New Commercial/Trade/Professional License


To apply for a Commercial/Professional License at the Department of Economic Development, Dubai, the following procedures to be completed:

1.
Commercial Name Reservation from Tas'heel Centre at Al Tawar Centre Qusais or Business Village near Clock Tower, Muraqabat.  Documents required: Any one of the partners' passport copy and list of proposed names. Name Reservation can be completed same time (Dh210 government fee+ Dh50 service charge)

2.
Initial approval from Economic Department (DED) or Tas'heel Centre at Al Tawar Centre Qusais. Type (BR1) form, get signature of the partners and submit at DED. Form can be filled from Typing Centre
Attachments: Name Reservation Certificate, BR1 Form and Passport copies of partners, NOC from sponsor for expatriate partner who holds Employment Visa/Residence Visa. Visit/Tourist Visa holder can attach his/her visa copy.
NOTE: Some activities required special approval from external departments. You will have to complete that approval before you get initial approval from DED.
For example;

Banks and financial institutions from the Central Bank of the UAE;

Insurance companies and related agencies from Insurance Authority;

Manufacturing from the Ministry of Finance and Industry;

Pharmaceutical and medical products from the Ministry of Health;

Contracting and Building Maintenance and some other activities from Municipality (click here for the list of activities required Municipality Approval);

Transportation and vehicle rental activities from Road and Transport Authority (click here for the list of activities required RTA approval);

Printing, publishing and advertising activities from National Media Council;

Cargo Clearing, Cargo packaging, Canal dredging contracting and Fishing cages manufacturing activities from Dubai Maritime City;

Travel and tourism activities from Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).

Gymnasium Club activity from Dubai Sports Council.

Tents, awnings and Tarpaulin manufacturing from Environment Protection Section of Dubai Municipality.
 
3. Prepare LLC Agreement (Memorandum of Association) from a legal translator and get it attested from Notary Public at Al Tawar Centre or Al Barsha. Approximate fees for Notarization: Dh1000. Legal translator's seal is not required if the the agreement is only in Arabic.
If the firm is a Civil Company, Local Service Agent Agreement and Partnership Agreement to be attested.
If the firm is a Sole Establishment with 100% expatriate ownership, Local Service Agent Agreement to be attested.
If the firm is a Sole Establishment with 100% UAE national  ownership, no need any court Agreement.

4.
Make ready Tenancy contract of the office/shop and register through EJARI only system. Ejari Fees: Dh195

5.
Get approval for Tenancy contract from Municipality Planning Section which is available at DED branches
Documents required: (BR1) form, Name Reservation Certificate, Initial Approval, Tenancy Contract and EJARI Registration Certificate. Planning Section will put a seal of approval on back side of the BR1 form.


6.
Submit the attested LLC Agreement (one original copy), BR1 form, Name Reservation Certificate, Initial Approval, External departments approval (if any), Tenancy Contract, EJARI Registration Certificate, passport copies partners, NOC for partners (if any), at any branch of DED. Payment voucher will be issued same time or you can take print from DED website. Make payment at the counter and get the license. You can also pay using Credit Card/Direct Debit through DED website after issued the payment voucher.

8. If the License is Commercial, it has to be registered with Dubai Chamber, which is there at the same DED building. Collect Registration Form from there, Fill the information, Put authorized signature and company stamp and submit at Dubai Chamber counter. Certificate will be issued same time. Payment already paid at DED along with the Commercial License fees.

Documents required: Filled form,  Copy of Trade License, Partners List, Commercial Register (3 pages of trade license), LLC Agreement, Passport copy of Authorized Signatory and DED Payment Receipt of Trade License.
NOTE: No need Dubai Chamber Registration if the license is Professional.
Chamber Certificate is required for Export & Import, for Registration with various Government Departments and to expand business to other Emirates and abroad.

9. Next procedure is applying for Immigration and Labour Establishment Cards.

DED Business Hours: Sunday to Thursday 7:30am to 1:30pm

DED Centers (Branches)
Head Office: Near Etisalat
Opp. Dubai Chamber
Deira, Dubai
Tel:04-222 9922

Location Map (Click here)

Dubai Mall
Deira, Dubai
Tel: 04-382 7777

Al Tawar
Deira, Dubai
Tel: 04-6013333

TECOM Branch
(To register licenses in TECOM area)

Dubai
Tel: 04-3754115
Location Map (Click here)
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Related Pages
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Business Set-up in Dubai
Branch of a Foreign Company
Change of Location-Office/Shop
Civil Company
Commercial License-New
Company Law
Dubai Real Estate Law
Ejari
Freehold property Visa
Free Zones
General Trading License procedure and Cost Estimate
Industrial Projects
Investor Visa
License Cancellation
License Modification (change of owner/name/activity/technical staff)- Municipality Online
License Renewal-DED
License Renewal-Trakhees
License Renewal-Contracting & Maintenance-DM
LLC Cancellation
LLC Formation
Local Service Agent
Location Change-Business Site
Modify Contractor Registration Data (Foreign Companies)
Municipality Controlled Activities
Municipality Exam/Test
New Contracting License Registration at DM
Nursery License
PRO Card-DED
Professional Firm
Professional License
Real Estate License
Renewal of
Contracting & Maintenance Companies
Sole Establishment
To start a Nursery
Trade License-New
Trade License Renewal-DED
Trakhees License Renewal
 

LLC Formation

New Contracting License Reg. at DM