The first step in starting a business in Dubai is to become familiar with the policies and procedures established by the Ministry of Economic Development or DED Dubai. To help all new business owners and entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a business in Dubai, we have put together this article detailing the role of DEDs in Dubai and the various services they provide.
The Ministry of Economic Development is the government agency responsible for overseeing and managing the economic agenda of the Emirate of Dubai. Their goal is to improve and accelerate the sustainable growth of the Dubai economy through strategic plans and policies. Sami Al Kamzi is currently the CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Department.
The Department of Economic Development (DED) grants different types of licenses for different businesses in Dubai. For trading activities, this is a commercial license; for production activities – production license; a professional license is issued for the professional activities of the company. However, in this article, we will focus on everything you need to know about the Dubai DED Professional License.
The DED Professional License
The DED professional license in Dubai is issued to companies wishing to engage in the service sector. It is also awarded to technicians with professional degrees and extensive experience in specific professional fields.
Often, entrepreneurs do not understand whether to apply for a business license or professional license in Dubai. Certain commercial activities and professional licenses may be considered in Dubai. This is why it is always advised to consult with a business setup professional before applying for a trade license.
Who needs the license?
A trade license in Dubai is required to conduct any business or business activity. The Ministry of Economic Development has developed an administrative system that divides different departments into different licensing options in order to provide better control and constructive convenience. But what matters is that you choose the right trading license for your company.
Services offered by DED
In addition to overseeing the development of the Dubai business sector, the Ministry of Economic Development is also responsible for providing services related to the issuance, modification and management of Dubai business licenses, such as the DED electronic trader license.
DED Dubai can currently issue trade licenses for 2,100 activities. These commercial activities fall into four different categories: industrial, commercial, professional and tourism.
If you log into the DED website, you will be able to access five types of services through the electronic service portal. This is a list of all DED services that you can access on the website.
DED Licensing Service
- Update product name
- Update mobile phone number
- Services related to a legal contract
- Save product name
- Renew license
- Printing license
- Print legal contract
- Preliminary approval of the issuing branch
- Payment of inspection fines
- Licensing conditions
- License Contacts Management
- Legal agreement for the issuance of a license
- Instant license
- Get preliminary approval
- Approval of legal contracts
Report
- Partner license
Ask:
- Transaction / payment status
- Search for business activity
- Find license information
- Search by product name
- Search for sales and promotions
Public table
- Electronic form of business license
- Fill out the registration and permit application form.
How to get the license
To apply for a DED business license, you need to follow these steps.
- Choose between the Free Zone and mainland Dubai.
Before applying for a DED license in Dubai, business owners must determine if they want to do business in the “mainland of Dubai” or in a free zone. These are two business units, each with different benefits and regulations. Our guide to setting up a business will help you better understand mainland Dubai and free zones. If business owners want to set up a company in mainland Dubai, they only need to register with the Dubai DED.
- Determine the legal form of the company
Another important aspect is the determination of the legal form of the company or legal entity that it will take. The type of business activity, the number and nationality of owners, and the choice of ownership will influence the types of legal forms a company can take. According to the DED website, companies can choose from 16 legal forms.
- Get the documents Ready
After deciding on the legal form, the next step is to prepare all the documents to start the process of obtaining a business license in Dubai. Below is a list of documents required for a DED license.
- Valid company certificate
- Valid Initial Approval Certificate
- The lease is approved by the Dubai Municipality and certified by RERA (Ejari).
- Memorandum of Association (applicable to limited liability companies, single person companies, private joint stock companies (private joint stock companies), public joint stock companies, ordinary limited partnerships, partnership companies and civil companies)
- Agreement with a local service agency (applicable to UAE nationals representing your business in licensing and regulatory compliance).
- Government approval (applicable to certain types of business)
Businesses can issue trade name certificates and initial approval certificates using the electronic service platform on the DED website. However, a Memorandum of Association (MoA) must be drafted using legal forms such as DED Legal Affairs or Notary Public. Regarding the lease, it must be registered with Ejari for certification – here’s how to register an Ejari lease. Additional approvals can be obtained from the appropriate federal and local authorities. Once these documents have been prepared, you can apply for a permit to trade online.
You can print your DED license by logging into the DED e-services portal and choosing the Print License service. This is the easiest way to obtain a copy of a Dubai Trade License.
That concludes this guide to the Dubai DED Program. We hope you find this information sufficient to answer your questions about starting a business in Dubai.