Company setup and trade licence
From trade name reservation and initial approval to issuing, renewing and amending the trade licence.
Service details
What the service covers
We follow your company’s setup steps in Dubai and the issuance of its trade licence with the Department of Economy and Tourism, in line with the Commercial Companies Law:
- Trade name reservation: choosing and reserving the company’s trade name
- Initial approval: approval to start the business activity
- Trade licence: applications to issue, renew and amend all licence types
Required documents
For a new company, initial approval or trade name reservation
- Copy of a valid passport for every partner or investor.
- Copy of the Emirates ID (if any) or the current visa or residence visa.
- Three preferred trade names for the company.
- The business activity and the company’s legal form.
For issuing and renewing the final trade licence
- Trade name reservation certificate and initial approval.
- Registered tenancy contract (Ejari) or a virtual/smart office contract.
- Memorandum of association (MOA) or the amendment annex.
- Approvals from other authorities, depending on the activity.
Typical estimated time
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Licence issuance and renewal
- About an hour after the Ejari and approvals are submitted
Times are typical estimates; the final decision and processing time rest with the relevant authority, and additional documents may be requested depending on the case. Government fees are not included in our fees and vary by transaction. We are a private document clearing business, not a government authority and not affiliated with one.
Please don’t send copies of sensitive documents in your first enquiry; the team will tell you what is needed and how to send it.
Information last reviewed: October 2026.
What’s your next step?
Tell us what you need. We’ll help clarify where to begin.