E-commerce license in Dubai. From AED 5,999.
Sell online legally from the UAE — through your own store, Amazon, Noon or social channels. We match the license to what you actually sell, then handle registration and residence visas — and tell you what your bank and payment provider will want before you apply to them.
- E-commerce license from AED 5,999 — 100% foreign ownership
- Issued in 2–5 working days, subject to activity and approvals
- Own store, Amazon, Noon, social selling and dropshipping covered
- Residence visas included; guidance on platforms and payment gateways
Book your free 30-minute consultation
Four quick questions, then pick up the phone. No charge, no obligation.
- Trusted by 75,000+ companies set up
- Since 2010 helping entrepreneurs start
- 15+ languages spoken
- 1 hr callback promise
Your Dubai e-commerce license, matched to how you sell
Five ways of selling online from Dubai, and what each means for your license, your stock and your payment setup. Most stores end up on more than one row — which is exactly why the activity list is worth getting right at the start.
| How you sell | What that means | License activity | Stock & fulfilment | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your own online store | A branded website you own and run | E-commerce / online trading | Your choice — UAE warehouse, 3PL or supplier-direct | Payment gateway needs a license and bank account first |
| Amazon, Noon & marketplaces | Selling through a platform’s storefront | E-commerce plus the product activity | Usually the platform’s fulfilment centre | Each marketplace has its own trade-license document checks |
| Social selling | Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp order-taking | E-commerce / online trading | Often held by you or a local supplier | A license is still required — selling socially is not exempt |
| Dropshipping | Supplier ships direct to your customer | E-commerce, with supplier terms reviewed | No UAE stock held | Banks ask more questions — your profile needs to explain the model |
| Multi-channel | Own store plus marketplaces or social | Broader activity list from the outset | Mixed — plan it before you file | Cheaper to license the full scope now than amend later |
What an e-commerce license in Dubai actually permits
An e-commerce license is a trade license whose registered activity is selling online. It lets you legally sell goods or services to customers over the internet from a UAE-registered business — open a corporate bank account, apply for a payment gateway, sponsor residence visas and import stock under your own customs code.
What it does not do is decide what you may sell. That comes from the specific activities listed on the license. A general e-commerce activity covers ordinary consumer goods; cosmetics, supplements, medical items, food and electronics carry additional approvals from the relevant authority. Selling something outside your listed activities is the most common compliance problem we see, and amending a license after the fact costs a government fee and time.
Selling through Instagram or WhatsApp is not an exemption — if you are trading commercially from the UAE, the license requirement is the same as it is for a website. A free zone e-commerce license starts from AED 5,999 and gives you 100% ownership; mainland is quoted separately and is worth considering if you intend to hold stock and deliver within the UAE yourself.
Partnered with almost every free zone in the UAE
- Meydan FZ Dubai
- DIFC Dubai
- RAKEZ Ras Al Khaimah
- IFZA Dubai
- Fujairah Creative City Fujairah
- SHAMS Sharjah
- DMCC Dubai
- ADGM Abu Dhabi
And many more
What to resolve before you launch in Dubai
Build the scope you need into your proposal. Your advisor confirms what is included, what is optional and any third-party charges before you commit.
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Products & licensed activity
Exactly what you intend to sell, mapped to the authority’s activity codes. Cosmetics, supplements, food, medical items and electronics each trigger their own approvals, and it is far cheaper to list them now than to amend later.
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Jurisdiction fit
Free zone or mainland, decided on where your customers are and whether you will hold and deliver stock inside the UAE yourself — not on which license is quickest to issue.
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License application
Trade name reservation, activity selection, initial approval and the license filing itself, with the authority correspondence handled for you.
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Stock & fulfilment
Whether you hold inventory, use a fulfilment provider or ship direct from an overseas supplier. This changes your customs requirements and what your bank will ask about.
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Banking & payment readiness
We prepare your corporate bank application and make the introductions. For payment gateways and e-commerce platforms we advise only — what they assess, what documents they want and how to present your model. Opening those accounts, and the platform build itself, stays with you.
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Visas & ongoing support
Residence visas for you and any team, corporate tax registration, accounting and annual renewal, planned alongside the license rather than after it.
Talk it through with an advisor before you commit to a license scope.
Price your Dubai e-commerce setup around your store
A useful proposal starts with what you sell and how orders reach customers. Your final figure for an e-commerce license in Dubai depends on product categories, visa count and jurisdiction. These are the honest starting points.
Payment plans available — the cost can be spread rather than paid up front.
- E-commerce license
- from AED 5,999
- Free zone license — Dubai
- from AED 12,500
- Free zone license — other emirates
- from AED 9,999
- Mainland e-commerce license
- Quoted individually
Starting prices, exclusive of government fees that vary by activity and visa count. Mainland pricing depends on activity and premises, so we quote it directly rather than publishing a figure that would mislead you. Every line is itemised in your written proposal before you commit.
What sits outside an e-commerce license quote
Whoever you end up using, separate these three before you compare. A license headline often leaves out the things that actually get your store trading.
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01
Products & licensed activities
How many activities the quote includes, whether your specific product categories are among them, and what each additional activity or approval costs to add.
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02
Inventory & operating needs
Whether a customs code, warehousing or a fulfilment arrangement is needed, and whether any of it is inside the figure. Website build, platform fees, advertising and shipping always sit outside company setup.
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03
Founder visas & what renews
How many visas the package allows and what each extra costs, plus what recurs annually — license renewal, visa renewals, corporate tax and accounting. First-year and running cost are rarely the same.
Ask any consultant three questions: what is included, what is optional, and what renews. If the answer is not in writing before you pay, the comparison you are making is not a real one.
From product range to trading, in four steps
Getting an e-commerce license in Dubai runs through four stages, and you keep the same advisor across all of them — from the first call through to your first renewal.
