Business Setup & PRO
Trade licences on the UAE Mainland and in all major Free Zones: licence type and activities, trade name, approvals, issue, renewal and amendments.
Your trade licence defines what your business is allowed to do, where it can operate and how many visas it can sponsor. Choosing the wrong licence type or activity can block a bank account, a customer contract or an external approval later. We help you select the correct commercial, professional or industrial licence and activities, reserve the trade name, obtain initial approval and see the application through to issue.
The right activities
Licensed activities match what you actually sell, which helps with banks and customers.
Fewer rejections
Trade names and documents are checked against authority rules before submission.
Room to grow
We plan activities and licence type with future expansion and visas in mind.
Ready for tax
VAT and Corporate Tax registrations follow straight after the licence is issued.
In-depth guide
01Choosing the licence type and activities
Licensing authorities publish long lists of activities, and similar names can carry very different permissions. We match each activity to what you will actually do, who your customers are and whether you need a physical presence.
Getting this right at the start saves amendments, extra approvals and questions from banks later.
02Trade name, approvals and issue
Trade names must follow naming rules and cannot duplicate existing names or use restricted words. We check options before reserving them.
Some activities need approval from an external authority before the licence can be issued. We identify these early and include them in the timeline.
03Renewals and amendments
A licence must be renewed each year, and businesses change: new activities, new partners, a new address. Each change has its own documents and approvals.
We keep track of your renewal date and handle amendments so your licence always reflects the business you run.
04Is the Mainland right for you?
Choose the Mainland if you plan to sell directly to UAE consumers and businesses, operate a shop, showroom or site, or bid for government work. Free Zones can suit holding, export or purely international businesses better.
We compare both routes against your customers, activities, visa needs and tax position before you commit.
05Comparing free zones
Free zones differ in the activities they license, the type of office they require, how many visas each office supports and how they handle renewals and amendments. Some are built around specific sectors such as logistics, media or commodities.
We shortlist zones that genuinely fit your activity and budget, and explain the trade-offs clearly so you can choose with confidence.
- 1
Scope
We review your business model and recommend the licence type and activities.
- 2
Reserve
We check and reserve the trade name and apply for initial approval.
- 3
Complete
We finalise documents, lease and any external approvals.
- 4
Issue
We collect the licence and set up your renewal and tax calendar.
A commercial licence covers trading activities such as buying and selling goods. A professional licence covers services based on skills or qualifications, such as consultancy. An industrial licence is needed for manufacturing and processing.
Business Setup & PRO
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Book a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll review your current setup and show you exactly what we’d do.