A trade licence is the official permit issued by a UAE government authority — such as the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai or a free zone authority — that authorises a business to operate legally within a specific jurisdiction and activity category.
Commercial (trading), Professional (service businesses and freelancers), Industrial (manufacturing), and Tourism (travel and hospitality) licences. A business must hold the correct licence type for every activity it conducts.
A mainland licence allows trading anywhere in the UAE, including with government entities. A free zone licence restricts trading within the free zone and internationally unless a mainland branch is established. Full comparison: Free Zone vs Mainland.
A valid trade licence is required for VAT registration and corporate tax registration with the FTA via EmaraTax.
Finanshels provides accounting and compliance services for UAE businesses of all licence types — from setup to monthly management accounts.
