Key takeaways
- How to renew a trade licence in Dubai, in one line: make sure the Ejari for your premises is registered and current, clear any approval your activity needs from another authority, then lodge the renewal with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) through the Invest in Dubai platform and pay the voucher it generates.
- The law says one year, renewable, and allows up to four. Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011, Article 8, makes a licence valid for one year and lets a business ask DET for a longer term of up to four years, subject to approval. The same article says the licence must be renewed within the last month before expiry.
- The trade licence renewal cost is a stack, not a single fee. Fixed DET lines (a register fee, a trade name advertisement line, a service request line, and the AED 10 Knowledge and AED 10 Innovation Dirhams) sit alongside activity fees, a Dubai Municipality market fee worked out from your registered rent, and the Dubai Chamber membership renewal.
- The Dubai Chamber publishes its own renewal fees: AED 700 for national establishments practising a specific activity, AED 1,200 to 2,200 for general trading, AED 2,200 for banks, insurers, building contractors and foreign branches, down to AED 300 for e-traders and Intelaq licences.
- Ejari is the step that stalls most files. The market fee is read from the registered tenancy contract, so an unregistered or superseded lease stops the renewal. Registering a lease online with the Dubai Land Department costs AED 177.75.
- Renewing the licence does not renew anything else. The immigration establishment card, the MOHRE file and the Chamber membership run on their own records. Plan the order, because each depends on a valid licence.
- Economic Substance filings no longer apply to financial years ending after 31 December 2022 (Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024), but beneficial ownership records still do: changes must reach the registrar within 15 days (Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023).
- An expired licence is a different problem. Late renewal, penalties and dormant licences are covered in our guide to an expired trade licence in Dubai.
How to renew a trade licence in Dubai: confirm that the tenancy contract for the licensed premises is registered on Ejari, obtain any approval your activities need from another government authority, submit the renewal to the Department of Economy and Tourism through the Invest in Dubai platform, and pay the fee voucher, which combines DET’s licence fees, activity fees, the Dubai Municipality market fee based on your rent and the Dubai Chamber membership. A mainland licence is issued for one year and can be renewed for the same period, or for up to four years where DET approves. Once it is renewed, the company’s other records (the immigration establishment card, the MOHRE file and the Chamber certificate) need to be checked against the new expiry date.
This guide is for owners, managing partners and the HR or finance managers who budget the trade licence renewal cost and keep a Dubai mainland company licensed. It covers the prerequisites, the trade licence renewal process step by step, each part of the trade licence renewal cost and where it comes from, multi-year terms, realistic timelines, what happens to your establishment card and MOHRE file afterwards, and a short note on free zone licences, which renew with their own authority.
We checked everything here on 25 September 2026 against Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011, Dubai Chambers, the Dubai Land Department, the Government of Dubai Media Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet decision on beneficial owners. DET’s own renewal page would not display its content to us, so where a figure depends on DET’s fee schedule we say so and tell you to check your voucher.
If your licence has already expired, start with our guide to an expired trade licence in Dubai, which covers penalties, dormant licences and reactivation. If you are still choosing between a free zone and the mainland, read free zone vs mainland Dubai. If you simply want the renewal done for you, that is our trade licence renewal service.
How to renew a trade licence in Dubai: the trade licence renewal process at a glance
The short answers business owners ask for first. Each row is explained further down, with its source.
| Question | Short answer | Where to confirm it |
|---|---|---|
| Who renews a Dubai mainland licence? | The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which took over the licensing role of the former Department of Economic Development (DED) | Invest in Dubai; Law No. 13 of 2011 (which still refers to “the DED”) |
| Where do I apply? | Online on the Invest in Dubai platform (licence number, registered email and mobile, review the estimated fees, pay by card), or through a DET service channel | app.invest.dubai.ae/license/renew |
| How long is a licence valid? | One year, renewable for the same period; up to four years at the business’s request, if DET approves in coordination with the relevant authority | Law No. 13 of 2011, Art. 8(a) |
| When must I renew? | Within the last month before expiry, according to the law. We start the preparation 60 days out | Law No. 13 of 2011, Art. 8(b) |
| What must be ready first? | A registered, current Ejari for the licensed premises; any approvals your activities need; up-to-date partner, manager and contact details | DET renewal flow; DLD Ejari service |
| What is the trade licence renewal cost? | No single figure. Fixed DET lines of about AED 1,020, plus activity fees, the market fee on your rent, the Chamber fee and any approval fees | Your DET voucher; Dubai Chambers; see the fees section |
| How long does it take? | Same day for a clean file paid online; days to weeks when an outside approval or an Ejari problem is involved | Your file; the approving authority |
| What about the establishment card and MOHRE? | Separate records. Renew the licence first, then check that the immigration establishment card and the MOHRE file show the new expiry; both sit outside the trade licence renewal process | GDRFA/ICP; MOHRE enquiry services |
| Free zone licence? | Renewed with your free zone authority under its own rules and fees, not with DET | Your free zone authority |
Trade licence renewal in Dubai: our service, fee and turnaround
Plenty of owners can renew a clean licence themselves online in one sitting, and when yours is one of them we will tell you so. Companies come to us when the renewal is tied up with something else: the lease has changed and the Ejari was never updated, an activity needs a letter from another authority, a partner has left, the manager’s visa has lapsed, the Chamber or the establishment card is out of step, or the licence is already close to expiry and staff visas are waiting behind it. We are a PRO and visa services firm in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, and we handle the licence together with the immigration and MOHRE files that depend on it. If you want the whole task taken off your desk, our trade licence renewal service is the place to start.
What we do
- Read the licence before quoting. We check the expiry date, the legal form, the activities, the partners and manager on record, the registered address and the contact details DET will use.
- Fix the Ejari first. We confirm that the tenancy registered on Ejari is the current contract for the licensed premises, and arrange registration or renewal with the landlord’s side where it is not.
- Line up outside approvals. Where an activity needs sign-off from another authority, we identify which one, what it wants this year, and submit there first.
- Lodge the DET licence renewal. We submit through the Invest in Dubai channel, check the voucher line by line against your licence and rent, and pay only when it is right.
- Bring the other files into line. We check the immigration establishment card and the MOHRE file against the new licence expiry and renew or update them where needed, so hiring and visa renewals are not held up.
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp with the licence number, a copy of the licence and your current Ejari or tenancy contract.
- We check the file and tell you what we find: whether the tenancy is registered, whether any activity needs an approval, whether the establishment card or MOHRE file needs attention, and whether you can do it yourself.
