Mainland Trade Licence in Dubai:
Types, Renewal and Requirements
A mainland trade licence from DET is the legal permission for your business to operate in Dubai and across the UAE. It lists your activities, trade name and premises, and it must be kept valid through renewal. Maven& handles the new licence, renewals and amendments, and checks the approvals your activity needs.
- New licences, renewals and amendments
- Approvals checked before you pay
- Transparent, itemised pricing
- Get your free setup quote
- Mainland licence partner
Licence stages
New licence, renewal, amendment and cancellation.
Foreign ownership for most activities
Strategic impact activities are the exception.
Team from start to launch
One consultant handles your application, approvals, visas and bank account introductions.
- What a licence covers
What a mainland trade licence covers
Your activities
The activities you may carry out, taken from the DET activity list.
Your trade name
The registered name your business trades under, which must follow DET naming rules.
Your premises
The registered office or shop address supported by an Ejari tenancy.
Your ownership
The shareholders and legal form recorded on the licence.
What do you need to keep a mainland licence valid?
A licence is a living document. These points keep it valid.
- Renewal: licences are usually renewed annually with DET, and a valid tenancy is needed.
- Tenancy: the Ejari-registered tenancy must stay valid for the licensed address.
- Amendments: changes to activities, name, shareholders or manager need DET approval.
- Approvals: regulated activities must keep their external approvals current.
- Compliance: keep corporate tax, VAT and other registrations up to date.
- Licence lifecycle
Mainland trade licence lifecycle
A licence moves through four stages, and each needs different documents.
| Stage | What it involves | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| New licence | Initial approval, premises, MoA and fees | When you start the company |
| Renewal | Renewal with DET and a valid tenancy | Before the licence expires |
| Amendment | Change activity, name, shareholders or manager | When your business changes |
| Cancellation | Settle liabilities and cancel with DET | When you close the company |
- Licence services
Three mainland licence services
Licence
For new companies
- Activity and structure confirmed first
- Initial approval and trade name
- Tenancy registered with Ejari
- Licence issued by DET
Final cost depends on your activity, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Renewal
For existing companies
- Renewal before expiry
- Tenancy and approvals checked
- Fines cleared first
- Renewal reminders set
Final cost depends on your activity, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Amendment
For changes
- Add or change activities
- Change name or shareholders
- Update manager or address
- Approvals reviewed first
Final cost depends on your activity, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
How much does mainland trade licence cost?
There is no single price, because the total depends on your activity, premises and number of visas. Maven& gives you an itemised quote that lists every government and service fee before you commit.
- Licence and activity fees
- Premises or tenancy costs, where required
- Establishment card and residence visas
- Extra approvals, if your activity needs them
- Annual renewal and accounting support
- PRO, bank account and tax registration support
- How it works
How to get a mainland trade licence in 5 steps
Choose your activity and structure
We confirm the activity code, your ownership options and the legal structure that fits your plans.
Reserve your trade name
We reserve a compliant trade name and prepare the initial approval application.
Secure premises and approvals
You lease a suitable office and register the tenancy, while we manage any extra approvals your activity needs.
Sign the MoA and receive your licence
Your Memorandum of Association is signed, fees are paid and the authority issues the trade licence.
Visas, bank account and launch
We process the establishment card and residence visas, then introduce you to UAE banks and set up PRO and accounting support.
Documents required for mainland trade licence
Most applications need only a few documents to start. Send us what you have and we will tell you what is missing for your case.
- Passport copy of every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photograph on a white background
- UAE visa and Emirates ID copy, if you are a resident
- Three proposed names, in order of preference
- A short description of your business activities
- Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, MoA/AoA and board resolution, attested
- Source of funds details, where the authority or bank asks for them
- Approval documents, where your activity is regulated
- Why Maven&
Why choose Maven& for mainland trade licence
One dedicated consultant
One consultant handles your trade licence, visas, Ejari and bank account introductions, so you never repeat yourself to a new team.
Transparent, itemised pricing
Every quote lists government fees, office, visa and service costs line by line, with no hidden extras after you sign.
Right activity, structure and authority
Rules differ by activity and authority. We check your activity, structure and approvals before you pay a fee.
Licence, visas and bank in one process
Company formation, residence visas, corporate tax registration and bank introductions are handled as one coordinated plan.
- FAQs
mainland trade licence: frequently asked questions
It is the licence issued by DET that lets your business carry out listed activities in Dubai and across the UAE. It records your trade name, activities, premises and owners.
Mainland licences are usually renewed annually, and a valid tenancy and any external approvals are needed. We diarise renewals for you.
Expired licences can lead to fines and restrictions on government services, so renew before expiry. We help you clear any issues first.
Usually yes, through an amendment with DET. Extra activities can add fees or approvals, so we check the rules first.
Generally yes. A mainland licence needs a registered tenancy for the licensed address. See Ejari registration.
Usually yes, by updating the address with a new Ejari-registered tenancy. Some activities need premises approval.
A mainland licence lets you trade directly across the UAE, while a free zone licence is issued by a zone and is generally limited to the zone. Read the free zone vs mainland guide.
The cost depends on your activity, premises, visas and approvals, so there is no single price. Maven& gives you an itemised quote before you commit. Try the cost calculator.
The timeline depends on your activity, authority, documents and approvals, and visas and the bank account follow the licence. We give you a timeline for your case before you start. See the 5-step process.
Yes. We confirm your activity and structure, prepare the application, manage approvals and follow the process through to licence, visas and bank account. Final approvals are always the authority\u2019s decision. Contact us for an itemised quote.
Reviewed by the Maven& corporate setup team. Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before you commit.
Ready to start with mainland trade licence?
Get a clear, itemised quote and a plan built around your business. Talk to a Maven& consultant today.
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