Broadest activity coverage
From single-product retail to general trading across dozens of product categories under one licence.
- Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 GST
- Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
SERVICE · LICENSING
Commercial License
For trading, import, export, retail and wholesale, a commercial licence covers the buying and selling of physical goods, with activity-specific approvals mapped before you apply.
Commercial licence, key facts
- 5–12 working daysTypical timeline
- Goods tradingImport, export, retail, wholesale
- Extra approvalsFor regulated goods (food, cosmetics, electronics)
- Mainland or free zoneDepending on your market
Overview
What a commercial licence covers
A commercial licence covers the trading of physical goods, import, export, wholesale, retail and general trading. It is the broadest and most commonly issued licence category in the UAE, spanning everything from a single-product retailer to a multi-activity general trading company.
Certain goods categories, food, cosmetics, electronics, pharmaceuticals, need an additional approval from the relevant regulator (municipality, ESMA, MOHAP) before the licence is fully activated. We map which apply to your specific products before you submit anything.
Activity and product-category mapping
Trade name reservation and initial approval
Regulator approval coordination, for restricted goods categories
Licence issuance and Chamber of Commerce registration
Establishment card and visa quota setup
Benefits
Why businesses choose a commercial licence
Import and export ready
Registered for customs codes and cross-border trade from day one.
Ownership flexibility
Most commercial activities now permit full foreign ownership under current Commercial Companies Law.
Government tender eligibility
Mainland commercial licences can bid for federal and local government contracts.
Regulator approvals mapped early
Food, cosmetics and electronics approvals are identified and sequenced before they can delay your launch.
Mainland or free zone fit
We confirm which jurisdiction suits your actual customer base, local, regional or international.
Who this is for
Importers, exporters, wholesalers, retailers and general trading businesses buying and selling physical goods, whether locally or across borders.
When this is not for you
A commercial licence is the wrong licence if your work is purely professional or consultancy based, because you would be paying for trading permissions you never use. It is also the wrong choice if you are manufacturing rather than trading, which sits under an industrial licence with its own approvals.
Requirements & Process
Which products trigger extra approvals
Documents & eligibility
The base file is standard; the products you plan to trade decide whether extra regulator approvals are needed before the licence activates.
Passport copies for all shareholders and the appointed manager, valid at least six months
Passport-size photographs against a white background
Three proposed trade names in order of preference
A specific description of the goods and product categories to be traded
Tenancy contract or Ejari registration for the licensed premises
No Objection Certificate from a current UAE sponsor, where applicable
Board resolution and attested corporate documents where a shareholder is a company
Product registration or regulator approval, for restricted categories (food, cosmetics, electronics, pharmaceuticals)
Additional documents may be required depending on the specific products traded and the licensing authority. We confirm the exact list for your case before any fee is paid.
How it works
Commercial licensing in 5 stages
Unrestricted goods categories typically issue within five to seven working days; regulated products take longer for approval.
01
Product and activity mapping
We confirm your exact trading activities and check whether any product category needs a sector-regulator approval.
1 working day02
Trade name and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved and initial approval secured from the licensing authority.
1–2 working days03
Regulator approval
For restricted goods, we coordinate the required municipality, ESMA or MOHAP approval before licence issuance.
3–10 working days, restricted goods only04
Licence issuance
The commercial trade licence is issued once fees are settled.
1–2 working days05
Establishment card and handover
The immigration establishment card is opened and your complete document pack is handed over.
1–2 working daysGet your commercial licence moving
Tell us what you plan to trade, a senior consultant confirms the activity codes and an exact quote in writing, usually within 15 minutes during working hours.
No follow up calls unless you ask
Exact cost in writing
Response within 15 minutes during working hours
Related services
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