- You get a written quote with government fees shown separately from our fee.
- We prepare and lodge the renewal, with the licence holder or manager approving where the system requires it.
- You receive the renewed licence, the DET receipt, the Chamber certificate and a note of the next expiry dates for the licence, the Ejari, the establishment card and the MOHRE file.
What it costs
Government fees are passed on at cost and shown on the official receipts: DET’s voucher, the Dubai Land Department’s Ejari charge, the Dubai Chamber fee and any fee an approving authority charges. Our own fee is quoted in writing before we start and depends on the work involved. A clean one-year renewal is simpler than a renewal with a new lease, a partner change and a lapsed establishment card. Our fees page explains how we price; the government trade licence renewal cost is never folded into our fee.
Why owners and HR managers use us for the DET licence renewal
- We publish the source for every fee and rule in this guide, and where an official page would not open we say so rather than guess.
- We work on the licence, the immigration establishment card (GDRFA in Dubai) and the MOHRE file together, so one renewal does not quietly break another.
- We tell you when you do not need us, for example when a clean licence can be renewed online in a few minutes by whoever holds the registered mobile number.
- Our office is in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, open by appointment; whatsApp us any time, 24 hours; office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 (Dubai time). Owners who are abroad can authorise us to act through a power of attorney where the transaction needs a representative.
Our turnaround on a trade licence renewal
With a complete file and no outstanding fines, a renewal we handle is typically processed within one to five working days, and same-day is achievable at a DET service centre when nothing is outstanding. The renewal itself takes days. What takes weeks is the Ejari that expired, the establishment card nobody tracked, or the partner whose Emirates ID lapsed months ago. If your licence has already expired, send us the licence copy: we check every outstanding item across DET, MOHRE and immigration, give you a fixed total, and usually complete the renewal within the week where nothing else is blocking it.
We check three files, not one
DET, MOHRE and immigration each hold the company’s file independently. Checking only the licensing side is why renewals stall unexpectedly. Before we lodge anything, we look for fines and blocks on all three, including unpaid MOHRE or WPS fines that hold the file from the labour side.
Where trade licence renewals in Dubai get stuck
| Blocker | Why it stops the renewal | What has to happen first |
|---|---|---|
| Ejari expired or never registered | The market fee is calculated from it, and Ejari itself needs a valid Emirates ID | Register or renew the Ejari before touching the licence |
| Landlord dispute | No renewal tenancy contract can be issued, so there is nothing to register | Resolve the tenancy position before the licence |
| Partner Emirates ID or passport expired | The partner record cannot validate | Bring the partner’s documents up to date |
| Unpaid MOHRE or WPS fines | They hold the file from the labour side | Clear them before lodging |
| Activity no longer permitted at the registered address | The licence cannot renew as it stands | An amendment first |
| Establishment card overlooked | Usually discovered when a visa transaction fails | Renew it straight after the licence |
An expired licence stops the establishment card renewal. An expired establishment card stops every employee work permit and residence transaction, so staff whose visas fall due cannot be renewed and can drift into overstay fines of their own. Banks also ask for the current licence at customer reviews, and an expired licence that is not renewed can lead to restrictions on the account. Renewal fees are generally charged for each lapsed year you renew through, unless DET accepts that activity ceased. The penalties themselves are in our guide to an expired trade licence in Dubai.
One calendar for four dates
Companies that rarely have licence problems track four dates as one calendar, because each feeds the next: the trade licence, the Ejari, the establishment card and the partners’ Emirates IDs. Any one lapsing stalls the rest. Running that calendar is what our corporate PRO services retainer exists for, alongside employment visa processing and WPS compliance.
How we charge for a trade licence renewal
Government fees are passed through at cost, our service fee is fixed and agreed in writing before we start, and you get updates on WhatsApp until the file closes. We do not quote an “average” renewal cost without seeing your licence and Ejari, because the market fee alone moves with your rent.
Who renews a Dubai mainland licence, and under which law
A Dubai mainland company holds a licence issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism. For most of its history this was the Department of Economic Development, usually shortened to DED, and many owners, bank forms and older articles still use that name. The licensing function now sits with DET, and its services are delivered through the Invest in Dubai platform. When this guide says DET licence renewal, it means the renewal of that mainland licence.
The legal basis is Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011 Regulating the Conduct of Economic Activities in the Emirate of Dubai, published on the Dubai Legislation Portal. The text still refers to “the DED”, because it predates the change of name. Four of its provisions matter for renewal:
- Article 7 sets the licensing procedure: DET considers applications “in coordination with the Competent Entities”, which is why some activities need another authority’s approval before a licence is issued or renewed.
- Article 8(a): “The Licence of a Business will be valid for a term of one (1) year renewable for the same period.” At the business’s request, and with DET’s approval in coordination with the competent entity, the term may be longer than one year, up to four years.
- Article 8(b): a business “must renew its Licence within the last month prior to its expiry.”
- Articles 13, 29 and 30 deal with what happens when a licence is not renewed: suspension on request when a business stops trading, fines between AED 100 and AED 100,000 for violations listed by Executive Council resolution, and closure or revocation in defined cases. Those belong to the expired-licence topic, summarised later and covered in full in our expired trade licence guide.
Before you start: the prerequisites for a DET licence renewal
Anyone asking how to renew a trade licence in Dubai quickly discovers that the application is the easy part.
Most failures in the trade licence renewal process happen before the application is submitted, because something the system checks is out of date. Work through this list 60 days before expiry. None of it is difficult on its own, but several items depend on other people (a landlord, another authority, a partner abroad), and their timetable is not yours.
1. A registered, current Ejari for the DET licence renewal
Mainland licences are tied to physical premises in Dubai, and the renewal reads the tenancy for those premises from the Ejari system run by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the system many people still call RERA registration. DET uses the registered annual rent to calculate the Dubai Municipality market fee, so the renewal cannot be priced without it. Check three things:
- the tenancy is registered on Ejari, not just signed;
- the registration is for the current contract, not one that has expired or been replaced;
- the address on the Ejari matches the address on the licence.
The DLD service card for registering or renewing a tenancy contract lists AED 100 for registration, AED 10 Knowledge fee, AED 10 Innovation fee and a service partner fee, giving AED 177.75 in total through the Dubai REST app or website, or about AED 220 at a real estate trustee centre, where the card gives a 25-minute service time. Our Ejari registration service handles it where the landlord’s side is slow.