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Step 1Map your store
What you sell, where you sell it, who your customers are and how orders reach them. 20 minutes is usually enough.
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Step 2Choose the license route
We recommend the jurisdiction and the activity list that covers your catalogue, and send a written costing including visas.
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Step 3Register the business
Trade name reserved, activities approved, license issued and your customs code registered if you are importing.
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Step 4Get ready to trade
Immigration file opened, visas processed and bank introduction made. We brief you on what platforms and payment gateways will ask for — you open those accounts yourself.
Make the most of your first call
20 minutes goes a long way if you bring 3 things. Nothing needs to be final — rough answers are enough for us to set the right license scope. If you already sell online, a link to your store helps.
- The product categories you plan to sell, even roughly
- Which channels you will use — own store, marketplace, social, or several
- Where stock will sit and who ships to the customer
You do not need every decision settled to start the conversation — that is what the call is for.
Meet the team behind your next chapter
15 years in the UAE, 75,000 companies set up and 15+ languages spoken across the floor. Your advisor stays with you from the first call through to your first renewal — no handover to a processing team you have never spoken to.
Book A Free Consultation
Trusted by 75,000+ Entrepreneurs
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“From start to finish, the process was incredibly smooth and stress-free.”
I had an excellent experience with the team assisting me with my visa renewal. From start to finish, the process was incredibly smooth and stress-free.
A huge thank you to Racky, Roxanne, and Julie — their communication was outstanding throughout. Every step was clearly explained, instructions were simple and easy to follow, and they were always quick to respond to any questions I had. Their professionalism and attention to detail gave me complete confidence that everything was being handled properly.
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I had an excellent experience with Creative Zone and couldn’t be more satisfied with their service. The entire team is extremely efficient and professional, and everything was handled with impressive speed from start to finish. What really stands out is their well-organized logistics, which makes both sending and receiving documentation smooth, clear, and stress-free.
Creative Zone is a reliable and trustworthy agency that I highly recommend to anyone looking for fast, efficient, and well-managed services. An outstanding experience overall!
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“I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to establish a business.”
They were incredibly professional, responsive, and knowledgeable about every step of the process. The team made what can often be a complicated setup feel smooth and stress-free. Their attention to detail and commitment to getting everything right stood out. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to establish a business efficiently and with complete confidence.
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Creative Zone recently helped me out sorting my Emirates ID. The process was quick and smooth. They were always happy to help with any questions I had and supported me with the required documents. If you're looking to get your Emirates ID sorted - highly recommend using Creative Zone.
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“..incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful..”
I had a great experience with Creative Zone! From the very beginning, their team was incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. Every question I had was answered clearly and with patience. They made the process feel smooth and stress-free, which I truly appreciated. Special thanks to Judianna, for her professionalism and prompt response to my follow-ups - quick and reliable. I highly recommend Creative Zone to anyone looking for trustworthy business set-up support in the UAE! Kudos guys.
Roan Abellera
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a consultation useful if I haven’t worked out my product range yet?
Yes — and it is better to have the conversation before you commit to a catalogue. Start with the broad category you intend to sell and the channels you want to use. We will tell you which activities that needs, which product types carry extra approvals, and how wide to set the scope so you are not amending the license in 6 months. You do not need a finished business plan to start the conversation.
2. How much does an e-commerce license in Dubai cost?
From AED 5,999 for a free zone e-commerce license, which includes 100% foreign ownership. What moves the final figure is your product categories, how many residence visas you need and whether any of your products require additional approvals. Mainland is quoted separately because premises and activity costs vary. Payment plans are available, so the cost can be spread rather than paid up front.
3. Does an e-commerce license include a website?
No, and be wary of anyone implying otherwise. The license is your legal permission to trade. Building the storefront, the domain, platform subscriptions, advertising and fulfilment are separate, and we do not build or register those for you — we advise on which platform suits your model and what it will need from your license. We tell you plainly which items sit outside the proposal so the comparison you make between consultants is a fair one.
4. Can I sell on my own website and on Amazon or Noon?
Yes, and you should tell us at the outset if that is the plan. One license can cover multiple channels provided the activity list is set wide enough at the start. Each marketplace also runs its own onboarding and will ask for trade license documents in a particular format — we prepare for that rather than letting it surprise you after issue.
5. What if I use dropshipping or a fulfilment partner?
Both are workable. Tell your advisor who supplies the products, where stock physically sits and who delivers to the customer. Dropshipping in particular attracts more questions during bank onboarding, because there is no UAE inventory to point at, so the business profile needs to explain the model clearly from the start.
6. Will I be able to take card payments?
You need a corporate bank account and a payment gateway, and both sit outside the license. We prepare the bank application and make the introduction. For the payment gateway we advise rather than apply on your behalf — we tell you what providers assess (product type, expected volumes, chargeback risk) and what documents they will want, and you open the account. The provider makes its own decision either way, so be wary of anyone guaranteeing approval.
7. Do I need a license to sell on Instagram or TikTok?
If you are trading commercially from the UAE, yes. Selling through social channels carries the same licensing requirement as a website, and enforcement has tightened. The upside is that it is straightforward and inexpensive to do properly — and a license is what lets you take card payments and sponsor your own residence visa.
8. Can I add more products after launch?
You can, through a license amendment with a government fee and a processing period. That is why we ask about your expected range at the first call rather than only what you are launching with. Listing a wider scope at the outset usually costs less than amending twice in the first year.
9. Does the license come with a residence visa?
It comes with a visa allocation, and how many depends on the package and jurisdiction you choose. The visas themselves are processed after the license is issued — establishment card, immigration file, medical and Emirates ID. We handle those in-house and quote them alongside the license rather than afterwards.