Key takeaways
- Adding an activity to a UAE trade licence means applying to the authority that issued the licence: Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) for Dubai mainland companies, or the free zone itself, such as JAFZA through the Dubai Trade portal or Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) under its licensing regulations.
- DET lists a fee of AED 500 to request an amendment to a Dubai trade licence, and the request needs the existing licence plus an external approval where the new activity is regulated (as of 13 October 2026).
- JAFZA states a processing time of 3 working days and an additional activity fee of AED 500 per activity, on top of the amendment charge (as of 13 October 2026).
- A UAE company should not trade in a new activity until the amended licence is issued: SHAMS regulations allow the free zone to suspend or cancel a licence if a company carries on a different activity without prior approval.
- A company registered with the FTA must notify it of changes to its registration details within 20 business days of the change; the amendment service on EmaraTax is free.
- A free zone company that relies on the 0% corporate tax rate as a Qualifying Free Zone Person should check the new activity against the qualifying activities list before applying, because income from the wrong activity can cost it the 0% rate.
How do I add an activity to my trade licence?
You apply to the authority that issued your licence, with the existing licence and any approvals the new activity needs, and you pay its amendment fee. The portal and the exact forms depend on whether you hold a Dubai mainland, free zone or other emirate licence.
- Check that the activity exists in your licensing authority's activity list. SHAMS, for example, publishes the categories of activity that may be licensed (Article 8.2 of its Companies and Licensing Regulations).
- Find out whether the activity needs an external approval. DET lists "modification of activity: external approval" as a requirement on its amendment service page.
- Collect the approval, if one is needed, from the regulator that controls the activity.
- Submit the amendment request. For Dubai mainland, DET accepts requests at a service centre or through its website; for JAFZA, an authorised user logs in to the Dubai Trade portal, opens "License", and selects "License Activity Amendment - Approval"; for SHAMS, the licensee applies to the Authority under Article 11 of its regulations.
- Pay the fee.
- Collect the amended licence. JAFZA emails it once the process is complete; SHAMS reissues a replacement licence on approval.
Abu Dhabi runs this through TAMM, which lists an "Amend Economic Licence - Commercial" service. Qawi could not read the service details on that page, so check the current requirements and fees there before you apply.
What approvals does a new activity need?
A new activity needs an external approval when it is regulated by an authority other than the one that issues your licence. DET names this as a requirement for activity changes; it does not list which activities need one on that page, so ask your licensing authority for the specific approval list.
Free zones add their own gatekeeping. SHAMS can approve or refuse a variation (Article 11), and its decisions on matters under the Regulations are final (Article 2.5). JAFZA's guide says environment, health and safety approval is not required for office or workstation facilities, and is silent on other facility types, so a warehouse or industrial unit may face extra checks.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take?
The amendment fee itself is modest, but the licence fee can change with the activity, so the real cost depends on your licence category. The figures below are the ones the authorities publish, as of 13 October 2026.
| Authority | Published fee | Processing time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai mainland (DET) | AED 500 to request a trade licence amendment | Not stated on the service page | Any licence fee change and the external approval fee are not covered by this figure |
| JAFZA | AED 500 amendment charge, plus AED 500 per additional activity; during licence validity the full licence fee also applies | 3 working days | Amending at renewal means the licence fee plus the AED 500 amendment charge |
| SHAMS | No fixed variation fee in the regulations | Not stated | Article 19 allows fees "if required by the Authority"; the fee comes from SHAMS's published fee schedule |
| Abu Dhabi (TAMM) | Not verified | Not verified | Check the TAMM service page |
AED 500: Dubai DET's listed fee for a request to amend a trade licence, including adding an activity. Source: DET service page "Request to Amend a Trade License", checked 13 October 2026.
Timing in practice usually depends on the external approval, not the licensing authority, because the approving regulator runs its own queue. That is reasoning from how the process is structured, not a published figure.
What do I need to update after the licence changes?
Once the amended licence is issued, you need to update the FTA, your bank and your internal records so they match the new activity. The FTA step has a deadline; the others do not, but they cause problems if you skip them.