The most common reason a clean licence suddenly will not renew is a lease that was renewed commercially (new contract, new rent) without the new contract being registered. The old registration has lapsed and the renewal cannot read a current rent. Registering the tenancy needs documents from the landlord’s side, so start this at least a month before the licence expires.
2. Approvals your activities need from other authorities
Some activities cannot be licensed or renewed until another authority confirms it is satisfied: health activities with the Dubai Health Authority, education and training with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), food businesses with Dubai Municipality, transport with the Roads and Transport Authority, security with Dubai Police, and financial activities with the relevant federal regulator. Article 7 of Law No. 13 of 2011 is the legal basis for that coordination. Approvals attach to specific activity codes, so check your own licence; where one is needed, it sets the timetable for the trade licence renewal process.
3. Partners, manager and signatory details
DET’s records show who owns the company and who manages it. If a partner has left, a share has been transferred, a manager has changed or a new signatory is needed, that is an amendment, and it should be lodged before or alongside the renewal. Partners and the manager will usually need valid passports and, for UAE residents, valid Emirates IDs on file. If a manager’s residence visa has been cancelled or has expired, sort out the manager position first, because it affects both the licence and the immigration file.
4. Contact details on the licence
The online renewal asks for the email address and mobile number registered with the business, and reminders and vouchers go there. If those details belong to a former employee or a previous service provider, update them before you begin. Many “we never received a reminder” cases start here.
5. Beneficial ownership records
Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 requires mainland companies to keep registers of beneficial owners and of partners, file the data with the registrar (for a Dubai mainland company, the licensing authority) and, under Article 15, submit any change “within (15) fifteen days from the date of the amendment or change”. If ownership changed during the year and the registrar was not told, fix that before the DET licence renewal.
6. Economic Substance: no longer an annual filing
The Ministry of Finance announced that Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024 cancelled economic substance requirements for financial years ending after 31 December 2022. There is no new Economic Substance report to file for a 2026 renewal, although companies remain answerable for earlier years.
7. Fines and violations
Outstanding DET violations can hold a renewal until they are paid or resolved. So can a licence that has already lapsed. If either applies, read the expired-licence guide before you start, because the order of steps changes.
| Prerequisite | Why the DET licence renewal needs it | Who controls the timing | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ejari registered and current | The market fee is calculated from the registered rent; without it the renewal cannot be priced | You and the landlord’s side | 60 days before expiry |
| Outside approvals | DET works “in coordination with the Competent Entities” (Law 13/2011, Art. 7) | The approving authority | 60 days or earlier |
| Partner, manager and signatory changes | The licence must show the current owners and manager; changes are amendments | You, notary, DET | As soon as the change happens |
| Contact details | The online form checks the registered email and mobile | You | Before starting |
| Beneficial ownership file | Changes due within 15 days (CD 109/2023, Art. 15) | You | Within 15 days of any change |
| Economic Substance | Not required for years ending after 31 Dec 2022 (CD 98/2024) | Not applicable for 2026 | Only close old notices |
| Fines and violations | Unpaid violations can hold the renewal | DET | Check before starting |
How to renew a trade licence in Dubai, step by step
The route below is the trade licence renewal process we use for a Dubai mainland company renewing through DET online. It assumes the prerequisites above are in place. Where a step depends on a DET page that would not display on 25 September 2026, we describe it from the Invest in Dubai renewal form (which did load) and from DET’s published renewal flow as it was previously documented, and we flag it.
Step 1: open the DET licence renewal on Invest in Dubai
The Invest in Dubai renewal page (app.invest.dubai.ae/license/renew) asks for three things: the licence number or business name, the email address registered with the business, and the mobile number registered with the business. Gulf News described the same form in November 2023, adding that you then review the estimated fees and pay by credit or debit card. If the registered email or mobile is wrong, the form will not get you far, which is why prerequisite 4 matters.
Step 2: check what the system shows about your licence
Before paying, read the licence details presented: trade name in Arabic and English, legal form, activities, partners and manager, the current expiry and the expiry after renewal. This is the only time each year most owners see the activity list, and each activity can carry a fee and, in some cases, an approval requirement.
Step 3: tenancy and market fee
DET’s renewal flow, as previously published by the former DED, asked for the Ejari (tenancy) contract number and retrieved the rent from the registration to calculate the market fee. If the tenancy is not registered, the previous DED guidance was plain that the licence could not be renewed. If this step fails, the problem is the Ejari, not the portal, and retrying will not help.
Step 4: outside approvals, if any
Where an activity requires another authority’s approval, the application is routed to that authority and the voucher is issued only when it replies. There is no way to speed this up from the DET side. You can only start earlier.
Step 5: documents
A renewal with no changes usually needs little beyond what DET already holds. Documents are requested when something has changed or an activity requires them: a new tenancy contract, partners’ and the manager’s passports and Emirates IDs, a notarised resolution or power of attorney, or an approval letter. If the system asks for something unexpected, the licence record usually contains something you have forgotten.
Step 6: the DET licence renewal voucher
The voucher is the first point at which you see the real trade licence renewal cost for your licence. Read it before paying. Check that:
- the activities listed are the ones you still use;
- the rent used for the market fee matches your current registered contract;
- the term (one year or longer) is what you intended;
- no line relates to a partner, branch or premises that is no longer part of the business;
- any 2026 incentive that should apply to your sector is reflected, or you have confirmed with DET that it does not.
Step 7: pay and download
Pay by card online. The renewed licence can be downloaded once payment clears. Keep the voucher with the licence: it is the only document that shows how the total was built, and next year it will explain any change.
Step 8: renew the Dubai Chamber membership
Dubai Chambers’ membership renewal service asks for “a copy of your renewed trade license”, then reviews the application, which it says takes two hours if requirements are met, and issues a membership certificate after payment. In practice the Chamber fee is often collected together with the licence fees on the DET voucher. Check your voucher and the Chamber portal so you neither miss it nor pay it twice.
Step 9: update the records that depend on the licence
The renewed licence has to be reflected in the company’s immigration file (the establishment card at GDRFA Dubai) and its MOHRE file before hiring and visa work continue smoothly. This is covered in its own section below.
Other channels for the trade licence renewal process
- SMS renewal. Gulf News reported in 2020 that Dubai Economy’s Auto Renewal service let owners renew by texting the licence number to 6969. We could not confirm on an official page that opened in September 2026 that this channel still works in the same form. Treat it as something to try on a clean licence, not something to rely on.
