E-commerce Dubai —
DED + Ejari + payment gateway.
Open a Dubai mainland e-commerce business. DED activity 4791 (electronic retail) + Ejari (mandatory for e-commerce activity) + payment gateway integration. Mainland-required if selling to UAE customers.
- Timeline
- 7–14 d
- From
- AED 16k
- Authorities
- 2
- Activity codes
- 3
Dubai e-commerce — full stack.
A Dubai e-commerce business operates under DED activity codes covering electronic retail (4791), online marketplace operation (6311), and digital service provision. As of post-2022 Dubai DED policy, e-commerce activity requires registered Ejari address — virtual office is NOT permitted for primary e-commerce activity. Payment gateway integration (Network International, Telr, Stripe UAE, PayTabs, Mamopay) is a post-licence step. Mainland licence is required if selling directly to UAE customers; free zones require a UAE distributor for mainland sales.
Dubai DED activity codes covered
4791 — Retail sale via mail order or internetPrimary e-commerce activity
6311 — Data processing, hosting and related activitiesIf operating a marketplace platform
5210 — Warehousing and storageOptional add-on if operating own warehouse
E-commerce setup — competitor pricing pulled 2026 Q2.
Below is what each major Dubai setup firm charges to open an e-commerce business in 2026. The YABS price includes payment gateway introduction; competitors usually upsell this.
| Provider | Setup price | Payment gateway intro | Aramex / 3PL intro |
|---|---|---|---|
| YABS | AED 16,000 | Telr + Network Intl + Stripe UAE | Yes |
| Shuraa | AED 19,500+ | Upsell only | Not offered |
| Virtuzone | AED 22,000+ | Upsell only | Not offered |
| Creative Zone | AED 18,000+ | Telr only | Not offered |
| Adam Global | AED 24,000+ | Upsell only | Not offered |
Who has to say yes.
Dubai DED
Trade licence with e-commerce activity code 4791 + Ejari verification
Payment gateway provider
Telr / Network International / Stripe UAE / PayTabs / Mamopay — KYC + business verification
6 steps, 7–14 d.
DED activity + trade name
Reserve trade name AED 620. E-commerce activity 4791 primary. Marketplace operators add 6311.
Initial DED approval
Dubai DED 1–2 working days, AED 235.
Mandatory Ejari registration
E-commerce activity requires registered Ejari address. Virtual office NOT permitted. Flexi-desk acceptable for solo founders. AED 220 + typing centre.
MoA notarisation + trade licence fee
MoA at Dubai Notary Public AED 1,100. Trade licence fee AED 8,000–11,000 for e-commerce commercial.
Establishment Card + immigration file
AED 2,600 combined.
Payment gateway approval
Submit business verification to Telr / Network International / Stripe UAE / PayTabs. KYC 5–14 working days. Different gateways suit different business models — Stripe better for international, Network better for AED-heavy domestic.
What you actually pay.
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
Trade name + DED initial approval | 855 |
MoA notarisation | 1,100 |
Ejari (flexi-desk) | 220 |
Trade licence fee (e-commerce 4791) | 9,500 |
Establishment Card + immigration file | 2,600 |
| Government fees subtotal | 14,275 |
| YABS service fee | 6,500 |
| 5% VAT (on YABS service fee) | 325 |
| Total | 21,100 |
Government fees vary by activity and approval requirements. Final quote confirmed after activity selection.
Where people get this wrong.
Pulled from 500+ YABS engagements. Each pitfall has a knock-on cost in time or AED — knowing them up front is half the value of using a PRO.
Using a virtual office for e-commerce activity (post-2022 ban)
Cost: DED rejects activity at filing; need to switch to flexi-desk and re-file
YABS fix: We confirm Ejari address category (commercial / flexi-desk only) before opening the activity ticket.
Listing the e-commerce business on UAE marketplaces (Noon, Amazon UAE) without VAT registration
Cost: Marketplace blocks listings until FTA TRN provided; lost revenue during freeze
YABS fix: We register for VAT in parallel with DED licence so the TRN is ready for marketplace onboarding day-one.
Importing inventory without UAE customs registration
Cost: Cargo held at Jebel Ali; AED 500–2,500/day storage charges
YABS fix: We register the new entity with UAE Customs (free) and obtain the customs code during the establishment-card step.
Frequently asked questions
Why does e-commerce need Ejari?
Post-2022 Dubai DED policy requires e-commerce activity to have registered tenancy through Ejari to verify a real UAE business address — Dubai DED's response to e-commerce fraud and VAT-evasion cases. Virtual office addresses are not accepted. Flexi-desk in approved business centres counts. Home address (residential property) is not eligible.
Which payment gateway is best for Dubai e-commerce?
Network International or Magnati for AED-heavy domestic businesses (lowest fees, integrated POS). Stripe UAE or PayTabs for international businesses (multi-currency, easier global integration). Telr for SMEs with mixed currency. Mamopay for mobile-first retail. Approval 5–14 days for most; Stripe sometimes longer for high-risk verticals.
Can I sell to UAE customers from a free zone licence?
Not directly. Free zone companies must use a UAE distributor (mainland-licensed) to sell to UAE customers. For e-commerce specifically, mainland licence is required to ship directly to UAE addresses without a distributor markup. Free zone e-commerce works for export-only models.
Do I need to register for VAT for an e-commerce business?
Yes if your taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000 per year — mandatory FTA VAT registration. Voluntary registration available from AED 187,500. E-commerce VAT particularly critical because shipping to UAE addresses means UAE-side supply (5% VAT applies to sale value).
Can I run a Dubai e-commerce business without a warehouse?
Yes — drop-shipping, marketplace fulfilment (Amazon UAE FBA, Noon Express, Carrefour fulfilment), and 3PL arrangements (Aramex, Carrefour Logistics) are common. Licence covers trading; physical warehouse is operational choice. Pure drop-ship from international suppliers is permitted but customs clearance + 5% VAT on import value applies per shipment.
Apply for the e-commerce package
Apply online in 4 steps. Itemised AED quote, no sales-call gate.
This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.