Activity licence
E-commerce License Dubai: e-Trader, mainland company or free zone
How you sell decides which licence you need: from home on social media, through your own company across the UAE, or from a free zone to customers here and abroad. We set out each route with its official source.
- Since 2015Working from Deira
- Fixed quoteWritten and itemised before we start
- SeparateGovernment fees shown apart from our fee
- 30 minutesFree first call
Written by Tabish Ahmed, Senior ManagerReviewed by Auj Afreen Ahmad, Founder and Chief Executive OfficerLast updated
The short answer
Which e-commerce license do I need in Dubai: e-Trader, mainland or free zone?
To sell online from Dubai you need a licence that covers e-commerce. On the mainland, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issues the e-Trader licence for home-based sellers and commercial licences with an e-commerce activity for companies. Free zones issue their own e-commerce licences. Mainland e-commerce licences also need TDRA approval.
The options
What are the e-commerce licence options in Dubai?
There are three routes: the DET e-Trader licence for individuals selling from home, a mainland company licensed by DET with an e-commerce activity, or a free zone licence from the zone's own authority. Choose by how and where you will sell, not by package price. Mainland e-commerce licences also need TDRA approval.
The UAE regulates online selling under Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 on Modern Technology-Based Trade. According to the federal government portal, selling online on the mainland needs a commercial licence that includes an e-commerce activity from your emirate's economic department, and every e-commerce licence also needs approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Free zones license online businesses through their own authorities.
E-commerce licence routes in Dubai, at a glance
| Factor | DET e-Trader | Mainland company (DET) | Free zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism | The free zone authority |
| Who it suits | An individual selling from home through social media and online platforms | A business selling across the UAE, with staff and its own stock | Online businesses selling inside the zone and internationally |
| Legal form | Sole establishment only | Usually an LLC; other forms by activity | Free zone company or establishment |
| Premises | Your place of residence in Dubai; no shop | Registered premises with Ejari | Set by the package, from a desk to a warehouse |
| Selling to UAE customers | Yes, within the licence terms | Yes, directly | May need additional permissions for the mainland |
General guide as at November 2026. Activity lists and eligibility change, so we confirm your route in writing, from the authority's own listing, before you pay for anything.
Home-based sellers
Who can get a DET e-Trader licence, and what are its limits?
The DET e-Trader licence is for home-based individuals in Dubai, aged 21 and above, who sell through social media and online platforms as a sole establishment. Holders cannot open a shop. Nationals of countries outside the GCC may own only professional businesses this way, with a UAE local service agent, so confirm your activity with DET first.
DET describes the e-Trader licence as a licence for freelancers at their place of residence in Dubai, aimed at home-based individuals who sell products and services through social media and online platforms. Invest in Dubai states that it is available only when the legal form is a sole establishment, so the owner carries the business's liabilities personally.
- Age: DET's Al Wajeez guide lists applicants aged 21 and above.
- No shop: Dubai Media Office reported DET's position that the licensee cannot open a shop or store.
- Staff: DET's guide links an establishment card and up to three employees to local (Emirati) licence holders.
- Customs: DET's guide says holders can obtain a customs client code through dubaitrade.ae for importing and exporting.
- Dubai Chambers: Dubai Chambers' published annual membership fee for handicraft, e-trader and Intelaq licences is AED 300.
Nationality is the question to settle first. DET's guide says nationals of countries outside the GCC may own only professional businesses as a sole establishment, and only with a UAE local service agent. Invest in Dubai repeats the agent condition for sole establishments. If you are not a UAE or GCC national and want to sell goods, confirm with DET that your activity is open to you on an e-Trader licence before planning around it. The separate Intelaq licence is limited to UAE and GCC nationals.
DET's 2022 guide lists an e-Trader licence fee, but that figure is not in our verified fee table and may have changed, so we confirm the current amount at quote stage.
Mainland
How do I set up an e-commerce company on the Dubai mainland?
Usually as a company, typically an LLC, with a DET commercial licence that includes the e-commerce activity. This suits sellers who will hold stock, hire staff or build a brand. Foreigners can own it outright for most commercial activities, except those with a strategic impact. You need premises with an Ejari-registered lease, which usually sets your visa allocation.
If you plan to hold stock, hire staff or build a brand beyond yourself, the usual mainland route is a company, typically an LLC, with a commercial licence that includes the e-commerce activity. DET's guide says that, under Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 amending the Commercial Companies Law (applied in Dubai from June 2021), foreigners can own companies outright for most commercial and industrial activities, except activities with a strategic impact.
