How to Get an Ecommerce Licence in Dubai: Cost, Steps and Documents

Selling online in Dubai needs a licence with an ecommerce activity. There are three routes: the e-Trader licence for individuals selling from home (about AED 1,370 a year), a free zone ecommerce licence (roughly AED 5,750 to 35,000 a year), or a mainland ecommerce licence from Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (roughly AED 15,000 to 25,000 or more).

This guide explains which licence fits which kind of seller, what each costs, the documents you need, the steps, and what to set up once you're licensed.

Fees in this guide were checked on 29 October 2026, mostly from business-setup guides and free zone pages. Government fees and free zone packages change often, and eligibility rules differ by nationality and activity. Always confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Do I need a licence to sell online in Dubai?

Yes. Selling goods or services online in the UAE, including through Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok or your own website, is a commercial activity and needs a licence that covers it. Trading without one can lead to fines, and in practice you'll also struggle to open a business bank account, get a payment gateway, register for VAT or sell on marketplaces such as Noon and Amazon.ae without a licence.

Which ecommerce licence do I need?

A quick rule of thumb:

• Selling handmade goods, clothes or cosmetics from home on Instagram, as a UAE or GCC national? Start with the e-Trader licence.

• An expat starting an online store, or wanting a visa through your business? Compare free zone ecommerce packages.

• Planning a shop, a warehouse in the city, staff, or selling to government? Look at a mainland licence.

What is the e-Trader licence?

The e-Trader licence is a low-cost Dubai licence for individuals who sell products or services online from home, through social media, messaging apps or online marketplaces. According to business-setup firm Virtuzone (April 2026):

• Cost: AED 1,070 issuance fee plus AED 300 Dubai Chamber membership, about AED 1,370 in government fees

• Who: individuals only, aged 21 or over; clearly open to UAE nationals and GCC nationals living in Dubai. Expat residents should confirm eligibility for their activity with DET before applying

• What you can sell: products such as garments, cosmetics, sweets and handicrafts, and services such as design, marketing and tailoring

• Limits: no physical shop or customer-facing premises and no visa sponsorship

• How to apply: online through the Invest in Dubai portal (invest.dubai.ae)

Payment gateways and banks set their own rules, so check that your chosen provider accepts e-Trader licence holders before you rely on card payments.

How much does an ecommerce licence cost in Dubai?

The licence fee is only part of the cost. Here are typical first-year ranges reported by UAE business-setup guides in 2026:

Other costs to budget for:

• Residence visas: often a few thousand dirhams each, including medical and Emirates ID

• Office or flexi-desk where required

• Corporate bank account (some banks have minimum balances)

• Activity approvals: food, cosmetics, supplements and medical products may need approval from Dubai Municipality or a health authority

• VAT registration, once your taxable sales pass AED 375,000 in 12 months (voluntary from AED 187,500)

• Accounting and corporate tax registration

All figures above are estimates from third-party setup guides and free zone pages (sources listed at the end). Get a written quote from the authority or zone for your exact activity before you pay anyone.

What documents do I need?

Requirements vary by authority and activity, but most applications ask for:

• Passport copy of each owner and manager

• Emirates ID and UAE residence visa (if you live in the UAE), or entry stamp for non-residents applying to a free zone

• Passport photo

• Trade name choices (three options is common)

• Business activity selected from the authority's list, including an ecommerce activity

• Proof of address or tenancy contract (Ejari) for mainland premises

• No-objection letter from a current employer, for some free zones and visa holders

• Activity approvals for regulated products (food, cosmetics, health products)

For the e-Trader licence, the portal confirms the documents during the online application.

How do I get an ecommerce licence in Dubai, step by step?

1. Choose your route: e-Trader, free zone or mainland, using the table above.

2. Pick your activity. Choose an ecommerce activity that matches what you sell (for example, online trading of clothing, or of cosmetics). Selling something not covered by your activity can cause problems later.

3. Reserve a trade name that follows the authority's naming rules (no offensive words, no names of public bodies).

4. Get initial approval from DET or the free zone.

5. Get any external approvals needed for regulated products.

6. Sort out premises: none for e-Trader, flexi-desk or office for most free zones, Ejari-registered premises for mainland.

7. Pay the fees and receive your licence, usually electronically.

8. Apply for visas if your package includes them.

9. Open a business bank account and register for VAT and corporate tax when required.

Simple e-Trader applications can be done online in a few days. Free zone and mainland licences usually take from a few days to a few weeks, depending on approvals and visas.

