General Trading License in the UAE: Activities, Cost, and How to Get One
A general trading license is the broadest commercial license in the UAE. The license allows a company to trade almost any category of physical goods without being tied to a single product line. This guide covers what a general trading license permits, how much it costs and how to get one.
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What Is a General Trading License?
Unlike a specific trading license (such as “electronics trading” or “food trading”), a general trading license does not limit you to one product category. You can trade in textiles, electronics, building materials, food products, and consumer goods under a single license, making it the most flexible option for diversified trading businesses. The commercial license in the UAE guide covers the narrower trading categories.
Who needs a general trading license?
Founders who plan to trade across multiple product categories, or who want the flexibility to pivot between product lines without amending their license, choose a general trading license. E-commerce businesses, import and export companies and trading firms serving several markets use it most.
Is a general trading license available in free zones?
Yes. Most Dubai and northern emirates free zones offer general trading licenses. The activity may be listed as “general trading”, “multi-commodity trading”, or a similar term depending on the zone. On the mainland, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai, or the equivalent authority in other emirates, issues general trading licenses.
Should You Choose General Trading or Specific Trading?
A business that only ever trades one product category pays less and keeps things simpler with a specific trading license. A business that wants the freedom to add product lines or pivot without amending its license is better served by general trading. Most multi-product founders choose general trading for that flexibility.
What products are excluded from general trading?
A general trading license covers most categories of goods but typically excludes regulated items that require separate approvals: pharmaceuticals, weapons, alcohol, tobacco, and certain chemicals. These products need specific licenses and regulatory clearances whatever the trading license type. The IFZA general trading license guide lists which goods need approval beyond the license in one Dubai free zone.
Can you add services to a general trading license?
Yes, through a dual-activity license. Most free zones allow service activities (consultancy, IT support, marketing) to sit on a general trading license for an additional fee. Trading companies that advise or support their customers use this route.
How Much Does a General Trading License Cost?
| Setup route | Indicative first-year cost |
|---|---|
| Northern emirates free zone (e.g. RAKEZ, UAQ) | AED 10,000 – AED 18,000 |
| IFZA (Dubai) | from AED 25,100 (AED 15,100 package + AED 10,000 general trading fee) |
| DMCC (Dubai) | from AED 43,780 (Jump Start package) |
| Dubai mainland (DET) | AED 30,000 – AED 50,000 |
Indicative prices. Actual cost varies with government fees, the business activity and visa requirements. Request an exact quote.
The general trading premium varies by zone, from a small surcharge to a separate fee such as IFZA’s AED 10,000. For a founder who would otherwise add product lines one amendment at a time, the premium usually costs less than the amendments. The business setup cost in the UAE by jurisdiction guide breaks down every route.
What does IFZA charge for a general trading license?
IFZA charges its standard package, from AED 15,100 all-in with no visa, plus a AED 10,000 general trading activity fee. The IFZA general trading license guide lists the packages, approvals and banking steps.
Does general trading cost more to renew?
Yes, usually. The general trading premium in a zone’s fee schedule normally applies at each renewal as well as at setup, so the gap with a specific trading license carries into later years. A current quote from the zone confirms the renewal figure.
How Do You Get a General Trading License?
- Choose the jurisdiction. Select a free zone or mainland authority. DMCC is a popular choice for commodity and general trading; JAFZA for import-export with warehouse needs.
- Select “general trading” as the activity. General trading is one activity selection, not a list of individual product categories.
- Prepare documents. Passport copies, passport photos, business plan, and any additional documents required by the specific authority.
- Submit and pay. The agent submits the application. Once approved, the company pays the all-in cost.
- Receive the license. The authority issues the general trading license with full multi-category trading permissions.
Do I need a warehouse for general trading?
No. Many general trading businesses operate without a warehouse, using third-party logistics, drop-shipping, or document-based trading models. A flexi-desk package is enough for the license. For stock, zones such as JAFZA and Hamriyah offer combined license-and-warehouse packages.
Does a mainland general trading company need an office?
Yes. A Dubai mainland general trading company needs a physical office with a registered Ejari tenancy before DET issues the license, while most free zones accept a flexi-desk.
Which Free Zones Are Best for General Trading?
DMCC in JLT is the most popular for commodity and general trading, with a strong reputation and central Dubai location. JAFZA is best for import-export traders who need warehousing and port access. IFZA offers a competitive general trading license with a Dubai address at a lower cost. RAKEZ is the budget option for traders who put cost before location.
Which zone suits commodity trading?
DMCC suits commodity trading best: it hosts more than 26,000 companies and runs dedicated commodity infrastructure, though its Jump Start package starts at AED 43,780, well above IFZA.
Can you get a general trading license without a Dubai address?
Yes. Northern emirates free zones like RAKEZ, UAQ, and Hamriyah offer general trading licenses at a lower cost than Dubai zones. The trade-off is a Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, or Sharjah address rather than a Dubai one. For document-based trading where location is less important, these zones offer excellent value.
General Trading License: Frequently Asked Questions
What can I trade with a general trading license?
A general trading license allows you to trade in almost any category of physical goods: electronics, textiles, building materials, food products, cosmetics, consumer goods, machinery, and more. The scope is deliberately broad to allow flexibility across product lines.
The main exclusions are regulated products like pharmaceuticals, weapons, alcohol, and tobacco, which require separate licenses and regulatory approvals regardless of your license type.
Is general trading the same as import-export?
General trading includes import and export. The "general trading" activity covers buying from international suppliers (import), selling to international buyers (export), and domestic trading within the UAE. A general trading license holder needs no separate import-export license.
Some free zones list "import and export" as a separate activity, but in practice the permissions overlap. Bizstart can confirm the exact wording and scope for your chosen jurisdiction.
Do I need a warehouse for general trading?
No. Many general trading businesses operate on a document-trading basis, where they buy and sell goods without physically storing them. Drop-shipping, third-party logistics, and direct-shipment models all work with a flexi-desk license package.
A business that holds physical inventory uses either its own warehouse (available in zones such as JAFZA and Hamriyah) or a contract with a third-party warehouse provider.
Can I sell online with a general trading license?
Yes. A general trading license covers both online and offline sales. You can operate an e-commerce store, sell on marketplaces like Amazon and Noon, and fulfill orders using any combination of direct shipping, 3PL, or local delivery services.
Some founders choose a specific "e-commerce" activity instead of general trading, but general trading covers e-commerce plus physical retail plus wholesale, making it the more flexible option.
How does a general trading license affect bank account opening?
A general trading license is well-understood by UAE banks, and companies with this license type open corporate bank accounts using the same process as any other license. Banks evaluate the application based on the expected transaction profile, source of funds, and documentation quality.
The broad scope of a general trading license means the bank may ask more detailed questions about your specific trading plans, which is routine. Clear invoices, supplier agreements, or a brief trading plan speeds up the bank account process.
Can I start with a specific trading license and upgrade to general trading later?
Yes. Most licensing authorities allow you to amend your license from a specific trading category to general trading by paying the difference in fees and submitting an amendment application. The process typically takes a few working days and does not require cancelling your existing license.
Starting with general trading from the outset usually costs less than upgrading later, because the amendment itself carries a fee that a general trading start avoids.
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