The federal portal says every business must have a physical address, and in Dubai the lease must be registered with Ejari. Your visa allocation is usually linked to the premises. DET prices licences by the activities you choose and does not publish a fee table on its public pages, so we quote from your activity list. See Dubai mainland and mainland vs free zone.
| Fee | AED | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Chambers membership, general trading | 1,200 | Government | dubaichambers.com |
| Dubai Chambers membership, handicraft/e-trader/Intelaq | 300 | Government | dubaichambers.com |
Figures from the authority’s own fee page, last checked 3 November 2026. Some exclude VAT. This is not the whole cost: visas, office, our fee and any approvals are separate. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
Free zones
How much is a free zone e-commerce licence in Shams, d3 or CommerCity?
Published prices differ by zone: the Shams Trader Package, zero visa, is AED 6,500 for one year and its Media Package AED 5,750, while d3 prices its E-Commerce segment at AED 15,000 a year. Dubai CommerCity has no verified fee lines, so it is quoted on request. Selling directly to mainland customers may need additional permissions.
Several free zones publish e-commerce licences. The ones below have published lines we have verified. Other zones often used for online businesses include Meydan, Dubai South for fulfilment near the airport, and Ajman Media City; we compare them on your activity code.
| Free zone | Licence line | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shams (Sharjah Media City) | Shams Trader Package, zero visa | AED 6,500 for one year | With a lease agreement; covers general trading and e-commerce, and Shams states that only these two activities can sit on that licence |
| Shams (Sharjah Media City) | Media Package, zero visa | AED 5,750 for one year | Three media and e-commerce activities |
| Dubai Design District (d3) | E-Commerce segment | AED 15,000 a year | Priced in the Dubai Development Authority's fee schedule |
| Dubai CommerCity | Not stated | Quoted on request | Described by the Dubai government portal as the first free zone dedicated to digital commerce in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region. We do not hold verified fee lines for it |
The federal portal notes that free zone companies operate within the free zone and internationally, and that selling directly on the mainland may need additional permissions. If most of your buyers are UAE consumers, check this before you choose a zone. Compare zones in Shams vs SPC.
| Fee | AED | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer Package, One Visa, 1 year | 15,415 | Authority | shams.ae |
| All Inclusive Visa Package, 1 visa | 14,786 | Authority | shams.ae |
| Standard Package, 1 visa, 1 year | 11,743 | Authority | shams.ae |
| Standard Package, 0 visas, 1 year – 3 activities | 8,050 | Authority | shams.ae |
| Freelancer Package, Zero Visa with Lease, 1 year | 7,745 | Authority | shams.ae |
| Shams Trader Package (zero visa), 1 year – General Trading and E-commerce | 6,500 | Authority | shams.ae |
| Media Package (no visa), 1 year – 3 Media and E-commerce activities | 5,750 | Authority | shams.ae |
| E-channel registration | 2,735 | Government | shams.ae |
| Immigration card (3 year) | 1,575 | Government | shams.ae |
Figures from the authority’s own fee page, last checked 3 November 2026. Some exclude VAT. This is not the whole cost: visas, office, our fee and any approvals are separate. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
Products
What can you sell online in the UAE, and what needs approval first?
Only goods and services legally approved for trade in the UAE, and your licence activity must match them. Some items need another authority's approval first: Dubai Customs lists medicines (Ministry of Health), books, music and audio-visual media, pets (an environment ministry import permit) and rough diamonds (a Kimberley Process certificate). That list is not complete.
The Dubai government portal says digital traders may sell only goods and services legally approved for trade in the UAE, and must wait for any special approval an item needs before selling it. Your licence activity has to match the products, too: a licence for clothing does not cover cosmetics or supplements.
Dubai Customs gives examples of goods that need approval from another authority before release:
- Medicines, which Dubai Customs says are subject to Ministry of Health approval.
- Books, music and audio-visual media, whose import is controlled by the information authority.
- Pets, which need an import permit from the environment ministry.
- Rough diamonds, which need a Kimberley Process certificate.
This list is not complete. Send us your product list and we check the activity and any approvals before you choose a licence.
Stock and shipping
Do I need a trading licence to hold stock or use a warehouse in Dubai?
Yes: JAFZA's guidance says holding inventory in any form requires a trading licence, and a trading licence does not allow manufacturing. If you store goods yourself, confirm the location is permitted under your licence. Businesses using Dubai Customs must register through dubaitrade.ae, and with a fulfilment company, the activity wording decides whether you still need a trading element.
Holding stock changes the licence you need. JAFZA's own guidance says holding inventory in any form requires a trading licence, and that a trading licence does not allow manufacturing. If you store goods yourself, check with your licensing authority that the storage location is permitted under your licence; port-side zones such as JAFZA offer warehouse options for this reason.
Dubai Customs says any business that uses its services must register with it, online through dubaitrade.ae, and that a licence holder clearing goods for local sale should obtain a customs business code. If a fulfilment company stores and ships for you, ask us whether your activity still needs a trading element; it depends on the activity wording. Trading in many unrelated products is covered on our general trading licence page.
Money
Payment gateway, bank account and VAT: what does an online seller need?
