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5 Essential Facts about Trade Licence in the UAE

trade licence uae

When it comes to doing business in the dynamic market of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), obtaining a trade licence is the linchpin that holds your entrepreneurial dreams and legal realities together. Navigating the business landscape of the UAE begins with a comprehensive understanding of trade licences. Here, we unravel 5 critical facts about trade licence in the UAE that every aspiring and established business owner should know.

5 Essential Facts about Trade Licence in the UAE

1. Types of Trade Licences

In the UAE, trade licenses are categorized primarily into three groups — commercial, professional, and industrial licenses. While a commercial license covers all kinds of trading activities, a professional license is for service providers, consultants, artisans, and craftsmen. An industrial license facilitates manufacturing and production activities. Understanding the nuances of each type is essential to determine the right license for your business venture.

2. 100% Foreign Ownership is Now a Reality

In a landmark shift in policy, the UAE now allows foreign investors to have 100% ownership of their businesses onshore, departing from the previous requirement of having a local sponsor holding the majority share. This change, effected in 2019, augments the ease of doing business in the UAE, providing a significant impetus to foreign investments.

 

 

3. Free Zones offer Specialized Licensing Options

The UAE, with its expansive network of over 45 free zones oriented towards unique industries, rolls out a red carpet of specialized licensing paradigms. These paradigms are further sweetened with incentives such as tax immunities, the capacity for full profit transfer, and the prerogative of undivided business proprietorship. With a governance model distinct from the UAE’s traditional commercial norms, these zones cultivate an elastic and hospitable business ambience.

4. Licenses come with a Fixed Validity Period

Trade licenses in the UAE are issued with a validity period of one year, post which they require renewal. Ensuring the timely renewal of your trade license is vital to avoid penalties and to maintain the legal status of your business.

5. Penalties for Non-compliance are Stern

Operating a business without a valid trade license or failing to renew your license on time can attract severe penalties, including hefty fines and potential blacklisting of the business. Hence, maintaining compliance with the licensing regulations is not just obligatory but serves to uphold your business reputation in the competitive market.

How Can We Help

With Choose UAE by your side, the pathway to securing a trade licence in UAE becomes a journey of ease, clarity, and confidence. Reach out to us to set the cornerstone of your business journey in the UAE with the right guidance and expertise at your disposal. Let’s embark on a journey of success, hand in hand, with Choose UAE as your trusted partner.

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