How Long Does It Take to Get a Dubai Trade License?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A DUBAI TRADE LICENSE?

Dubai has surely made its name as the world’s business hub, and every entrepreneur and business owner dreams of setting up a business there. If you are planning to start your business in Dubai, that must be very exciting, but the very first thing you will need to do is get a trade license.

It is the very first step of setting up a business in Dubai, and it can sometimes take longer than expected. It is important for business owners to understand the timeline of getting a Dubai trade license so they can launch and plan business operations smoothly and successfully.

Let’s dive deep into the factors that affect the licensing process, things that can help speed up this process, and how Sky Way Corporate Service Provider can make things easier and faster for you.

Different Trade License Types in Dubai

There is no single form of a Dubai trade license. There are different types of licenses for setting up different types of businesses. Based on the type of license you need, the requirements and processing time also vary. Here are examples of different types of licenses:

Professional License

Professional licenses actually have a faster processing time, ranging from 5 to 7 days, usually. A professional license is required if your business is related to professional activities or sells services.

Industrial License

This type of license is required for companies involved in manufacturing activities. You can get this license in about 10 to 15 days. It takes more time to process because of the extra paperwork requirement.

Tourism License

Tourism license also takes relatively longer, usually 7 to 14 days, because it depends on the nature of the operations.

Factors That Determine the Timeline of Dubai Trade License

Getting a Dubai trade license depends on various aspects. Depending on these factors, the timeline to get a trade license thus varies. On average, it will take 5 to 15 business days for you to get your Dubai trade license, depending on all these factors. If you want to have a smooth licensing process, here are some crucial things you must keep in mind that can potentially affect the timeline

Office Requirements

Depending on where you want to set up your business, you will need a physical office or a virtual one. Virtual offices take less time to set up than physical offices. For starting a mainland company, you will need a physical office, and for that, you will need Ejari registration, leasing, etc.

Proper Documentation

Documentation preparedness is the key to speeding up the licensing process, and poor documentation is the key to slowing down the whole process. It is very important to make sure no documentation is incomplete, mistranslated, or missing when applying for a trade license.

Visa and Bank Account Requirements

This step is needed after getting a trade license, but sometimes these things are done alongside the whole licensing process. You have to apply for Emirates IDs, visas, corporate bank accounts, etc., in order to run a business in Dubai. These processes can often take longer than expected.

Business Type

Whether you want to be a trader, consultant, or an SME, you will need a trade license to operate. However, for some types of activities, the special approvals can take some extra time. Some businesses need approval and clearance from external authorities, such as financial services, healthcare, media, etc. This can extend the duration of getting a trade license

Business Name

To set up a business in Dubai, you have to choose a business name and get it approved. After the name is approved, you also have to apply for initial approval. The Department of Economic Development, i.e., DED, provides initial approval. Doing these things and getting approval often takes 1-2 days.

Business Jurisdiction

There are three jurisdictions, namely the free zone, mainland, and offshore. Setting up a business in a free zone is the fastest route and takes 2 to 7 business days. If you want to set up your business in the mainland or onshore, then prepare for some extra steps and more approvals. It takes 5 to 10 business days. If you want to take the offshore option, it has its own timeline,

Sky Way Corporate Services Is Here To Help You

If you want to get a Dubai trade license and help in establishing your Business Setup For Dubai, you need a solid consultant, i.e., an expert in this field, to help you with all the complicated stuff. This is where Sky Way Corporate Services comes into play. We help you with the whole process with our exceptional services.

Business Setup and Company Formation

we guide you about license application, name registration, and all other formalities successfully and handle all aspects of International Trade Finance for the UAE

Payment Gateway Solution

with our services, your business will be able to accept online payments without any hurdles

Corporate and SME Financing

with Skyway CSP, you will be able to access working capital when your company is up and running

Bank Account Opening

Skyway handles all the complexities of the UAE banking system, so you don’t have to worry about it

Accounting, VAT, and Corporate Tax Advisory

Getting your license is not enough to keep a business running; you also have to ensure compliance, and Skyway makes sure of it

Leasing Corporate Solutions

You get the support to set up your physical or virtual office legally

Breakdown of Typical Timeframe for Getting a Dubai Trade License

Each business is unique and has its own requirements, plus the rules and regulations keep changing, so there is no defined timeframe for getting a Dubai trade license. However, based on past experiences and expert guidelines, we can predict how long it will typically take based on these things

Free Zone License

If you have all the documentation ready and in place,getting a free zone license will take up to 3 to 10 working days

Mainland License

Straightforward cases for businesses on the mainland, the licensing process will take 5 to 10 business days

Offshore License

Considering the structure and legal formalities, setting up offshore usually takes 1 to 2 weeks or more

Visa and Bank Account

You cannot operate a business in Dubai without a visa processing and bank account opening.

What You Can Do To Accelerate The Licensing Process

Use these strategies to ensure there will be no hiccups during the process. The smoother the licensing process goes, the quicker you will get your license and be able to start running your business.

Meticulously Prepare Documents:

It is critical to have documents prepared in advance. Proof of address, MOAs, passports, activity descriptions, any attestations, and translations must all be ready.

Opt For A Fast-Track Free Zone:

Free zone licenses are the quickest ones to obtain, and some free zones even allow ‘instant licenses’ depending on the type of business.

Choose the Right Professional Consultant:

Working with a professional consultant like Sky Way Corporate Services can significantly reduce any delays. Not every business owner has complete knowledge of all these intricate matters of setting up a business abroad. So when you work with a professional consultant, they handle everything for you from name reservation to office registration and from licensing to visa and banking.

Utilize E-Portals To The Fullest:

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and it has now become an integral part of licensing, too. Many governments have developed digital portals that help in licensing and other processes. You can use such portals for initial approval, document submission, etc. Using these platforms, you can get approvals quickly.

Final Thoughts

Getting a Dubai trade license can be a quick process if you do things right. By choosing the right jurisdiction and working with a reliable consultant like Sky Way Corporate Services, you can get your Dubai trade license in less than 2 weeks. Expert help, right preparation, and proper documentation mean you will have your Dubai trade license in your hands quickly, and you will be able to launch your business smoothly in Dubai.