- Automatic renewal reminders. DET sends reminders to the registered mobile and email before expiry. Useful, but only if the contact details are current.
On 25 September 2026 the Invest in Dubai “Request to renew trade licence” page and the DET website returned only the page frame or an access-denied response; the renewal form itself loaded. Steps 1 and 7 come from that form and Gulf News’s 2023 description of it; steps 3 and 6 reflect the flow previously published by DED. DET’s live page governs.
Trade licence renewal cost: every component on the voucher
People asking how to renew a trade licence in Dubai usually ask “how much?” next, and expect one number. For a Dubai mainland licence there is no single number, because the voucher is built from your own file: the activities you hold, the rent on your registered premises, the Chamber category you fall into and whatever an approving authority charges. The same activity in a bigger office costs more to renew. What we can give you is each component, what drives it and where the figure comes from.
The components, with their sources
| Component | Amount | What drives it | Source and status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence register fee | AED 600 | Every licence | Dubai Economy’s previously published renewal fee schedule; DET’s page would not open on 25 Sep 2026, so check your voucher |
| Trade name advertisement | AED 350 | Every licence | As above |
| Service request form | AED 50 | The transaction | As above |
| Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham | AED 10 each | Levied on Dubai government transactions | As above; the same AED 10 lines appear on the DLD Ejari card and GDRFA cards |
| Activity fees (for example general trading, investment, construction contracting, business centre) | AED 3,000 each to renew general trading, investment and construction contracting (issue fees AED 15,000, 15,000 and 10,000; Resolution 13/2011, Schedule 1); business centre licence AED 10,000 (Resolution 19/2021) | The activities on your licence | Dubai Economy’s previously published schedule; not re-verified on a live DET page |
| Foreign trade name fee | AED 1,000 or 2,000 depending on the name (Resolution 13/2011, Schedule 1, items 6 and 7) | A trade name in a foreign language | As above. The fee still exists: the May 2026 incentive package names “foreign trade name fees” among those exempted for certain sectors |
| Market fee (Dubai Municipality) | A percentage of the registered annual rent: 2.5% since the 2018 cut from 5% | Your rent on Ejari | Dubai Executive Council decision, June 2018, as reported; the Dubai Media Office referred to “the 2.5% market fee” in July 2020. Confirm on your voucher |
| Accommodation fee and general cleaning fee | Calculated per file | Shown on the voucher; the basis is not published on a page we could open | Named in the Government of Dubai’s 2026 incentive announcements as fees that exist |
| Dubai Chamber membership | AED 50 to 2,200 by category | Your activity and legal form | Dubai Chambers, Membership Renewal service (opened 25 Sep 2026) |
| Outside approvals | Set by the approving authority | Regulated activities only | The approving authority’s own service card |
| Ejari registration (if the lease is new or renewed) | AED 177.75 online; about AED 220 at a trustee centre | A new or renewed tenancy | DLD, Register / Renew Tenancy Contract (opened 25 Sep 2026) |
The fixed DET lines (register fee, trade name advertisement, service request and the two Dirhams) add up to AED 1,020. That is the floor of the trade licence renewal cost, not the bill. On almost every licence the activity fees, the market fee and the Chamber fee are larger.
The market fee: why your rent is part of the trade licence renewal cost
The market fee is a Dubai Municipality charge that DET collects on the licence voucher, and it is calculated from the annual rent on your registered tenancy. In June 2018 the Dubai Executive Council cut it from 5% to 2.5% of rent, as reported at the time. The Dubai Media Office’s July 2020 stimulus announcement referred to extending the “freeze on the 2.5% market fee”, which confirms the 2.5% rate in an official source. We have not found a later official change, but the rate that applies to you is the one on your voucher.
Worked examples at 2.5%:
| Registered annual rent | Market fee at 2.5% | What it adds to the fixed AED 1,020 |
|---|---|---|
| AED 20,000 (small office or business centre desk) | AED 500 | AED 1,520 before activity, Chamber and other fees |
| AED 60,000 (small office) | AED 1,500 | AED 2,520 before activity, Chamber and other fees |
| AED 150,000 (larger office or showroom) | AED 3,750 | AED 4,770 before activity, Chamber and other fees |
| AED 400,000 (warehouse or retail unit) | AED 10,000 | AED 11,020 before activity, Chamber and other fees |
So a rent increase at your lease renewal also raises the market fee, and the trade licence renewal cost, the following year.
Activity fees: the part of the trade licence renewal cost decided at set-up
Some activities carry a separate annual fee on top of the register fee. Executive Council Resolution 13/2011 sets AED 3,000 each to renew general trading, investment and construction contracting activities (the issue fees are AED 15,000, AED 15,000 and AED 10,000), and Resolution 19/2021 sets AED 10,000 for a business centre licence. These recur every year for as long as the activity stays on the licence. A general trading activity added “to keep options open” at incorporation and never used is a recurring cost. Removing it is an amendment with its own process and consequences, including for which job titles the company can obtain work permits for, so decide deliberately rather than at the payment screen.
Dubai Chamber membership in the trade licence renewal cost
Dubai Chambers publishes its renewal fees by category. On 25 September 2026 its Membership Renewal service listed:
| Category (Dubai Chambers wording, shortened) | Renewal fee |
|---|---|
| National establishments practising a specific activity | AED 700 |
| General trading | AED 1,200 to 2,200 |
| Banks, insurance companies, building contractors, branches of international foreign companies | AED 2,200 |
| Free zone companies | AED 2,200 |
| Hotels, related financial services and insurance brokers | AED 2,000 to 2,200 |
| Lawyers, auditors and consultancy engineers | AED 1,000 to 2,200 |
| Various simple trade | AED 500 |
| Handicraft, e-traders and Intelaq licence | AED 300 |
| Simple handicrafts | AED 50 |
| Branches holding the principal’s trade name | AED 100 to 2,200, according to activity |
| Members of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development | Five-year exemption |
The Chamber sits outside the DET licence renewal but follows it: it lists a copy of the renewed trade licence as the document for renewal, a two-hour approval once requirements are met, and renewal through its services portal or mobile app. It does not publish a late fee on that page.
Outside approval fees on top of the trade licence renewal cost
Where an activity needs another authority’s approval, that authority may charge its own fee, run its own inspection or require its own permit to be renewed first (a food safety or health facility licence, for example). Those fees are not DET’s and do not appear on its schedule. Ask the approving authority, or ask us to check, before you budget.
