Topic Summary
What an Export License in Dubai Covers
In Dubai, there is no standalone export license as a separate document. The right to export goods is built into a trade license that includes export or re-export activities. A free zone trade license or a mainland commercial license with the correct activity codes authorises you to export, subject to product-specific approvals where required.
Which Goods Need a Separate Approval Beyond the Export License in Dubai
Most general merchandise can be exported under a standard trade license. However, controlled, restricted, or dual-use goods, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, weapons, food products, and certain electronics, require additional permits or approvals from UAE federal authorities before export. The license is still the foundation; the permit sits on top of it.
How a Mainland Export License Works in Dubai
A mainland export license in Dubai is a commercial trade license issued by DET with export activity codes included. It allows the holder to export goods internationally and sell into the UAE domestic market. There is no separate export-only document; the license activity list defines the scope of permissible trade in all directions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Export License in Dubai
Getting an export license in Dubai means registering a trade license with the correct export activity codes, either through a free zone authority or DET for mainland. The process runs in six main steps: choose your structure, reserve a trade name, submit documents, obtain approvals for controlled goods, receive your license, and register with Dubai Trade for customs access.
What an Export License in Dubai Costs
An export license in Dubai costs between AED 12,500 and AED 18,200 at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone, depending on the visa package. Mainland DET license costs vary by activity type and office arrangement. Additional costs include controlled goods permits, certificate of origin fees, and annual Dubai Trade registration.
In 2026, Dubai's non-oil foreign trade surpassed AED 2.2 trillion, with exports and re-exports accounting for a significant share of that volume (Dubai Chamber, 2024). Dubai handles over 14 million TEUs of cargo annually (DP World, 2025). The UAE's standard GCC import duty rate is 5% of CIF value. Corporate tax stands at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000 (Federal Tax Authority, 2026). Exports of goods leaving the UAE are zero-rated for VAT at the 5% standard rate. If you're planning to move goods out of the UAE, the first question most traders ask is whether they need a dedicated export license Dubai or whether their existing trade license already covers it.
This guide explains exactly what an export license in Dubai covers, which activities sit inside a standard trade license and which need a separate approval, what restricted or controlled goods require additional permits, and what setup and compliance costs to expect, so you can structure your business correctly from day one.
What an Export License in Dubai Covers
How Export Authority Is Granted Through Your Trade License
A UAE trade license grants authority to conduct the activities listed on it. Export and re-export are listed activities, not separate licenses. You don't apply for an "export license Dubai" as a standalone document, you apply for a trade license and include export as one of the activity codes.
Free zone licenses issued by authorities such as Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone automatically permit export of goods within the licensed activity scope. Mainland commercial licenses issued by DET include export rights when the relevant activity codes are added at registration. The license itself is the legal instrument; customs declarations, shipping documents, and certificates of origin are the operational layer that sits on top of it.
Free zone trade license packages at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone start from AED 12,500 (0 Visa Package)
Dubai handles over 14 million TEUs of cargo annually (DP World, 2025)
Export and re-export are discrete activity codes, both can appear on one license
A general trading company licensed at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone lists import, export, and re-export of general merchandise on its license; that single document covers all three directions of trade without any additional export permit. That's the structure in practice, one license, multiple trade directions, no separate export document required.
Free Zone Versus Mainland: How Export Rights Differ
Free zone companies export directly to international markets without needing a separate mainland entity. Goods move from the free zone through UAE ports under duty-suspended status. Worth flagging here: goods in Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone are duty-suspended, not duty-exempt. The standard 5% GCC customs duty applies when goods enter the UAE mainland from the free zone.
Mainland companies can sell directly into the UAE domestic market and export internationally. Free zone companies exporting to the UAE mainland need a local distributor or a separate mainland entity to handle domestic sales. Neither structure requires an additional standalone export document, as long as the license activity codes are correct.
An electronics trader operating from a free zone ships consignments directly to Saudi Arabia; customs clearance uses the free zone trade license and a certificate of origin, no separate export permit is required. That's the practical reality for most general merchandise traders.
Dubai Export License: Free Zone vs Mainland at a Glance
Feature | Free Zone (DSBH) | Mainland (DET) |
|---|---|---|
Export activity codes included in trade license | Included as standard in all license packages | Must be selected and added at registration |
Sell directly into UAE domestic market | No, requires a local distributor or mainland entity | Yes, direct domestic sales permitted |
Goods duty-suspended in free zone | Yes, goods are duty-suspended while in the zone | No, standard 5% GCC duty applies on import |
Yes, all free zone licenses are 100% foreign-owned | Yes, in approved sectors under UAE FDI law | |
Starting license cost | AED 12,500 (0 Visa Package) | Varies by activity, office type, and share capital |
Annual renewal required | Yes, at the same license tier | Yes, non-renewal suspends all trade activities |
Which Goods Need a Separate Approval Beyond the Export License in Dubai
Controlled and Restricted Product Categories
Pharmaceuticals and medical devices: Require Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) export permits. Product registration can take 3–6 months for pharmaceuticals (MOHAP, 2025).
Food and agricultural products: May require UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment certificates before export.
Dual-use and strategic goods: Regulated under UAE Federal Law No. 13 of 2007; a Strategic Goods permit from the Ministry of Economy is required (Ministry of Economy, 2024).
Chemicals, precursors, and hazardous materials: Need clearance from the relevant federal authority before shipment.
