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  What Is the Actual Government Fee for a General Trading License on the Dubai Mai

  Posted by Lily on September 17, 2026 at 10:05 am

  Anyone researching the Cost of General Trading License Dubai-wide quickly discovers a frustrating pattern: every website quotes a slightly different number. That’s not necessarily bad information – it’s because a General Trading License (GTL) is made up of several separate government fees, not one flat charge, and the total varies depending on office rent, visa count, and share capital. This guide breaks the cost down component by component, so you can see exactly what the “government fee” actually consists of, rather than relying on a single vague headline figure.

  What Makes a General Trading License Different – and More Expensive

  A General Trading License, issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), allows a company to trade in virtually all legally permitted goods under a single license, rather than being restricted to specific product categories the way a Specific Trading License is. That broad scope is exactly why it costs more: DET applies a dedicated, mandatory activity fee specifically for the general trading classification, on top of the standard mainland license charges every mainland company pays regardless of activity.

  This is the single biggest reason a General Trading License consistently costs more than a standard commercial license – it’s not just a bigger version of the same fee, it’s an additional fee layered on top for the breadth of the trading scope itself.

  Breaking Down the Actual Government Fees

  Here’s how the cost typically breaks down, based on the components DET and related authorities charge for a mainland General Trading License.

  1. Trade Name Reservation

  A relatively small fee, typically in the range of AED 620 to AED 2,000, paid to reserve your chosen trade name before the rest of the application proceeds.

  2. Initial Approval Certificate

  A modest government fee, often a few hundred dirhams, that confirms DET has no objection to your business activity and structure before you move to full licensing.

  3. Memorandum of Association (MOA) Typing and Notarization

  For LLC structures, the MOA needs to be drafted and notarized, generally costing between AED 1,000 and AED 2,500, though this can scale with the company’s declared share capital.

  4. General Trading Activity Fee

  This is the distinguishing charge that separates a General Trading License from other mainland licenses. DET applies a dedicated annual activity fee – commonly cited at around AED 15,000 – specifically for the general trading classification, on top of the base license issuance fee.

  5. Trade License Issuance Fee

  The core annual license charge itself, separate from the general trading activity fee above. Combined, the license issuance fee and the general trading activity fee typically bring the core licensing cost to somewhere between AED 15,000 and AED 30,000 or more, depending on the specific activities selected and any additional approvals required.

  6. Market Fees

  Dubai Municipality applies an annual market fee calculated as a percentage of your registered office’s annual rent. The exact percentage applied can vary, so it’s worth confirming the current rate directly with DET or your setup advisor at the time of application rather than relying on a fixed assumption.

  7. Dubai Chamber of Commerce Membership

  A mandatory annual fee for all commercial and industrial license holders, generally ranging from around AED 1,200 to AED 3,000 depending on your license classification.

  8. Office Rent and Ejari Registration

  Since mainland licenses require a registered physical office, Ejari registration itself typically costs between AED 3,000 and AED 8,000, on top of the actual annual rent, which varies enormously depending on location, size, and whether you choose a flexi-desk, small office, or premium space.

  9. Establishment Card

  Required to process visas, typically costing between AED 1,000 and AED 2,000.

  10. Residency Visas (If Applicable)

  Each investor, partner, or employee visa typically costs between AED 4,000 and AED 6,000 for a standard multi-year visa, including Emirates ID and medical fitness testing, and this cost multiplies with each additional visa your company sponsors.

  Putting It All Together: Realistic Total Cost

  When every component is combined, most estimates place the realistic first-year cost of a Dubai mainland General Trading License somewhere between AED 30,000 and AED 50,000 or more, before accounting for office rent variations and the number of visas sponsored. Some detailed breakdowns that bundle the license fee, virtual office, Ejari, and initial approvals together arrive at figures in the low-to-mid AED 40,000s for a fairly standard setup – a useful benchmark, though your own total will shift depending on your specific office choice, visa count, and any sector-specific approvals your particular trading activity requires (such as additional approvals for food, medical goods, or other regulated categories).

  It’s worth being cautious of any quote that seems dramatically lower than this range without a clear explanation, since a genuinely complete General Trading License setup involves several mandatory fees that can’t be skipped, even if a provider’s headline advertised price only reflects one component of the total.

