensing Options
Variety of license types, including trading, industrial, and service licenses. Simplified company setup with dedicated investor support.
Sector-Specific Clusters
Specialized zones for logistics, manufacturing, food processing, and automotive industries. Tailored infrastructure and support for diverse business needs.
