Licences

Mainland Trade Licences

Your licence type is determined by what your business actually does. Choosing wrong means paying for permissions you do not need, or being unable to invoice for work you have won.

Talk to our Experts Find Your Category

Trilliant Business Services advising a client on mainland licence categories

Five licence categories
Approvals handled for you
Amendments and renewals

Licences

Mainland Trade Licence Types

The Department of Economy and Tourism issues several categories, and choosing the wrong one means either paying for permissions you do not need or being unable to invoice for work you have won.

Below are the main mainland licence categories, what each permits, and who they suit.

Trilliant Business Services consultants reviewing licence options

Find Your Category

Mainland Licence Categories

Each category permits a defined set of activities. Find the one that matches what your business actually does.

Commercial Licence

For buying and selling goods: retail, wholesale, import, export and e-commerce. It can be issued as a general trading licence to cover multiple unrelated product categories under one trade name.

Typically covers

Retail and wholesale distribution
Import and export operations
General trading across categories
E-commerce and online retail

Ask about this licence

Professional Licence

For services delivered through individual expertise: consultancy, IT, marketing, design, training and similar. Permits full foreign ownership with a local service agent for government liaison and no equity share.

Typically covers

Management and technical consultancy
IT, software and digital services
Marketing, media and design
Training and educational services

Ask about this licence

Industrial Licence

For manufacturing, processing, assembly and packaging. Requires suitable industrial premises and activity-specific approvals covering health, safety and environmental standards.

Typically covers

Manufacturing and production
Assembly and packaging
Processing and refinement
Requires industrial-zoned premises

Ask about this licence

Tourism Licence

For travel and tourism activities including tour operation, travel agency work and holiday home management where permitted. Requires approval from the relevant tourism authority in the emirate.

Typically covers

Inbound and outbound tour operation
Travel agency services
Holiday home management
Requires tourism authority approval

Ask about this licence

Branch of a Foreign Company

Allows an overseas company to operate onshore in the UAE under the parent's name and activities, with no separate share capital. Approvals depend on the sector and the emirate.

Typically covers

Operates under the parent company name
No separate share capital required
Carries out the parent's activities
Requires attested parent documents

Ask about this licence

At a Glance

Compare the Five Categories

A quick side-by-side of what each licence is for and who approves it.

Licence	Type	Typical activities	Issued by
Commercial Licence	Goods	Trading, retail, import/export	DET
Professional Licence	Services	Consultancy, IT, media, training	DET + local service agent
Industrial Licence	Production	Manufacturing, assembly, processing	DET + industrial premises
Tourism Licence	Travel	Tour operation, travel agency, holiday homes	DET + tourism authority
Branch of a Foreign Company	Extension	Parent company activities onshore	DET + attested parent documents

Indicative summary only. Requirements vary by emirate and by activity, and some activities need approval from an additional regulator. Speak to a Trilliant consultant to confirm your category.

Common Questions

Licence Questions

Can I hold more than one licence type?

A single licence generally covers one category. Businesses spanning categories, such as a firm that both manufactures and consults, may need separate licences or a carefully structured activity list. We advise on the most efficient route.

What is a general trading licence?

A broad commercial licence permitting trade in multiple unrelated goods under one registration. It costs more than a standard commercial licence but removes the need to amend your activity list every time you add a product line.

How often must I renew?

Annually. Renewal requires a valid Ejari tenancy contract, settlement of fees, and clearance of any outstanding fines. Late renewal attracts penalties that increase over time.

Can I add activities to an existing licence?

Yes, through a licence amendment. Some additions require fresh external approval or a change of licence category. We handle the amendment process end to end.

Which licence do I need for e-commerce?

E-commerce can be conducted under a commercial licence with the appropriate online trading activity added. Mainland e-commerce still requires a physical or serviced office address to satisfy the licensing conditions.

Next Step

Which Licence Do You Need?

Describe your business and we will confirm the correct licence category, the approvals required and the total cost.

Talk to our Experts +971 58 533 1524