Key takeaways
- A UAE trade licence renewal has no single national document list: the authority that issued your licence (Dubai Economy and Tourism for Dubai mainland companies, or your free zone) sets the requirements, and Dubai says the documents "differ according to the business activity".
- A Dubai mainland company cannot renew its trade licence unless its premises contract is registered with RERA (the Ejari system); the Dubai help guide states "you will not be able to renew your license" without it.
- A renewed Dubai trade licence is valid for one year, and the online service accepts renewals before or after the expiry date.
- Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) requires a licensee to renew before the licence expires, and its regulations let it suspend or cancel a licence not renewed within six months of expiry.
- Ejari registration costs AED 100 plus AED 10 knowledge and AED 10 innovation fees, and AED 177.75 in total through the app or website once the service partner fee is added (DLD, checked 12 October 2026).
Which documents do I need to renew a UAE trade licence?
There is no universal list: your licensing authority decides, and the list depends on your business activity. Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) states that the documents required "differ according to the business activity", and the DET renewal service page tells you to "submit all requirements" without naming them.
The practical file is predictable even when the official list isn't. Before you start, gather:
- Your current licence and licence number
- The registered tenancy contract (Ejari for Dubai mainland) or your free zone lease or flexi desk agreement
- The person serial number of the owner or manager on the licence
- Any activity approvals from other authorities that your activity needs
- Up-to-date owner contact details, because DET warns when they're outdated
Treat that as a working checklist, not an official list. The authority can ask for more, and what it asks for can change.
| Licensing authority | Official document list published? | Renewal conditions confirmed on official pages | Where to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai mainland (DET) | No, documents "differ according to the business activity" | RERA-registered premises contract; external approvals where the activity needs them | DET e-services and service centres |
| SHAMS (Sharjah Media City) | Not in the regulations text checked | Renew before expiry (Article 12); fees and fines must be paid | SHAMS Companies and Licensing Regulations 2024; SHAMS team |
| Other free zones and emirates | Varies by authority | Varies by authority | The issuing authority's own portal |
Accurate as of 12 October 2026.
Do I need Ejari to renew my Dubai trade licence?
Yes, for Dubai mainland licences: the DET online renewal guide requires your premises contract to be registered with RERA, and says that without it you cannot renew. Ejari is the Dubai Land Department's system for registering tenancy contracts.
The online renewal flow even asks for the RERA contract number so it can pull the rent amount. If your lease has lapsed, renew the tenancy and register it first, then start the licence renewal.
| Ejari fee item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | 100 |
| Knowledge fee | 10 |
| Innovation fee | 10 |
| Total via app or website, including service partner fee | 177.75 |
| Total via trustee centre | 220 |
Source: Dubai Land Department Ejari service page, checked 12 October 2026. Fees can change.
How do I renew a trade licence in Dubai step by step?
You can renew online through the DET business dashboard or in person at a service centre. The online route follows nine steps:
- Log in to the DET business dashboard and open Renew License under My Transactions.
- Enter the licence number and click Renew.
- Confirm the licence details, and update your contact details if the system warns they're outdated.
- Enter the RERA contract number for your premises and click Get rent amount from RERA.
- Review the accommodation fee (for registered owners and partners) and the general cleaning fee.
- Upload the required documents in Attach Documents.
- Click Apply for Renewal, which only appears once every required document is uploaded.
- Wait while DET reviews the application; if external approvals are needed, DET forwards it to the relevant parties.
- Pay once DET issues the payment letter.
Source: DET renewal help guide (eservices.dubaided.gov.ae), checked 12 October 2026.
How much does a Dubai trade licence renewal cost?
The total depends on your activity, your premises and your licence type, so no single figure is reliable. The DET renewal service page lists the fee components below, and DET offers an estimate tool that asks for your licence number, person serial number and yearly rent.
| Fee item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Trade licence register fee | 600 |
| Knowledge Dirham fee | 10 |
| Innovation Dirham fee | 10 |
| Trade name advertisement | 350 |
| Service request form | 50 |
| Foreign trade name | 1,000 to 3,000 |
| General trading | 3,000 |
| Investment activity | 3,000 |
| Business centre | 5,000 |
| Construction contracting activities | 3,000 |
Source: DET renewal service page, checked 12 October 2026. The page doesn't say which items apply to which licence, and market, accommodation and cleaning fees are calculated separately in the online flow, so run the estimate before you pay.
If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
What changes if my company is in a free zone like SHAMS?
Free zone renewals follow the free zone's own rules, not DET's. The SHAMS Companies and Licensing Regulations 2024 say a licensee "must renew its Licence prior to the expiry of the current term of the Licence" (Article 12), and renewal is subject to any conditions SHAMS sets.
The same regulations let SHAMS suspend or cancel a licence if fees are unpaid, including renewal fees (Article 13.2(d)), if fines owed to any government authority are unpaid, or if the licensee has failed to renew for more than six months after expiry (Article 13.2(m)). The text we checked doesn't list renewal documents, a grace period, late fee amounts or audit requirements, so ask SHAMS for the current renewal checklist.
If your licence sits in a different free zone, check that zone's regulations: audit, lease and approval requirements differ between zones.
6 months: the period after expiry beyond which SHAMS may suspend or cancel a licence that hasn't been renewed. Source: SHAMS Companies and Licensing Regulations 2024, Article 13.2(m), checked 12 October 2026.
What most guides don't tell you
Missing approvals stall the payment, not just the application. In the DET flow, payment is only possible after DET issues a payment letter, and DET only does that once any external approvals come through. If your activity needs a sign-off from another authority, chase that before the licence expires.
The lease comes first. Because the RERA contract number drives the rent calculation and renewal is blocked without a registered contract, an expired Ejari can hold up the whole renewal. Treat the tenancy renewal as step zero, not a parallel task.
Old fines and unpaid fees can block you at a free zone. SHAMS can suspend or cancel a licence over unpaid fees or fines from any government authority. Settle them before applying, because a renewal fee doesn't clear them.
Your phone number matters. DET sends a text message shortly before the licence expires, and warns when owner contact details are outdated. If the number on file is a former partner's, you may not get the reminder.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
Licence, Ejari, visa and tax dates rarely line up, and missing one can hold up another. The free UAE compliance calendar lists your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my trade licence if I have unpaid fines? Probably not without settling them first: the SHAMS regulations list unpaid fees and unpaid government fines as grounds to suspend or cancel a licence. The DET renewal pages we checked don't address fines, so confirm with your authority before you apply.
Do I need an audit report to renew my free zone licence? It depends on the free zone: the SHAMS regulations text we checked doesn't list audited accounts as a renewal requirement, and other zones set their own rules. Ask your free zone for its current renewal checklist.
How much are the fines for an expired trade licence in Dubai? The DET renewal pages we checked don't state fine amounts, so Qawi doesn't quote one here. DET publishes a commercial compliance fines list; check it or your service centre for the figure that applies to you.
How do I add a new activity to my existing licence? Adding an activity is a licence amendment, not part of the renewal, and it can bring in new approvals and fees. Confirm the current steps with your licensing authority before you renew, so the renewal reflects the final activity list.
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
- DET: Renewal of a Trade License service page
- DET: Renew License online help guide
- DET: Estimate Cost of License Renewal help guide
- Dubai Land Department: Register / Renew Tenancy Contract (Ejari)
- SHAMS Companies and Licensing Regulations 2024 (PDF)
- Dubai.ae: Starting a Business
Last checked: 12 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.