If you want to sell a mix of products—electronics, homeware, beauty, even tools—without juggling a bunch of separate licenses, a general trading license is your best friend. It lets you buy, sell, import, export, distribute, and re-export a wide range of (even unrelated) goods under a single commercial license. Mainland companies get theirs from Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism; free zone companies from their respective authorities. It’s a perfect fit for startups, SMEs, and international founders who want to plug into Dubai’s local and global trade networks. Bonus confidence booster: Dubai trade jumped 7.2% year-on-year in Q1 2025, so momentum is very much on your side. Think of this license like running a big-box warehouse: you can carry multiple categories now and keep adding more as you grow—without applying for a new license every time. And yes, foreign investors can get going without a local sponsor in free zones (and many mainland sectors now allow 100% ownership).
How to get set up (the simple version)
Here’s the no-drama path to launch:
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Team up with Trade License Zone (TLZ). We handle the forms, follow-ups, and fine print so you can focus on the fun part—building the business.
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Choose your activities. Import/export, wholesale, retail, distribution, storage, re-export, e-commerce, and more. Regulated items (food, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals) may need extra approvals.
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Pick your jurisdiction.
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Mainland: full UAE market access, physical office required.
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Free zone: 100% ownership, tax perks, quick setup; mainland sales via a local distributor/agent.
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Offshore: great for holding/asset protection; no UAE trading.
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Select your legal structure. LLC, civil company, sole prop, free zone entity, or offshore—matched to your goals.
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Reserve your trade name. Keep it clean and compliant; we’ll get it approved.
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Sort your address. Office/Ejari for mainland; flexible options in many free zones.
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Get initial approval. Submit passports/visas, NOC (if needed), activity list, trade name certificate, and a basic business plan.
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Apply for the license. With your approved activities attached.
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Open a corporate bank account. We’ll introduce the right partners for trading businesses.
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Handle customs and VAT. Get a Dubai Customs code if you’ll import/export. Register for VAT via the FTA if your 12-month turnover will exceed AED 375,000 (voluntary from AED 187,500). You’ll receive a TRN and file quarterly VAT returns.
Costs, paperwork, and mainland vs free zone
Paperwork checklist: shareholder passports, visas/Emirates IDs (if applicable), trade name reservation, initial approval, MoA, and office lease/Ejari for mainland. Regulated products may need third-party approvals.
Ballpark costs: AED 15,000–50,000+ depending on jurisdiction, facilities (virtual office to warehouse), visa quotas, and whether you need customs/VAT. Budget for extras like translations, insurance, utilities deposits, banking, accounting/audit, and marketing.
Which should you choose?
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Go mainland if you want direct UAE market access, a visible local footprint, and room to hire at scale.
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Go free zone if you want speed, 100% ownership, tax advantages, and international focus (use a local distributor for mainland sales).
Ready to roll? TLZ can take you from “idea” to “trading” end-to-end—approvals, banking, VAT/customs, renewals—the lot. Tell us what you want to sell, and we’ll get you licensed fast.