Mainland licences
The right trade licence for your mainland business
Your licence type depends on your activity. We identify the correct licence, coordinate any additional approvals and manage issuance and renewals.
Main licence types
Commercial licence
For trading activities — buying and selling goods, including general and specialised trading.
Professional licence
For professional and consultancy services such as accounting, engineering, IT or management consulting.
Industrial licence
For manufacturing, production and processing activities.
Tourism licence
For travel agencies, tour operators, hotels and other tourism businesses.
Activities that need additional approvals
Some activities require approval from a sector regulator in addition to the trade licence — for example education, healthcare, media, food or financial activities. We identify these approvals early so your timeline is realistic.
- Education and training – education authority approval
- Healthcare – health authority licensing
- Media and publishing – media regulator approval
- Food businesses – municipality approvals
General requirements
- A clearly defined business activity permitted in the emirate
- A legal structure, such as an LLC, sole establishment or branch
- An approved trade name
- Registered business premises that meet local regulations
- Shareholder and manager passport copies and visa or entry documents
- Payment of licence and approval fees
Frequently asked questions
Can one licence cover several activities?
Yes, you can usually add multiple related activities to one licence, provided they belong to compatible groups. We advise on the best combination.
How often must a licence be renewed?
Mainland trade licences are generally renewed annually. We track your renewal date and handle the process for you.
Related services
Talk to a business setup advisor
Tell us about your plans and we will recommend the right structure, licence and next steps for your business.
