General Trading licence in the UAE
General trading is a broad commercial licence for importing and exporting goods (with exclusions for specially licensed categories). Facility type matters in Ajman — warehouse-only activities cannot sit on a virtual-office package.
- IFZA (Dubai)
- 4690018
- Dubai mainland (DET)
- 4690018
What the authority says
Includes commercial firms engaged in importing, trading and re-exporting of any of the allowed goods, the trading activities that need special approvals, can also be traded under this activity upon obtaining NOC from the competent departments.
IFZA activity catalogue · synced 4 September 2026
Where you can licence this
| Authority | Status | Code | Licence type | Approval | Facility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IFZA (Dubai) | Listed | Code4690018 | Licence typeCommercial | ApprovalNone flagged | FacilityNot restricted in the catalogue |
| Ajman Free Zone | Not listed under this name | Code— | Licence type— | Approval— | Facility— |
| Dubai mainland (DET) | Listed | Code4690018 | Licence typeCommercial | ApprovalNot stated | FacilityOffice |
Catalogue evidence, not legal advice. Authorities change activity lists without notice — confirm before you file.
Routes that list this activity
- IFZA (Dubai)Dubai address, available with Dubai Setup IndexFrom, no visaAED 12,900
Updated
Open guide - Dubai mainland (DET)Onshore trading rights, Ejari premisesFrom, no visaAED 14,000
Updated
Open guide
A route listing the activity is a starting point. The authority confirms eligibility when you apply.
Additional conditions
- Dubai mainland (DET) investor-visa capital
- Confirm current DET practice for investor visas.
- Dubai mainland (DET) Ejari
- Expected
Facility and premises restrictions
- IFZA (Dubai) 4690018 note
- Additional charge applies.
Free zone or mainland
- IFZA lists this activity; Ajman Free Zone does not carry it under the same name, so confirm the Ajman catalogue before switching lanes.
- Dubai mainland under DET lets you invoice UAE mainland clients directly, but it expects Ejari-registered premises and runs longer than a free-zone desk package.
- IFZA (Dubai) notes: Additional charge applies.
Also catalogued elsewhere
The same activity name appears in other authority catalogues we track. This is a name match, not a legal equivalence, and Dubai Setup Index does not file in these zones.
- DMCC5219-04 · Trading
- Meydan Free Zone4690.97
- SPC Free Zone4690.97
Related activities
Ask an assistant about this page: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
FAQ
Is general trading enough for any product?
No. Restricted categories still need their own approvals. List the goods you actually move.
IFZA or Ajman for trading?
Compare the permitted goods, facility requirements, operating permissions and an itemised quote for the same scenario. A zone name or licence alone does not establish bank-account eligibility.
Licence General Trading with Dubai Setup Index
Compare free-zone and Dubai mainland requirements for costs, premises and how you invoice.