Two things: a file that passes the bank's and payment provider's own review of your licence activity, store, products and suppliers, and VAT registration once taxable supplies and imports reach AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months or are expected to in the next 30 days. Confirm your VAT position with the FTA or a registered tax agent.
Banks and payment providers run their own reviews and make their own decisions. Expect them to look at your licence activity, your website or store, your products and your suppliers. We prepare that file with you; see bank account opening.
On VAT, the Federal Tax Authority sets the mandatory registration threshold at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports over the previous 12 months, or expected in the next 30 days. The voluntary threshold is AED 187,500. Imports count towards the total, which matters for online sellers. The FTA notes that the threshold does not apply to foreign businesses. Confirm your position with the FTA or a registered tax agent.
Questions
E-commerce License Dubai: common questions
Anything else? Ask on WhatsApp and the person who handles it will answer.
Can I sell on Instagram in Dubai without a licence?
Trading in the UAE needs a licence that covers what you sell. For home-based sellers on social media in Dubai, DET's answer is the e-Trader licence, issued to a sole establishment. If you are also paid or gifted products to promote other brands, that is advertising, which needs a separate advertiser permit; see our influencer licence page.
Can expats get an e-Trader licence in Dubai?
Check before you rely on it. The e-Trader licence is issued only to a sole establishment. DET's guide says nationals of countries outside the GCC may own only professional businesses in that form, and only with a UAE local service agent. Whether your activity, especially selling goods, is open to you is a question for DET's activity listing, which we check for you.
Do I need TDRA approval for an e-commerce licence?
For mainland e-commerce, yes. The federal portal and the Dubai government portal both say e-commerce licences require an approval or no-objection certificate from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. Free zones run their own licensing, so we confirm the approvals your chosen zone requires for your activity when we prepare your quote.
Can a free zone e-commerce company sell to customers in Dubai?
A free zone company can operate within its zone and internationally. The federal portal says selling directly on the mainland may need additional permissions. Free zone companies commonly reach the mainland through a distributor, a branch or a permit. If UAE consumers are your main market, compare this with a mainland licence before you choose.
Do I need a warehouse for an e-commerce licence in Dubai?
Not always. Many online sellers start without one. If you hold stock yourself, JAFZA's guidance says holding inventory requires a trading licence, and you should confirm with your licensing authority where that stock may be stored. Mainland companies need registered premises with Ejari. An e-Trader licence is tied to your residence in Dubai and does not allow a shop.
When does an online shop in the UAE have to register for VAT?
The Federal Tax Authority requires registration when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months, or are expected to within the next 30 days. You may register voluntarily above AED 187,500. Imports count towards the threshold. Confirm your own position with the FTA or a registered tax agent.
Sources
Where these facts come from
The official pages we checked. Rules and fees change; we confirm the current position before we advise you.
- Mainland e-commerce needs a licence with e-commerce activity and TDRA approval; free zone sales to mainland may need permissions; Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 — UAE Government portal: u.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- e-Trader is a home-based sole proprietorship licence for selling via social media; TDRA NOC; Dubai CommerCity; only legally approved goods — Dubai government portal: dubai.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- e-Trader and Intelaq only as sole establishment; sole establishment for foreign investors needs a local service agent; Intelaq for UAE/GCC nationals — Invest in Dubai: app.invest.dubai.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- e-Trader eligibility (21+), customs client code, establishment card and three employees for local holders; non-GCC sole establishment limited to professional activities; full foreign ownership of commercial companies — DET Al Wajeez guide: dubaitourism.getbynder.comChecked 3 November 2026
- e-Trader licensee cannot open a shop; visas linked to 100% Emirati ownership — Dubai Media Office: mediaoffice.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Physical address and Ejari requirement — UAE Government portal: u.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Dubai Chambers membership fees by activity — Dubai Chambers: dubaichambers.comChecked 3 November 2026
- Shams Trader and Media packages and their activity limits — Sharjah Media City (Shams): shams.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- d3 E-Commerce segment fee — Dubai Development Authority fee schedule: dda.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Holding inventory requires a trading licence; no manufacturing — JAFZA: jafza.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Customs registration, business code and goods needing other authorities' approval — Dubai Customs: dubaicustoms.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- VAT mandatory and voluntary registration thresholds — Federal Tax Authority: tax.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
Related
Often read alongside this
Free, 30 minutes, no obligation
Get your free setup plan
A 30-minute call with the person who handles setups. You leave with a recommended jurisdiction, a timeline and a written, itemised quote.
You will speak with our team, led by Auj Afreen Ahmad and Tabish Ahmed.
- WhatsApp, fastest+971 55 786 7621
- Call+971 55 786 7621
- Emailinfo@aizaa.ae
- Office, by appointmentAl Shaikh Building 5, Al Khabaisi, Deira, Dubai
- HoursMonday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 GST
Want this worked out for your business?
Free call, written recommendation, fixed quote. No obligation.