Quick Answer: The cost of a Dubai mainland trade licence in 2026 has four parts: the government fees set by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for your activity and legal form, an office with a registered Ejari, visas for you and your staff, and smaller costs such as notarisation, PRO work and bank set-up. The licence fee itself depends on the activities you choose, so the reliable way to price it is to get a quote for your exact activities. The office is often the largest single line, and it is the one you control most.
Most "trade licence cost" figures you see online mix different things together. One site quotes the licence alone, another adds a visa, a third includes a year of office rent. That is why the numbers range so widely. This guide separates the costs, so you can see which ones are fixed by the government and which ones depend on your choices.
It covers a mainland licence issued by DET, which lets you trade anywhere in the UAE. If you are still deciding between mainland and a free zone, read our guide to mainland vs free zone first.
DET trade licence fees in Dubai, line by line
The UAE government portal sets out the mainland steps in order. Each one carries its own fee, paid to DET or another authority as you go (u.ae, steps to start a business on the mainland):
- Business activity and legal form. You choose your activities and a legal form, such as an LLC or a sole establishment. The fees that follow depend on both.
- Trade name reservation. The name must end with the legal form (for example, LLC) and must not already be registered. The certificate is renewable.
- Initial approval. This is the government’s confirmation that it has no objection to the business. It does not let you trade yet.
- Memorandum of association. For companies with partners, the MOA is drafted and attested, which carries a notary fee.
- Other approvals. Some activities need sign-off from another authority, such as a health or education regulator, each with its own fee.
- Licence issue. You submit the documents, including your attested tenancy, and pay the fee voucher. The application is cancelled if the voucher isn’t paid within 30 days.
DET publishes licensing services on its business licensing page, and the full fee for your activities is shown when you apply. Because two businesses with different activities can pay quite different amounts, we don’t publish a single licence price. Our mainland company formation in Dubai service starts with a complimentary consultation where we price your activities line by line.
Office and Ejari costs for a mainland licence
A mainland licence needs a registered business address. In Dubai that means a tenancy registered on Ejari, the Dubai Land Department system. As of 2026, DLD lists the Ejari registration fee as AED 220 at a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre or AED 177.75 through the Dubai REST app (DLD, register or renew tenancy contract). The Ejari fee is small. The tenancy behind it is not.
You have three broad options:
- A virtual office with Ejari. An address, Ejari and mail handling without a desk. It suits founders who work from client sites or overseas. Our virtual office with Ejari is priced on request, so ask for the current rate.
- A desk. Coworking is cheaper than an office but, at Jetset, a desk alone doesn’t come with Ejari; you add the virtual office package for that. Our guide to flexi desk vs virtual office explains how the two compare.
- A private office. Our private offices start at AED 50,000 a year (about AED 5,000 a month) and include the tenancy contract and Ejari, furniture, internet, utilities and reception.
A conventional lease is the most expensive route in year one. On our own indicative figures, a 500 sq ft unit in Business Bay costs around AED 213,000 a year once rent, staff, utilities, chiller and service charges are added, before fit-out and deposits.
Visa costs for owners and staff
Each person you sponsor adds government fees. The work permit is issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The UAE government portal says issuance and renewal fees range from AED 250 to AED 3,450, depending on whether the company is classified A, B or C (u.ae, work permits). On top of that come the entry permit, the medical test, the Emirates ID and the residence visa itself.
The employer pays the entry visa, the travel to the UAE, the medical tests and the residence permit for employees (u.ae, employment of expatriates in private companies). Budget for each person, and remember that the number of visas you can issue depends partly on your premises. We explain that in how many visas your office size can get.
Costs people forget: PRO, bank, notary and tax
- PRO time. Someone has to type, submit and collect each application. You can do it yourself or use PRO services and pay per transaction.
- Bank account. Banks set their own minimum balances and fees, and they may inspect your address. See our guide to opening a corporate bank account.
- Notary and translation. Attested MOAs, powers of attorney and translated documents each carry a fee.
- Corporate tax. UAE corporate tax is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it (Federal Tax Authority, tax rates). Registration is required even when no tax is due, and late registration can bring a penalty.
- VAT. If your taxable supplies pass the registration threshold, you must register for VAT with the Federal Tax Authority.
Year-one budgets at three sizes
Rather than invent a total, here is how to build one. Take the DET quote for your activities, then add the lines below.
A solo consultant
Licence fees for one activity, a virtual office with Ejari (ask for the current rate), one investor visa, and bank and notary costs. A hot desk at AED 1,800 a month is optional if you want somewhere to work.
A team of three
Licence fees, an inner private office from AED 50,000 a year with Ejari included, three sets of visa fees, and PRO time for each visa. This is usually where a private office costs less than leasing, because there is no fit-out.
A team of eight
Licence fees, adjoining suites (Canal-view from AED 65,000 a year each, or Burj Khalifa-facing from AED 75,000), eight sets of visa fees, and a budget for meeting rooms if you see clients often. Our suites seat up to six; larger teams take adjoining suites.
Trade licence renewal
A DET licence is renewed every year, and renewals can be filed online through Invest in Dubai. You need a valid Ejari for your licensed address at renewal, so make sure your tenancy runs past your licence date. Visas are renewed on their own cycle; the residence permit lasts one or two years depending on the contract (u.ae).
Put the licence date, the Ejari end date and every visa expiry in one calendar. Most late fines come from these three drifting apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
(1) How much is a trade licence in Dubai in 2026?
It depends on your activities and legal form, which set the DET fees. Add the office and Ejari, visas, notary and PRO costs to get the real first-year figure. Ask for a quote based on your exact activities rather than relying on a single headline number.
(2) Do I need an office to get a mainland trade licence?
You need a registered business address with Ejari. A virtual office with Ejari is the lowest-cost way to meet that requirement; a private office adds a place to work and more room for staff.
(3) How much does Ejari cost?
As of 2026, the Dubai Land Department lists AED 220 at a trustee centre or AED 177.75 through the Dubai REST app for registering a tenancy contract. The tenancy itself is the bigger cost.
(4) Is the licence fee the same every year?
Renewal fees are set by DET for your activities at the time you renew. Budget for the licence, your Ejari and any visas that fall due in the same year.