Can a free zone company sell to customers in Dubai?

Generally, free zone companies can sell online to customers across the UAE and abroad, but they usually can't trade from a shop on the mainland without a mainland licence or a local distributor. Since 2025, Dubai free zone companies can also apply to DET for a permit or branch licence to operate on the mainland. Rules differ by zone and activity, so ask the zone directly how you can sell and deliver to mainland customers, and whether you can hold stock in a warehouse outside the zone.

Can I sell on Instagram or WhatsApp without a licence?

You shouldn't. Selling regularly on Instagram, WhatsApp or TikTok counts as commercial activity. The e-Trader licence was created for exactly this kind of social selling. Without a licence you also can't get most payment gateways, buy-now-pay-later services like Tabby and Tamara, or a verified business presence.

What should I set up after I get my licence?

Once you're licensed, a typical online seller in the UAE needs:

1. A business bank account in the licence name

2. A payment gateway for cards and Apple Pay, plus Tabby or Tamara if you want buy-now-pay-later (they'll ask for your licence)

3. An online store with prices in AED, delivery fees by emirate and clear return terms

4. WhatsApp Business on a number you'll keep, since most UAE customers will message before buying. See our WhatsApp Business guide for UAE shops

5. A courier such as Aramex, with cash on delivery if your customers expect it

6. VAT invoices, once you're VAT-registered: tax invoices must show your TRN and 5% VAT

7. One stock count for every place you sell, so you don't sell items you don't have. If you also sell at a counter, see best POS systems in the UAE

Set up your online store with Nodi

Nodi gives licensed UAE sellers everything in step 3 to 7 in one system: an online store in English and Arabic with AED prices; card payments and cash on delivery; Aramex delivery; UAE VAT invoices; and an AI that answers customers on WhatsApp and Instagram and takes orders in the chat, all from the same stock. Plans start from AED 59 a month, and you can try the full Scale plan for 30 days for AED 3.

See Nodi for ecommerce · Build your online store · Start your AED 3 trial

Related guides: Dubai Trade Licence Types and Costs · How to Start an Online Business in Dubai · 15 Small Business Ideas in Dubai You Can Run Online

Frequently asked questions

How much does an ecommerce licence cost in Dubai?

About AED 1,370 a year for the e-Trader licence, from about AED 5,750 for low-cost free zone packages, from about AED 12,500 for most Dubai free zones, and about AED 15,000 to 25,000 or more for a mainland licence, before visas and office costs. Confirm current fees with the authority.

What is the cheapest ecommerce licence in the UAE?

The Dubai e-Trader licence, at about AED 1,370 a year, is the cheapest, but it's for individuals (clearly open to UAE and GCC nationals) and doesn't allow a shop or visas. For expats, low-cost free zone packages from about AED 5,750 are usually the cheapest option.

Can expats get an ecommerce licence in Dubai?

Yes, through a free zone or a mainland licence, both with 100% foreign ownership for most ecommerce activities. Eligibility for the e-Trader licence depends on nationality and activity, so confirm with DET.

Can I run an ecommerce business from home in Dubai?

Yes. The e-Trader licence is designed for home-based online sellers, and many free zones offer flexi-desk packages so you don't need your own office.

How long does it take to get an ecommerce licence in Dubai?

An e-Trader licence can be issued online in a few days. Free zone and mainland licences usually take a few days to a few weeks, longer if you need product approvals or visas.

Do I need VAT registration for an online store in the UAE?

You must register when your taxable sales pass AED 375,000 in 12 months, and you can register voluntarily from AED 187,500. Check the Federal Tax Authority for current rules.

Does an ecommerce licence let me sell on Noon and Amazon.ae?

Usually yes. Marketplaces ask for a valid trade licence when you register as a seller. Check each marketplace's current requirements.

Sources

• Virtuzone, e-Trader Dubai licence fees, eligibility and permitted activities in 2026, April 2026

• SPC Free Zone, e-commerce licence Dubai and UAE costs, updated 1 October 2026

• Takween Advisory, e-commerce licence Dubai, 2026

• Safeledger, e-commerce licence Dubai cost, 2026

• Avyanco, ecommerce licence in Dubai, UAE: a complete guide 2026

• Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Invest in Dubai portal (official; check for current fees and eligibility)

• Federal Tax Authority, tax.gov.ae (VAT registration thresholds)