  General Trading License vs. Specific Trading License Cost

  If your business doesn’t need to trade across a wide, unrestricted range of product categories, it’s worth comparing the General Trading License cost against a Specific Trading License, which is limited to the product categories explicitly listed on it but does not carry the same mandatory general trading activity fee. For businesses focused on a narrower set of products, a Specific Trading License can meaningfully reduce the annual licensing cost, since it avoids the dedicated AED 15,000-range activity fee that applies specifically to general trading.

  Why Quoted Prices Vary So Widely Online

  If you’ve compared several sources and seen wildly different totals, this is normal, and usually comes down to a few factors:

  • Some quotes include office rent and visas; others quote only the bare license fee, which makes the “starting from” figures look much lower than a realistic total cost

  • Share capital affects notarization costs, since higher declared capital can increase MOA-related fees

  • Activity-specific approvals – for example, food trading, medical goods, or other regulated categories – can add additional government fees not reflected in a generic estimate

  • Office rent varies enormously by location and size, and since market fees are calculated as a percentage of rent, this indirectly affects your total government fee as well

  How to Get an Accurate Number for Your Specific Case

  Because so many of these components depend on your specific activity, office choice, and visa needs, the most reliable way to know your actual cost is to:

  1. Confirm your exact business activity code with DET, since this determines whether the general trading activity fee applies in full or whether a narrower classification might fit your business better

  2. Decide on your office arrangement early, since this single decision affects both Ejari costs and the market fee calculation

  3. Get a written, itemized quote from your setup advisor or directly through the DET portal, rather than relying on a single bundled headline number

  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. Is AED 15,000 the total cost of a General Trading License in Dubai?

  No. AED 15,000 typically refers to the dedicated general trading activity fee alone. The total first-year cost, including license issuance, MOA notarization, office-related fees, and any visas, is generally significantly higher.

  2. Why does a General Trading License cost more than a regular commercial license?

  Because it grants the right to trade across a broad range of legally permitted goods rather than a narrow, specific category, DET applies a dedicated additional activity fee that doesn’t apply to more limited trading classifications.

  3. Do I need an office to get a General Trading License?

  Yes. Mainland licenses, including the General Trading License, require a registered physical office with a valid Ejari registration, which adds a separate cost on top of the core license fees.

  4. Is the General Trading License fee an annual or one-time charge?

  It’s an annual fee, since mainland trade licenses in Dubai require yearly renewal, and the general trading activity fee is typically charged again at each renewal cycle.

  5. Can I reduce my costs by choosing a Specific Trading License instead?

  Potentially, yes, if your business only needs to trade in a defined set of product categories, since a Specific Trading License avoids the dedicated general trading activity fee that applies to the broader classification.

  6. Does the government fee include visa costs?

  No. Visa costs are separate from the core license fees and are charged per person, typically ranging from AED 4,000 to AED 6,000 per multi-year residency visa, including medical testing and Emirates ID issuance.

  7. Are there additional approvals required for certain trading activities?

  Yes. Depending on what you plan to trade – food products, medical goods, or other regulated categories – additional sector-specific approvals from relevant authorities may be required, each carrying its own separate fee.

  8. Why do online cost estimates for a General Trading License vary so much?

  Estimates differ because some quote only the bare license fee while others include office rent, visas, and additional approvals, and because office rent itself varies enormously depending on location and size, which also affects the municipality’s market fee calculation.

  Final Thoughts

  The Cost of General Trading License Dubai-based businesses actually pay isn’t one number – it’s a combination of the trade name reservation, initial approval, MOA notarization, the mandatory general trading activity fee, license issuance, market fees, Chamber of Commerce membership, office and Ejari costs, and any visas. Understanding each component individually is the only way to accurately budget for your setup, rather than relying on a single advertised “starting from” price.

  If you’d like an itemized, activity-specific breakdown of exactly what your General Trading License would cost based on your business plan, office needs, and visa requirements, Takween Advisory helps founders get a clear, accurate picture of their total setup cost before committing to a structure, so there are no surprises once the application is underway.

  This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Government fees, activity classifications, and licensing costs in Dubai are subject to change and can vary based on specific business activity, so it’s advisable to confirm current fees directly with DET or a qualified advisor before proceeding with your application.

  Lily replied 3 weeks ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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