How to renew a trade license in Dubai

Renewal is not a formality you can leave to the last day. The licence renews only if the supporting items are in order, above all the tenancy contract, and a lapsed licence can attract fines and affect services that rely on it, such as your bank account.

This guide covers the Dubai mainland process. Free zone licences are renewed with the free zone itself, using that zone's portal and fee schedule.

Why do I need to renew my Ejari before renewing the trade license?

The tenancy contract that sits behind your licence must be valid when you renew, and in Dubai it must be registered with Ejari. If it is not, the renewal application cannot go through. If your lease has expired or is about to, renew or replace it first.

Can I renew a Dubai trade license online?

Yes. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism lets you renew through its online services, whether the licence is still valid or has recently expired. The service also offers an automatic renewal option, where you are sent a message before expiry and pay the fees to renew.

What happens if a trade license is not renewed in Dubai?

A licence that is not renewed on time can attract administrative fines. The authority publishes a list of commercial compliance fines, and amounts change over time, so check the current figure. Banks review customer profiles when the trade licence expires, so an expired licence can also affect your bank account.

How much does it cost to renew a Dubai trade license?

Renewal fees depend on the activity, the licence type and the registered premises. The authority has a renewal cost estimator that asks for the licence number and the yearly rent. There is no single national figure, and a low first-year package price can cost more at renewal, so ask your provider for the year-two price in writing.

For budgeting, see the full cost breakdown on the trade licence cost page.

How to renew a Dubai trade licence

1. 1

   Note the expiry date and start early

   Start before the licence expires. Renewal after expiry is possible, but fines can apply.

2. 2

   Renew the tenancy contract and register it with Ejari

   The tenancy contract must be valid at renewal and registered with Ejari. Without a registered contract, renewal is blocked.

3. 3

   Collect activity approvals

   Regulated activities need current approvals from the competent authority. The documents you need differ by activity.

4. 4

   Log in and open the renewal service

   Use the business dashboard on the licensing portal, select Renew Licence and enter the licence number.

5. 5

   Confirm the licence details and upload the documents

   Check the details shown, upload the required files and submit the application. A branch of another company also uploads the parent company's trade licence.

6. 6

   Wait for review and approvals

   The authority reviews the application and may route it to other entities if approvals are needed. It then issues a payment letter.

7. 7

   Pay the fees and download the licence

   Pay the renewal fees, then download or print the renewed licence from the portal.

8. 8

   Update everything that depends on the licence

   Send the new licence to your bank, and update any other registrations or records that reference the licence.

Documents and items you typically need

• Current trade licence and licence number
• Valid tenancy contract registered with Ejari, and its Ejari number
• Activity approvals or permits from other authorities, if your activity needs them
• Parent company trade licence, if the licensee is a branch of a UAE, free zone, GCC or foreign company
• Passport and Emirates ID of the owner or manager applying
• Any other documents the portal lists for your activity

Things to weigh up

• Do not wait for expiry. Missing the date can add fines and affect services that rely on the licence, such as your bank account.
• Fees and the document list change by activity and year. Use the authority's estimator and portal for the current figures.
• A free zone licence is a different process. Use the zone's portal and ask for its renewal fee schedule.