Common Questions About Dubai Commercial License

What is the Process of Obtaining a Dubai Commercial License?

There are a few steps to follow to obtain a Dubai Commercial License:

1. Selecting the right jurisdiction: one of the most important decisions for entrepreneurs to make before applying for the commercial trade license is choosing whether they should opt for the Dubai Mainland. They both have their pros and cons and seek the advice of a business setup consultant to optimize a business setup, and the costs can be beneficial at this stage. There are plenty of reasons for choosing one jurisdiction over the other. For example, Free zones offer benefits such as a quick and easy incorporation process, ongoing business support, and financial incentives such as tax exemptions and zero currency restrictions; they also offer license types including industrial, commercial, e-commerce, and professional services. Whereas Dubai Mainland businesses can trade directly with the UAE market, take on potentially lucrative government contracts, and offer several licenses. The right setup depends on the nature of the business. An expert in company formation can be quite helpful for making this decision, advising on the best option for specific requirements.
   
   
2. Selecting a company name: there are strict regulations for choosing a trade name in the UAE, and the costs of reserving and registering a company name vary based on these rules. While a company setup expert can be quite helpful in this process, there are general rules that should be followed, such as checking the availability of the name, avoiding any offensive or blasphemous language, avoiding names of well-known organizations and abbreviations if the company is named after their owners’ names. 
   
   
3. License application: license application can be submitted directly to the DED if the business setup is established on the Mainland. For Free Zones, the license application must be directly made to the Free Zone authorities.