A budget method for the trade licence renewal cost
- Start from last year’s voucher. It was calculated against your actual licence and is the best predictor you have.
- Adjust for rent. If the registered rent changed, multiply the difference by 2.5% (or the rate shown on last year’s voucher).
- Adjust for structure. Added or removed activities, a new foreign trade name, new partners or a new branch all move the total.
- Add the Chamber fee for your category if it was not on last year’s voucher.
- Add outside approvals and Ejari if they fall due this year.
- Check for time-limited relief or surcharges that applied last year but not this year, or the reverse.
That gets most companies close. It does not give a precise figure, and anyone who quotes an exact government total before the voucher exists is estimating too. A good estimate labelled as an estimate is useful; a guess labelled as a quote is not.
Dubai’s 2026 incentive packages and the trade licence renewal cost
In 2026 the Government of Dubai approved two economic incentive packages that touched licensing fees. They matter for anyone comparing this year’s voucher with last year’s.
| Item | First package | Second package |
|---|---|---|
| Size | AED 1 billion | AED 1.5 billion, 33 initiatives |
| Approved | 30 March 2026, Dubai Executive Council | 21 May 2026 |
| Timing | From 1 April 2026, three to six months | Three to twelve months; timeframes to be announced by each entity |
| Licensing effect | Deferral, for three months from 1 April 2026, of fees for premium business names, licence amendment fees, newspaper announcement fees, local service fees, accommodation fees, waste management fees and service improvement fees, for new licences and renewals | One-time full exemption, for companies facing temporary business continuity challenges (desert safari and camping, marina-related, aviation-related, drone and fireworks, event management), from certain DET and Dubai Municipality fees: market fees, accommodation allowance fees, general cleaning service fees and foreign trade name fees |
| Other licence items | Hotels could postpone sales fees and the Tourism Dirham for three months | KHDA early childhood facilities exempt from licence renewal fees, fines and market fees; KHDA private institutions may defer and pay renewal fees in instalments |
The Dubai Media Office’s 2 April 2026 statement said the deferrals applied for three months from 1 April 2026 and that “businesses will be provided with an update at the end of the three-month period”. That window has closed. We did not find an official update, on a page we could open by 25 September 2026, explaining how deferred amounts are collected. If your 2026 voucher was lighter than usual because of a deferral, keep the money aside until DET confirms the position for your licence.
The second package’s exemptions are narrow and named. If your licence is not in one of the listed categories, they do not apply, however similar your business feels. If it is, ask DET (or ask us to ask) how the exemption is applied to your renewal before you pay.
Multi-year trade licence renewal: one year or up to four
Article 8(a) of Law No. 13 of 2011 allows a licence to be valid for more than one year, up to four years, “at the request of the Business and subject to approval of the DED in coordination with the Competent Entity”. That makes a multi-year DET licence renewal a legal option, not a promise: DET decides, and where an activity is regulated, the relevant authority has a say.
A longer term suits a stable licence with no regulated activity, no planned changes to partners, activities or premises, and a lease that runs at least as long, because the licence depends on registered premises throughout. It suits less well when the lease is annual, when an activity needs a periodic approval or inspection, or when cash matters more than fewer renewal cycles, since a longer term generally means paying the yearly components up front.
The law allows up to four years. Whether a multi-year option is offered for your licence type on the Invest in Dubai platform, and how the voucher is calculated for it (for example whether the market fee is charged for each year covered), is set by DET and was not visible on a DET page that opened for us on 25 September 2026. Ask before you apply, and check the expiry date on the voucher before you pay.
Remember that the establishment card, the MOHRE file and staff visas do not stretch to match a multi-year licence. The immigration establishment card, for example, is in practice not issued beyond the licence, and it is not automatically extended to the licence’s new expiry either. Our establishment card guide explains its own renewal cycle.
How long the trade licence renewal process takes
DET does not publish a single completion time that applied to every renewal on a page we could open. What we can give you is the realistic range by type of file, based on which steps depend on other parties.
| Type of file | What sets the timetable | Realistic time | When to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean licence: Ejari current, no regulated activity, no changes | You: form, voucher, card payment | Same day, often minutes online | Within the last month (the legal window) |
| Lease renewed but not yet registered | The landlord’s side producing documents for Ejari | A few days to several weeks | 60 days before expiry |
| Regulated activity needing an outside approval | The approving authority’s review and any inspection | Days to weeks; longer if an inspection is needed | 60 to 90 days before expiry |
| Renewal with an amendment (partner, manager, activity, name, address) | Notarised documents, DET review, sometimes an approval | One to several weeks | As soon as the change is decided |
| Partner or manager abroad | Signing and attesting a power of attorney or resolution abroad | Adds one to three weeks | 90 days before expiry |
For the DET licence renewal, Article 8(b) of Law No. 13 of 2011 requires renewal “within the last month prior to its expiry”. The preparation (Ejari, approvals, amendments) does not have to wait for that month, and it should not. We open files at 60 days and lodge the DET licence renewal itself in the final month.
A trade licence renewal process calendar for a mainland company
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 90 days before expiry | If a partner or manager is abroad, or a regulated activity needs an inspection, start now |
| 60 days before expiry | Check the Ejari is registered, current and matches the licence address; list the activities and any approvals; check contact details |
| 45 days before expiry | Submit any outside approval and any amendment; check the beneficial ownership file |
| Last month before expiry | Lodge the DET licence renewal, read the voucher, pay |
| Same week | Renew the Dubai Chamber membership; download both certificates |
| Within the following weeks | Check the immigration establishment card and MOHRE file show the new licence; renew the establishment card if it is due |
| After | Diarise next year’s dates for the licence, the Ejari, the establishment card and each work permit |
After the DET licence renewal: establishment card and MOHRE file
A completed DET licence renewal restores the company’s right to trade. It does not, on its own, renew the other records a company needs to employ people. Two in particular depend on it.
The immigration establishment card
Every company that sponsors staff holds an immigration establishment card with GDRFA Dubai (or ICP in other emirates). It records the licence number, the partners, the activity and the authorised signatories. It has its own expiry date and its own renewal, with its own fees. A valid trade licence is a condition for renewing it: ICP states it will not renew the card for an expired licence, and GDRFA’s renewal service asks for the trade licence. So the order is always licence first, card second. If the card lapses, new entry permits, visa renewals and cancellations stop even though the licence is valid.
