ANCFZ
Ajman
- Price
- fromAED 5,047Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~2 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 4 visas
Best for: Startups and innovators, Budget founders
View packages →
Commercial / Trading Licence in the UAE
Buy, sell, import and export goods. 32 free zones issue it, from AED 5,047.
What is a commercial / trading licence?
A commercial (trading) licence lets your company buy, sell, import, export, distribute and store goods. You choose specific product groups — for example electronics, foodstuff or general trading.
General trading licences cover many unrelated product groups and usually cost more than a single-group trading licence.
Who it's for
- Importers and exporters
- Distributors
- Amazon / Noon sellers who hold stock
- Commodity traders
Example activities
- General Trading
- Electronics Trading
- Foodstuff Trading
- Garments & Textiles Trading
- Auto Spare Parts Trading
- Building Materials Trading
- Perfumes & Cosmetics Trading
- Freight Forwarding
- Warehousing & Storage
- Medical Equipment Trading
- Gold & Precious Metals Trading
- Diamond & Jewellery Trading
How to get one
- Confirm your exact activities with our advisor.
- Choose a free zone and package below (or let us recommend one).
- Pay online and upload your passport copy and photo.
- Receive your licence, then visas and bank account support.
Free zones offering a commercial / trading licence
AMCFZ
Ajman
- Price
- fromAED 5,149Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~2 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Freelancers, Content creators
View packages →
UAQ FTZ
Umm Al Quwain
- Price
- fromAED 5,665Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Lowest-cost founders, E-commerce and trading
View packages →
Ajman FZ
Ajman
- Price
- fromAED 5,768Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Budget traders, E-commerce sellers
View packages →
SHAMS
Sharjah
- Price
- fromAED 5,923Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~2 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Freelancers and content creators, Media and marketing agencies
View packages →
SPC
Sharjah
- Price
- fromAED 5,923Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: E-commerce sellers, Small traders
View packages →
RAKEZ
Ras Al Khaimah
- Price
- fromAED 6,180Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~5 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Budget startups, Manufacturers and industrial companies
View packages →
SRTIP
Sharjah
- Price
- fromAED 7,725Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~5 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Research and tech startups, Innovation projects
View packages →
Creative City
Fujairah
- Price
- fromAED 7,725Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Media and creative freelancers, Consultants on a budget
View packages →
Dubai South
Dubai
- Price
- fromAED 12,360Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~7 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Aviation and logistics companies, Traders near Al Maktoum Airport
View packages →
FFZ
Fujairah
- Price
- fromAED 12,360Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~7 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 10 visas
Best for: Oil and bunkering traders, Port-linked logistics
View packages →
Meydan FZ
Dubai
- Price
- fromAED 12,875Estimated price
- Setup time
- ~3 days
- Visa quota
- Up to 6 visas
Best for: Consultants, E-commerce sellers
View packages →
Prices are “from” estimates and subject to free zone fees. Confirm the final quote with our advisor before you pay.
Commercial / Trading Licence FAQs
How much does a commercial / trading licence cost in the UAE?
In free zones it starts from around AED 5,047 (ANCFZ) for a licence without visas. Dubai zones and premium addresses cost more. Use our calculator for a full first-year estimate.
Which free zones offer a commercial / trading licence?
32 free zones on our list, including ANCFZ, AMCFZ, UAQ FTZ, Ajman FZ, SHAMS, SPC.
Can I combine it with other licence types?
Many free zones let you combine activities from different groups — for example trading with consultancy — on one licence, sometimes for an extra fee.
How long does it take?
Usually 2–7 working days for the licence once documents are complete, then 1–3 weeks for residence visas.
Get your free, no-obligation quote
Tell us about your business. An advisor will recommend the best free zone and send you a full cost breakdown — usually within one working hour.
- Honest advice across all free zones
- Full cost breakdown — no hidden fees
- Licence, visa, bank account and tax in one place