Wildlife and CITES-listed species: Require CITES permits issued through the UAE federal authority.
A medical supplies trader exporting surgical instruments holds a standard trade license but must also obtain a MOHAP export permit for each shipment of regulated medical devices. The license authorises the business; the permit authorises the specific consignment. That distinction matters, don't assume the license alone covers the shipment.
Ancillary Certificates That Accompany Exports
Certificate of origin: Issued by Dubai Chamber or the relevant authority; confirms UAE origin and is required by most importing countries. Fees vary by shipment value.
Health certificates: Required for food exports; issued by the relevant municipality or federal body.
Phytosanitary certificates: Required for plant-based goods by many destination markets.
Halal certificates: Required by certain importing countries for food and beverage products.
A dates exporter based in Dubai obtains a certificate of origin from Dubai Chamber and a phytosanitary certificate for each consignment to the EU, both are shipment-level documents, not replacements for the trade license. None of these certificates substitute for the export license Dubai; they complement it on a per-shipment basis.
How a Mainland Export License Works in Dubai
DET Commercial License With Export Activities
DET issues commercial licenses for mainland companies. Export and re-export activities are added as activity codes during registration, they're not automatic, so you need to select them explicitly. A general trading commercial license from DET is the broadest option, covering multiple product categories under one license.
Mainland companies must have a physical office or a flexi-desk arrangement. Annual renewal is mandatory; failing to renew suspends export rights along with all other business activities. A mainland trading company in Dubai adds "export of foodstuffs" and "export of consumer electronics" as activity codes on its DET commercial license during registration, both activities are then covered under one annual license fee. That's the efficiency of getting the codes right at setup rather than amending later.
VAT and Tax Obligations for Exporters
Exports of goods from the UAE are zero-rated for VAT. The 5% VAT rate does not apply to goods physically leaving the UAE. But zero-rating is not an exemption from VAT registration, if your taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000, VAT registration is mandatory regardless of how much of your revenue is from exports.
Corporate tax at 9% applies to taxable net income above AED 375,000 per financial year. Free zone entities may qualify for the 0% free zone person rate on qualifying income if specific conditions are met under the Corporate Tax Law. Exporters must maintain customs exit documentation to substantiate zero-rating claims, a free zone exporter with AED 4 million in annual export revenue is zero-rated on those exports for VAT but must still file VAT returns and retain exit documentation. You can open a Dubai bank account online and manage tax filings through your business support services once licensed.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Export License in Dubai
The Six Steps to Obtain Your Export License
Step 1: Choose your legal structure. Free zone or mainland, based on whether you need to sell into the UAE domestic market or export internationally only. If you want to set up a company focused on international trade, a free zone is typically the faster and more cost-efficient path.
Step 2: Reserve your trade name. Check company name availability before submission to avoid delays. Name reservation is done through the relevant authority's portal.
Step 3: Submit incorporation documents. Passport copies, a completed application form, and a business plan if required by the authority.
Step 4: Apply for federal permits in parallel. If your product category is controlled, submit to MOHAP, the Ministry of Economy, or the relevant federal body at the same time, not after licensing.
Step 5: Pay license fees and receive your trade license. Confirm export activity codes are listed on the issued document before signing off.
Step 6: Activate your Dubai Trade customs profile. Register on Dubai Trade to submit export declarations electronically.
A cosmetics trader setting up at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone completes steps 1–3 online, applies in parallel to MOHAP for a cosmetics export notification (step 4), receives the free zone license within days (step 5), and activates a Dubai Trade account before the first shipment (step 6). Packages at Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone: 0 Visa Package at AED 12,500, 1 Visa Package at AED 16,350, and 2 Visa Package at AED 18,200.
Build Your Customs Profile After Licensing
A Dubai Trade customs client code is required to submit export declarations electronically.
Register with Dubai Customs if shipping through Dubai ports or airports.
Freight forwarders can act on your behalf, but your trade license number must appear on all customs declarations.
Keep digital copies of all licenses, permits, and certificates; customs authorities may request them at any point.
Dubai airports handled over 2.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2023 (Dubai Airports). A new general trader registers on dubaitrade.ae the week their free zone license is issued and appoints a licensed freight forwarder to handle declarations, the forwarder uses the trader's license number on all export documents. That's the standard operating model for most new exporters.
What an Export License in Dubai Costs
Free Zone License Packages and What They Include
0 Visa Package: AED 12,500, trade license with export activity codes, no visa quota. Best for operators who don't need UAE residency through the company.
1 Visa Package: AED 16,350, trade license plus one residency visa entitlement.
2 Visa Package: AED 18,200, trade license plus two residency visa entitlements.
Packages include the free zone registration fee and the trade license; customs registration on Dubai Trade is a separate step handled through the portal.
Annual renewal fees apply; budget for renewal at the same license tier each year.
A solo trader starting an import-export operation chooses the 1 Visa Package at AED 16,350, covering the trade license and one residency visa, and then registers on Dubai Trade at no additional licensing cost. Use the business setup cost in Dubai calculator to confirm your exact figures before committing.
Additional Cost Items to Budget For
Certificate of origin per shipment: Fees vary by Dubai Chamber scale based on shipment value, typically AED 300–800 per consignment.
Controlled goods permits: MOHAP, Ministry of Economy, or other authority fees vary by product category; budget AED 2,000–4,000 per year for regulated sectors.
Freight forwarder fees: A
References
Frequently Asked Questions
