How to Renew Your UAE Trade Licence in Dubai: Step-by-Step Guide 2026
A practical guide to renewing your DET trade licence in Dubai — the documents you need, online vs in-person renewal, costs from AED 5,000 to AED 15,000, the consequences of an expired licence, and the most common renewal mistakes.
Why trade licence renewal catches business owners by surprise
Every year, Dubai business owners are caught by the same pattern: the trade licence renewal is due, the tenancy contract has also expired, the Ejari hasn't been updated, and the DHA approval lapsed six months ago. What should be a straightforward administrative task becomes a 4–6 week backlog because everything depends on everything else.
The solution is a 90-day renewal calendar. Start the process three months before expiry, confirm all dependent documents are in order, and submit before the deadline.
This guide covers the complete renewal process for a Dubai mainland trade licence issued by DET.
The renewal calendar
| Timeline | Action |
|---|---|
| 90 days before expiry | Check all dependent approvals (DHA, DM, etc.) and their expiry dates |
| 60 days before expiry | Renew tenancy contract if expiring, update Ejari |
| 45 days before expiry | Gather all renewal documents, confirm shareholder Emirates IDs are valid |
| 30 days before expiry | Submit renewal application to DET |
| Deadline day | Licence renewed, new copy downloaded |
| NEVER | Allow expiry without renewal in progress |
Ejari: the most common renewal bottleneck
Ejari is the Dubai Land Department's tenancy contract registration system. Your trade licence renewal requires a valid, registered tenancy contract — meaning your Ejari must cover the period of the new licence.
Common problem: A business owner has a 12-month tenancy contract that expires on the same month as the trade licence. They apply for trade licence renewal, but the Ejari has lapsed. DET cannot process the renewal without a valid Ejari. The owner must first renew the tenancy, register new Ejari, then apply for the licence renewal. This adds 2–4 weeks.
Solution: Check your tenancy expiry date when you start the 90-day renewal process. If your tenancy expires within 6 months of your licence, renew it early enough to register a new Ejari before the licence renewal submission.
Step-by-step renewal process
Step 1: Gather documents
- Current trade licence
- Valid tenancy contract with active Ejari registration
- Emirates IDs of all owners (must be valid, not expired)
- Any sector-specific approvals (see below)
- Passport copies of shareholders (for LLCs)
- No Objection Certificate from landlord (if business activity changed)
Step 2: Renew dependent approvals
Some business types require sector approvals that must be renewed alongside the trade licence:
| Business type | Additional approval needed |
|---|---|
| Health / medical / salon | DHA approval renewal |
| Food / restaurant / café | Dubai Municipality food establishment permit |
| Education | KHDA / ADEK approval |
| Real estate | RERA registration |
| Legal / accounting | Professional body registration |
Renew these first — DET cannot complete your licence renewal without the sector approval being current.
Step 3: Submit online or in-person
Online (invest.dubai.gov.ae or DubaiNow app):
- Log in with UAE Pass
- Navigate to "Business" > "Renew Licence"
- Upload required documents
- Pay renewal fees (credit card, online banking)
- Receive digital licence
Most straightforward renewals complete in 1–5 business days online.
In-person (typing centre or DET service centre): Required if: the renewal involves a change in business activity, a change in shareholders or partners, a change in business address, or the system flags the application for manual review.
Typing centres across Dubai process trade licence renewals for AED 200–500 in service fees on top of government fees.
Step 4: Download and store your renewed licence
Download the renewed licence from the DET portal immediately. Share copies with your bank (some banks require updated licence copies annually), your landlord, and store a digital copy in cloud storage.
What it costs
| Fee category | Indicative range (AED) |
|---|---|
| DET trade licence renewal fee | 3,000 – 12,000 |
| Establishment card renewal | 1,200 – 2,500 |
| Ejari renewal (if applicable) | 220 – 500 |
| DHA / DM / other sector approvals | 1,000 – 5,000 |
| Typing centre service fee | 200 – 500 |
| Typical total (sole establishment) | 5,000 – 8,000 |
| Typical total (LLC, multi-activity) | 10,000 – 18,000 |
Consequences of an expired trade licence
Do not let your licence expire. The cascade of problems:
Immediate:
- Illegal to operate the business
- Cannot process payroll through WPS (employee salary payments blocked)
- Cannot renew employee visas or apply for new ones
Within 30 days:
- DET fines accrue (AED 250/month minimum; varies by business type)
- MOHRE may flag your establishment for non-compliance
Within 60–90 days:
- Bank account review — some UAE banks suspend corporate accounts linked to expired trade licences
- Government procurement eligibility lost
- Cannot sign contracts with entities that verify licence validity
Reinstatement: Once a licence has been expired for more than 6 months, reinstatement requires additional approvals and may require a new application rather than a simple renewal. This adds weeks and costs significantly more.
Online renewal: what it actually looks like
The DET online renewal portal (accessed via invest.dubai.gov.ae) requires a UAE Pass (digital identity) login. If you don't have UAE Pass, create one first — it takes 10 minutes with your Emirates ID and mobile number.
Once logged in:
- Select "My Business" to see your registered companies
- Choose the licence due for renewal
- System will show you any outstanding requirements (expired sector approvals, Ejari issues)
- Upload documents requested
- Pay via credit card or bank transfer
- Track the application status in the portal
Most straightforward renewals are approved and the digital licence is available within 1–3 business days.
Changes you can make at renewal time
Trade licence renewal is also the right moment to make changes to your company record. Common changes that can be processed simultaneously with renewal:
- Change of business address (new Ejari required)
- Add or remove business activities (additional fees per activity)
- Change of business name (requires DET approval)
- Change of legal structure (more complex, consult a business setup company)
- Add/remove shareholders (LLC changes, additional documentation required)
Combining changes with renewal reduces the total number of DET submissions. Discuss any planned changes with a typing centre or business setup company before submitting.
Summary
Renew 60–90 days early. Check your Ejari, sector approvals, and Emirates IDs before submitting. Use the online portal for straightforward renewals. Never let your licence expire — the downstream problems cost far more than the renewal fee.