- FTA: A registered person must notify the FTA of changes to its tax record within 20 business days of the change, and the FTA's amendment service is free. On EmaraTax, you open the Taxable Person Account, choose the amendment type, enter the details, upload supporting documents and submit. If the new activity changes licence or business activity details held on your registration, treat it as a change to notify.
- Penalty exposure: A law firm summary of Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025, effective 14 April 2026, reports a penalty of AED 1,000 per violation for failing to inform the FTA of changes to tax records, and AED 5,000 for each repeat within 24 months. The earlier figures were AED 5,000 and AED 10,000. Check the current schedule on tax.gov.ae before relying on these numbers.
- Bank: Your bank's file holds the activity from your original licence. Ask whether it wants the amended licence on file; this is practical advice, not a published rule.
If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar is a calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Does the new activity affect my corporate tax position?
It can, if you are a free zone company claiming the 0% rate. A Qualifying Free Zone Person must derive Qualifying Income, and if it fails a condition it becomes subject to the standard rates from the start of the tax period in which it failed, according to the Ministry of Finance.
Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023 sets out the qualifying and excluded activities. Read the decision, or ask an adviser, before adding an activity such as trading in goods with mainland customers, because it may fall outside what the free zone rate covers. Mainland companies and free zone companies taxed at the standard rate face no such test, but the new activity's income is taxable in the normal way.
What most guides don't tell you
The licence is the permission, so the activity date is the issue date. SHAMS Article 10.1 says a licensee must only carry out the activity on its valid licence, and Article 13.2(f) lets the Authority suspend or cancel a licence for carrying on a different activity without prior approval. Invoicing a new service line while the amendment is pending is the mistake that creates the problem; wait for the issued licence.
Two different fees can hide behind one amendment. DET's AED 500 is the request fee. A new activity may sit in a different licence category with a different annual fee, as JAFZA's schedule shows for its trading, service and general trading categories. Ask for a written total before you pay, not just the request fee.
Amending at renewal can be cheaper than amending mid-year. JAFZA's published structure charges the full licence fee plus AED 500 for an amendment during validity, but the licence fee plus the AED 500 charge when the amendment comes with a renewal. If your renewal is a few months away and the activity is not urgent, the sequence matters. Confirm the position with your own free zone, because not every authority publishes this.
Your corporate tax registration may need to follow your licence. Many owners update the licence and forget the FTA record. Twenty business days is short enough to miss if the amendment arrives close to a VAT return.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Adding an activity can start new filing and renewal obligations, and missing the 20 business day FTA window is easy once the amended licence arrives. The free UAE compliance calendar lists the deadlines that apply to your company.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an audit report to renew my free zone licence?
It depends on the free zone, because each sets its own licensing rules. Check your free zone's published regulations or ask its registry before renewal; if you plan to amend your activities at the same time, confirm both requirements together.
How do I remove an activity from my trade licence?
In Dubai, activity changes go through the same DET amendment service, which lists an AED 500 request fee as of 13 October 2026. In a free zone such as SHAMS, Article 11 of its regulations covers any variation to a licence and needs Authority approval, so removal follows the same application route.
How do I change the company name on my licence?
A name change is also an amendment to your licence, so you apply to the authority that issued it, and the new name usually needs that authority's approval first. Once the licence shows the new name, notify the FTA within 20 business days if your company is registered with it.
What documents do I need for trade licence renewal?
The documents depend on the issuing authority, so use that authority's service page for the current list. For an amendment, DET's service page lists the existing trade licence as the base document, plus an external approval if the activity needs one.
About Qawi
About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn
Sources
- Dubai Economy and Tourism: Request to Amend a Trade License
- JAFZA: License activity amendments
- SHAMS: Companies and Licensing Regulations 2017
- FTA: Tax Records Amendment service
- Ministry of Finance: Corporate tax
- Ministry of Finance: Ministerial Decision No. 265 of 2023 on Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activities
- TAMM Abu Dhabi: Amend Economic Licence - Commercial (service listing only; details not verified)
- DLA Piper: Cabinet Decision amends the administrative penalties for violation of UAE tax laws (law firm summary, used for interpretation of Cabinet Decision No. 129 of 2025 only)
Last checked: 13 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.