General Trading licence —
trade anything, anywhere in the UAE.

Total typical cost AED 28,000–45,000 fully delivered: Dubai DED General Trading premium (AED 22,000–28,000) + customs code + Chamber of Commerce + physical office Ejari + MoA notarisation + YABS service fee + 5% VAT. General Trading carries a 30–40% premium over a standard commercial licence due to its broad activity scope. Premium offices (>500 sqft) push total cost to AED 60,000+.

Practically anything that isn't on the UAE restricted goods list. General Trading covers trading in food, electronics, clothing, building materials, machinery, vehicles, household goods, industrial supplies, raw materials, and more. Restricted goods require separate approvals: pharmaceuticals (MOHAP), telecom equipment (TDRA), weapons (Ministry of Interior), tobacco (FTA + Customs), alcohol (DET), and certain media products (NMC).

Statutory minimum since the 2015 Commercial Companies Law reform is AED 1. However, General Trading licences historically required AED 100,000 paid-up capital, and most UAE banks still expect AED 50,000–100,000 in the corporate account before granting account approval. The MoA can declare any capital amount; banks evaluate based on operational proof rather than the legal minimum.

Yes, for any import or export activity. Dubai Customs Code (CCL — Commercial Customs License) is a separate registration from the trade licence, processed through the Dubai Customs portal after trade licence issuance. AED 600 government fee. CCL number issued within 5 working days. Without an active CCL, no goods can clear UAE ports or airports regardless of trade licence validity.

Yes for trading activities. Dubai DED requires General Trading and specific commercial trading licences to maintain Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership (SME tier from AED 1,200/year). The Chamber issues certificates of origin for export documents, attests trade documents, and provides B2B referral access. Some professional and consultancy licences are exempt from mandatory Chamber membership.

No. Dubai DED post-2023 policy prohibits virtual offices and flexi-desk arrangements for General Trading licences. A General Trading company must operate from a physical commercial office space — minimum 200 sqft — with an active Ejari registration. Premium business centres count if they provide dedicated office space (not co-working). Mailbox-only addresses and home addresses are not eligible.

Standard General Trading licence: 7–14 working days from initial Dubai DED application to trade licence issuance. Add 5–7 days for Customs Code registration and 7–10 days for Chamber of Commerce membership card delivery. Visa applications can begin once the Establishment Card is issued (typically simultaneously with the trade licence). Total time to operational status: approximately 21 working days.

A specific commercial licence (e.g., 'Trading in Foodstuff') is restricted to the named activities — typically 1–5 specific commodities. General Trading is a master commercial licence allowing trade in any non-restricted commodity under one licence. General Trading costs more (AED 22k+ vs AED 13k+ for specific commercial) but eliminates the need to add activities individually. Best for diversified trading businesses.

No. Alcohol import, distribution, and retail in the UAE require a separate Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) liquor licence, restricted to a small number of approved entities. General Trading explicitly excludes alcohol, controlled substances, weapons, and tobacco wholesale. Importing alcohol on a General Trading licence is a serious customs violation triggering AED 100,000+ fines and licence suspension.

Visa quota depends on office size. 200 sqft office supports 4–6 employment visas, 500 sqft supports 12–18, 1,000 sqft supports 25–35. General Trading licences benefit from MOHRE's broader sponsoring permission — the wide activity range allows justification for diverse staff categories (sales, logistics, operations, finance) more easily than narrow specific commercial licences.

Yes — General Trading typically includes e-commerce activity codes 4791, 4761 (electronic retail). Selling through your own website or third-party marketplaces (Amazon UAE, Noon, Carrefour Marketplace) is permitted. Payment gateway approval (Network International, Telr, Stripe, PayTabs) is a separate post-licence process. Selling on social commerce platforms also requires the trade licence to be visible on the storefront.

Not technically — but practically yes for most physical-goods trading. The trade licence permits trading without specifying warehouse requirement, but Dubai Customs Code registration and operational logistics typically require either a leased warehouse (Dubai Industrial City, JAFZA-adjacent, Al Quoz, Dubai South) or a 3PL (third-party logistics) arrangement. Pure agency or drop-ship trading can operate without warehouse but limits scale.