What to do after the licence renews: check the card’s expiry. If it falls due soon, renew it now rather than in a separate rush later. If partners, the trade name or the signatory changed with the licence, the card needs an amendment as well. The fees, the ICP late renewal fine and the amendment rules are all in our establishment card guide, and our establishment card renewal service handles it for you.
The MOHRE file
After the trade licence renewal process, turn to the company’s labour file with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which is linked to the licence. MOHRE’s conditions for work permit quota start with a valid trade licence, and an expired licence stops new work permits and permit renewals. After the DET licence renewal, check on MOHRE’s enquiry services that the establishment shows the new licence expiry, the immigration link is active and no fines are pending. The MOHRE side is covered in our MOHRE labour card guide and, for quota, company visa quota in Dubai. If the company has no MOHRE file yet, that is our labour file opening service.
| Record | Held by | Renewed with the licence? | If it lapses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ejari (tenancy) | Dubai Land Department | No, it follows the lease | The licence renewal cannot be priced or completed |
| Trade licence | DET | This is the licence | Trading, quota and visa work stop; see the expired licence guide |
| Chamber membership | Dubai Chambers | Often collected on the same voucher; separate certificate | The membership certificate lapses; check the Chamber’s own terms |
| Immigration establishment card | GDRFA Dubai / ICP | No | No new entry permits, renewals or cancellations; ICP charges a late fine |
| MOHRE establishment file and quota | MOHRE | Linked, but check it updated | No new work permits or permit renewals |
| Staff work permits and residence visas | MOHRE and GDRFA | No, each on its own date | Individual fines and status problems for staff |
If the company imports or exports, renew its Dubai customs code next: it can only be renewed after the licence, and the fee is AED 25. See our guide to Dubai customs code registration.
Renewal versus amendment: decide which you are doing
A renewal extends the licence you have. An amendment changes what it says: adding or removing an activity, changing the trade name, bringing in or removing a partner, changing the manager, changing the legal form or moving premises. Article 10 of Law No. 13 of 2011 requires DET’s approval, and that of the competent entities, for changes to licence details, and some changes need publication. Amendments carry their own fees and can bring in approvals that a plain renewal would not need.
| Item | Renewal | Amendment |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Extends the existing licence | Changes the licence details |
| When | Within the last month before expiry (Art. 8(b)) | Whenever the change happens |
| Fees | Register, activity, market, Chamber and other voucher lines | Its own amendment fees, plus any new activity or name fees |
| Approvals | Only those your existing activities need | May bring in new ones |
Combining an amendment with the renewal can save a round of paperwork. Discovering halfway through a renewal that you also need an amendment is where timelines slip. Decide at the start, and if both are needed, plan for both.
What goes wrong in the trade licence renewal process, and how to fix it
The online form will not accept the licence number
Usually the email or mobile number entered does not match what DET holds. Find out which contact details are registered (a previous PRO or a former employee’s number is common) and update them through DET before trying again.
The renewal cannot read the rent
The tenancy is not registered on Ejari, or the registration is for an old contract, or the address does not match. Register or renew the Ejari for the current contract first.
The DET licence renewal voucher does not appear
An outside approval is pending, a document is missing or a violation is open. Check the application status and any message from DET. Resubmitting does not help until the cause is fixed.
The licence renewed but visas still fail
The immigration establishment card or the MOHRE file has not caught up, or has its own expiry or fine. Check both before resubmitting the visa transaction.
If the licence has already expired
Renewing late follows the same trade licence renewal process, but the position is worse and the order of steps matters more. Law No. 13 of 2011 sets fines of AED 100 to AED 100,000 for violations listed by resolution of the Executive Council (Art. 29), allows closure or revocation of a licence that is not renewed where the business has stopped trading and a public notice draws no objection within two weeks (Art. 30), and says a business is not charged licensing fees or non-renewal fines where the licence expired and the business stopped trading, or where it applied to suspend the licence (Art. 13). A monthly figure of AED 200 for late renewal has been reported (Gulf News, 2023), but we did not find it on a DET page that opened for us. The penalties, the dormant-licence problem, reactivation and when cancellation makes more sense are set out in our guide to an expired trade licence in Dubai.
Free zone licence renewal, briefly
Free zone companies do not follow the DET trade licence renewal process. Their licence is issued by the free zone authority, and renewal runs through that authority’s portal under its own regulations. Three differences matter most:
- Premises. The dependency is usually your lease or facility agreement with the zone (an office, a flexi desk or a warehouse), not an Ejari registration with DLD.
- Fees. Each zone sets its own licence and registration fees, often as a package, and its own late renewal penalties. The Dubai Municipality market fee, calculated on Ejari rent, is a mainland charge. The Dubai Chamber lists a AED 2,200 renewal fee for free zone companies that hold Chamber membership.
- Visas. Visa allocation and immigration transactions are tied to the zone’s own rules and usually run through the zone’s portal.
The Dubai Development Authority, for example, asks its free zone licensees to renew their licence on time every year and offers separate commercial and freelancer renewal services. Check your own authority’s page. For a full comparison of the two set-ups, see free zone vs mainland Dubai, and for visa work inside a zone, our free zone visa services.
