Dubai Economic Department Licence: DED Is Now DET, Steps

Last updated 3 November 2026

If you are looking for the Dubai Economic Department licence, you want a DET licence. The old Department of Economic Development, DED, is now part of the Department of Economy and Tourism. The licence itself did not change in purpose: it lets a mainland company or individual trade in Dubai and across the UAE. What changed is the name on it and the portal you use, Invest in Dubai.

What does a DED trade licence show?

A DET trade licence lists the trade name, licence number, legal form, licensed activities, owners and managers, office address and the expiry date. It is valid for a year. You show it to open a bank account, rent an office, apply for visas and sign contracts.

What are the DED licence types?

Type	Covers	Notes
Commercial	Trading in goods, retail, import and export	Often needs an office or shop
Professional	Services given by a person or firm, such as consulting	See professional licence
Industrial	Making or processing goods	Needs a site that fits the activity
E-trader	Small online selling from home	See e-trader licence

DET describes each activity on Invest in Dubai, and one licence can carry several related activities.

How do you apply for a DED (DET) trade licence?

Sign in to Invest in Dubai. Residents use UAE Pass.
Choose a new licence and search your activity.
Reserve the trade name.
Get initial approval and any outside permit the activity needs.
Upload the documents, register the office and pay the fees.
Download the licence.

Owners abroad can usually start the same process through a licensed partner with a power of attorney. The company form and its documents are covered on mainland company setup.

How do you renew a DED trade licence?

Renew each year, before the expiry date, in the same portal. Renew the lease first, because the licence follows it. Change of activity, owner or address is a separate amendment. Free zone renewals work differently, see free zone licence renewal.

How much does a DED trade licence cost?

DET sets its own fees on Invest in Dubai. Agencies publish about AED 12,500 to AED 15,000 a year for a commercial licence (published prices of 2 setup agencies, checked October 2026). Office and visas extra. Read mainland licence cost.

How do I download or verify a DED licence?

To download or print the licence, follow the Dubai trade licence copy steps. The same page explains how to check that a Dubai licence is valid, by company name or licence number on DET's licence information search.

Ask us

Use the form to send your activity. We reply with the licence type that fits and a partner quote. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is independent and is not DET.

Sources

Invest in Dubai, DET: https://investindubai.gov.ae
Published prices of 2 setup agencies: https://www.alaan.com/blog/dubai-trade-licence-cost-requirements-guide and https://voffice.co.id/blog/en/types-of-trade-licenses-in-dubai/

Get free quotes from several free zones

Tell us about a Dubai DET trade licence: your activity, the visas and the office you need. We pass it to the free zones that fit or to a licensed setup partner, and reply with options you can compare side by side.

UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is an independent directory, not a free zone or a government office. You pay nothing for using this form.

Questions people ask

Is the DED licence the same as a DET licence?

Yes in practice. DED was merged into the Department of Economy and Tourism. The same mainland licence is now issued by DET, and many people and agencies still say DED.

What are the main licence types?

Commercial for trading, professional for services and industrial for manufacturing. There is also a small e-trader licence for home-based online sellers. Each has its own office and approval rules.

Where do I apply for a DET trade licence?

Through Invest in Dubai, the DET business portal. You sign in, choose the activity and follow the steps for a new licence. Sign-in uses UAE Pass for residents.

What does the licence show?

The trade name, licence number, legal form, activities, owners and managers, address and expiry date. Banks and landlords ask for it, so keep a current copy. See how to get a copy on the trade licence copy page.

How is a DED licence renewed?

Yearly, online, before the expiry date. A late renewal brings fines, and the lease and the activity approvals must be valid first.

What is a DED license in Dubai?

It is the mainland trade licence issued by the Dubai Economic Department, which is now part of DET. It lets a company or individual trade in Dubai and across the UAE. The licence shows the trade name, activities, owners and expiry date, and you renew it every year.

Is there a DED professional licence?

Yes. A professional licence covers services given by a person or firm, such as consulting. It is one of the main licence types next to commercial and industrial. DET lists the activities on Invest in Dubai, so search yours there before you apply.

What DED services can I use online?

On Invest in Dubai you can apply for a new licence, renew it each year, amend the activity, owner or address, and download the licence. Residents sign in with UAE Pass. Outside approvals for some activities are separate.

Dubai Economic Department licence (DED, now DET)