How to renew a trade licence in Dubai: what circulates online that is not true
| Claim | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| “A Dubai trade licence can only ever be renewed for one year.” | Law No. 13 of 2011, Art. 8(a), allows a term of more than one year, up to four years, at the business’s request and with DET’s approval. Whether it is offered for your licence is DET’s decision. |
| “The renewal costs AED 600.” | AED 600 is only the register fee line of the trade licence renewal cost. The fixed lines come to AED 1,020, and activity fees, the market fee and the Chamber fee are usually larger. |
| “You can renew without Ejari.” | The market fee is calculated from the registered rent. Renewal without a current tenancy was allowed only as a temporary 2020 relief measure (Dubai Media Office, July 2020), not as the normal rule. |
| “Renewing the licence renews the establishment card.” | The immigration establishment card is a separate GDRFA or ICP record with its own expiry and fees. |
| “You still have to file an Economic Substance report every year.” | Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024 cancelled the requirement for financial years ending after 31 December 2022 (Ministry of Finance). |
| “The 2026 packages waived licence fees for everyone.” | The first package deferred certain fees for three months from 1 April 2026; exemptions in the second package were for named sectors and KHDA early childhood facilities. |
| “An agent can quote the exact government total in advance.” | The market fee and several other lines are calculated from your file. Only the voucher gives the exact figure; a good quote is labelled as an estimate until then. |
How to verify every trade licence renewal cost figure in this guide
| Figure or rule | Where to check it | What we saw on 25 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| One-year term, up to four years; renew in the last month | Dubai Legislation Portal, Law No. 13 of 2011, Art. 8 | Text as quoted |
| Fines AED 100 to 100,000; closure or revocation; no non-renewal fines after cessation | Law No. 13 of 2011, Arts. 13, 29, 30 | Text as quoted |
| Renewal form fields | app.invest.dubai.ae/license/renew | Licence number or business name, email, mobile |
| DET fixed lines (600, 350, 50, 10, 10) and activity fees | Invest in Dubai “Request to renew trade licence”; your voucher | Page did not display content; figures from Dubai Economy’s previously published schedule |
| Market fee at 2.5% of rent | Your voucher; Dubai Media Office, July 2020 | 2.5% referred to officially in 2020; 2018 cut from 5% reported |
| Chamber renewal fees | Dubai Chambers, Membership Renewal | Table as reproduced above |
| Ejari AED 177.75 online | DLD, Register / Renew Tenancy Contract | 100 + 10 + 10 + 55 service partner + 2.75 VAT |
| 2026 deferrals and exemptions | Dubai Media Office, 30 March, 2 April and 21 May 2026 | As summarised above |
| ESR cancelled for years ending after 31 Dec 2022 | Ministry of Finance news release on Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024 | As stated |
| Beneficial owner changes within 15 days | Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023, Art. 15 | As stated |
| Establishment card needs a valid licence | GDRFA and ICP establishment card renewal cards | See our establishment card guide |
Worked cases: how to renew a trade licence in Dubai in practice
These cases are built from the situations we see most often. Names and identifying details are left out, and the figures are the published ones.
Case 1: a clean general trading licence renewed online
An LLC with one general trading activity, a registered office lease at AED 60,000 a year and no changes since last year. The owner checks the Ejari is current, updates the registered mobile number (it belonged to a former accountant) and opens the DET licence renewal on Invest in Dubai 25 days before expiry. The voucher shows the fixed lines of AED 1,020, the general trading activity fee, a market fee of AED 1,500 (2.5% of AED 60,000) and the Chamber fee within the general trading range of AED 1,200 to 2,200. The owner pays by card and downloads the licence the same day, then checks that the establishment card, which expires in four months, is diarised.
Case 2: the lease that was renewed but never registered
A consultancy renewed its office lease at a higher rent three months before the licence expiry, but nobody registered the new contract. Two weeks before the licence expires, the renewal cannot read a current tenancy. The landlord’s agent has changed and takes ten days to provide the documents. The Ejari is registered online for AED 177.75, and the DET licence renewal goes through two days before expiry with a higher market fee reflecting the new rent. Lesson: register the lease the week it is signed.
Case 3: a clinic waiting for its health authority
A medical clinic’s licence includes activities that need the health regulator’s sign-off. The owner starts the DET licence renewal in the last month, and the application sits waiting for the outside approval. The licence expires while the approval is pending, and visa renewals for two nurses are held up. The following year the clinic starts with the health authority 90 days out, and the DET licence renewal is completed with three weeks to spare.
Case 4: a partner exits at renewal time
Two partners hold a trading company; one wants to leave. They decide to process the share transfer as an amendment before the renewal. The departing partner is abroad, so a power of attorney is signed and attested in their home country, which takes two and a half weeks. After DET approves the amendment and the licence is renewed, the remaining partner updates the beneficial ownership record within 15 days, amends the immigration establishment card to remove the old partner, and checks the MOHRE file.
Case 5: renewed licence, stuck visas
A contracting company renews its licence on time, but an employee’s residence renewal fails a week later. The immigration establishment card expired a month earlier and nobody noticed, because everyone assumed it was renewed with the licence. The card is renewed at GDRFA and the visa renewal goes through. The company now keeps one calendar for the licence, the Ejari, the establishment card and each work permit.
What we will and will not do
We will
- Check the licence, Ejari, activities, partners and contact details before quoting, so the trade licence renewal process does not stall.
- Show every government fee on its official receipt, passed on at cost, and quote our own fee in writing before we start.
- Tell you when a renewal is simple enough to do yourself online.
- Handle the Ejari, outside approvals, amendments, the DET renewal, the Chamber membership, the establishment card and the MOHRE check as one job when you want that.
- Tell you plainly when an official figure is not published, or a page would not open, rather than fill the gap.
We will not
- Promise a completion time that depends on another authority’s approval.
- Quote an exact government trade licence renewal cost before the voucher exists, or present an estimate as a fixed price.
- Claim a 2026 fee exemption applies to you unless your licence is in a named category and DET confirms it.
- Pay a voucher we have not checked against your licence and lease.
- Give legal or tax advice on restructuring; we will point you to a lawyer or tax adviser where that is what you need.
Related guides
- Expired trade licence in Dubai: penalties, dormant licences and reactivation
- The immigration establishment card: fees, renewal, fines and amendments
- MOHRE labour card and the company’s MOHRE card
- Company visa quota in Dubai and how to increase it
- Free zone vs mainland Dubai
- UAE government fees 2026: the master list
- Why companies need PRO services
- What drives the cost of PRO services
- Emiratisation rules for private companies
How to renew a trade licence in Dubai: frequently asked questions
How do I renew a trade licence in Dubai online?
How to renew a trade licence in Dubai online: open the DET licence renewal on the Invest in Dubai platform, enter the licence number or business name with the email and mobile number registered with the business, review the licence details and the estimated fees, then pay the voucher by card. Before starting, make sure the Ejari for your premises is current and any approval your activity needs from another authority is in place, because either can stop the renewal.
What documents do I need for a DET licence renewal?
For a clean renewal with no changes, DET usually needs little beyond what it holds: a registered, current Ejari and correct contact details. Extra documents are requested when something has changed or an activity requires them, such as a new tenancy contract, partners’ and the manager’s passports and Emirates IDs, a notarised resolution or power of attorney, or an approval letter from another authority.
How much is the trade licence renewal cost in Dubai?
There is no single trade licence renewal cost. The fixed DET lines total AED 1,020 (register fee 600, trade name advertisement 350, service request 50, Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams 10 each). On top come activity fees, the Dubai Municipality market fee at 2.5% of your registered rent, the Dubai Chamber fee (AED 50 to 2,200 by category) and any approval fees. Your DET voucher gives the exact total.
What is the market fee on a trade licence?
It is a Dubai Municipality fee collected on the DET voucher and calculated from the annual rent on your registered tenancy. The rate was cut from 5% to 2.5% in 2018, and the Dubai Media Office referred to “the 2.5% market fee” in 2020. On AED 60,000 of rent that is AED 1,500. Check the rate on your voucher, because it governs.
Do I need Ejari to renew my trade licence?
Yes, for a Dubai mainland licence. The renewal reads the registered rent to calculate the market fee, so the tenancy for the licensed premises must be registered on Ejari and current. Registering online through the Dubai REST app or DLD website costs AED 177.75. Renewal without a current lease was allowed only as a temporary relief measure in 2020.
Can I renew my Dubai licence for more than one year?
The law allows it. Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011, Article 8(a), says a licence is valid for one year, renewable, and that at the business’s request and with DET’s approval in coordination with the competent authority it may be valid for more than one year, up to four years. Ask DET whether it is offered for your licence type and how the voucher is calculated.
How long does the trade licence renewal process take?
A clean renewal with a current Ejari, no regulated activity and no changes can be completed online the same day. If the lease needs registering, allow a few days to several weeks depending on the landlord’s side. If another authority must approve an activity, its review sets the timetable. Amendments and signatures from abroad add one to three weeks.
How much is the Dubai Chamber membership renewal?
Dubai Chambers lists AED 700 for national establishments practising a specific activity, AED 1,200 to 2,200 for general trading, AED 2,200 for banks, insurers, building contractors, foreign branches and free zone companies, AED 1,000 to 2,200 for lawyers, auditors and consultancy engineers, AED 500 for various simple trade and AED 300 for e-traders and Intelaq licences. It needs a copy of the renewed licence.
Does renewing my trade licence renew the establishment card?
No. The immigration establishment card is held by GDRFA Dubai (or ICP elsewhere), has its own expiry date and fees, and needs a valid trade licence to be renewed. Renew the licence first, then check the card. If the card lapses, entry permits, visa renewals and cancellations stop even when the licence is valid.
Do I still need to file Economic Substance before renewing?
Not for recent years. The Ministry of Finance announced that Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024 cancelled economic substance requirements for financial years ending after 31 December 2022. Companies remain responsible for earlier years and any related requests or penalties. Beneficial ownership rules still apply: changes must reach the registrar within 15 days under Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023.
My licence has already expired. Is the process different?
The route is the same, but penalties can apply and hiring and visa work stop while the licence is expired. Law No. 13 of 2011 sets fines of AED 100 to AED 100,000 for listed violations and allows revocation in some cases. Our guide to an expired trade licence in Dubai covers the fines, dormant licences and reactivation in full.
How does free zone licence renewal differ?
Free zone licences are renewed with the issuing free zone authority through its own portal, not with DET. The premises requirement is usually the lease or facility agreement with the zone rather than Ejari, fees are set by the zone and often packaged, and the Dubai Municipality market fee on Ejari rent does not apply in the same way. Check your own zone’s renewal page.
Can MIRDXB PRO renew our trade licence for us?
Yes. We check the licence, Ejari, activities, partners and contact details, handle any outside approval or amendment, lodge the DET renewal, check the voucher before paying, renew the Chamber membership and bring the establishment card and MOHRE file into line. Government fees are passed on at cost with official receipts, and our fee is quoted in writing before we start.
Can you renew the licence if the owner is outside the UAE?
Often, yes. A clean renewal can be lodged online by whoever holds the registered contact details, and we can act where the owner authorises us. Where a signature is needed, for an amendment for example, we arrange a power of attorney or resolution signed and attested abroad. Tell us early, because attestation abroad adds time.
Keeping the licence, the Ejari, the Chamber membership, the establishment card and the MOHRE file on one calendar is what our PRO services in Dubai team handles.
This guide to the trade licence renewal process was rewritten and re-verified. The earlier version said a licence is valid for one year; Law No. 13 of 2011, Article 8, allows up to four years with DET’s approval and requires renewal within the last month before expiry, and we have added both. It described renewal through the “DED BUSINESS” app and DED website; the department is now DET and renewals run through Invest in Dubai, and the SMS 6969 route is now labelled as reported rather than confirmed. It referred to “RERA registration”; the tenancy is registered on DLD’s Ejari system (AED 177.75 online). We added the 2.5% market fee rate with its sources, the Dubai Chamber renewal fees, the legal position on late renewal, the end of Economic Substance filings (Cabinet Decision No. 98 of 2024) and the 15-day beneficial ownership rule (Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023). We noted that the 2026 fee deferral window has closed, and removed unsourced statements about how often particular problems occur.
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. (13) of 2011 Regulating the Conduct of Economic Activities in the Emirate of Dubai (Arts. 7, 8, 10, 13, 29, 30)
- Invest in Dubai (DET): Request to renew trade licence (content did not display on 25 Sep 2026)
- Invest in Dubai: licence renewal form
- Dubai Chambers: Membership Renewal (fees, documents, two-hour approval)
- Dubai Land Department: Register / Renew Tenancy Contract (Ejari)
- Government of Dubai Media Office, 30 March 2026: AED 1 billion economic incentives
- Government of Dubai Media Office, 2 April 2026: fees deferred for three months from 1 April 2026
- Government of Dubai Media Office, 21 May 2026: second AED 1.5 billion incentives package
- Government of Dubai Media Office, 11 July 2020: third stimulus package (the 2.5% market fee)
- Ministry of Finance: amendment to the Cabinet Decision on Economic Substance requirements
- Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Cabinet Decision No. 109 of 2023 on beneficial owner procedures
- The Official Platform of the UAE Government: verify business licences
- GDRFA Dubai: Renewal of Establishment Card, all categories
- ICP: Renewal of Establishment Card
- MOHRE enquiry services
- Dubai Development Authority: licence renewal (free zone example)
Secondary, attributed: Gulf News, 14 November 2023, on the Invest in Dubai renewal steps and a reported AED 200 monthly late fine; Gulf News, 17 May 2020, on the SMS 6969 Auto Renewal service; Gulf Business, 12 June 2018, on the market fee cut from 5% to 2.5%.
Please note. This guide sets out the rules and fees published by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Chambers, the Dubai Land Department, the Ministry of Finance and the UAE Government, verified 25 September 2026. DET’s own renewal service page did not display its content to us on that date, so the fixed DET fee lines and activity fees are taken from Dubai Economy’s previously published schedule and your payment voucher is final. Market fee examples are our arithmetic at 2.5% of registered rent. The cases are built from common situations and are illustrative, not records of named clients. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
