Licensing

E-Commerce License in Dubai

Sell online legally, from a marketplace storefront to your own platform.

Fixed price quoted up front
Mainland and every free zone
Licence, visas, banking, one team
Most licences in days, not weeks

An e-commerce licence permits selling goods and services online, whether through your own website or app, a marketplace such as Amazon or Noon, or social channels. Trading online in the UAE without a licence is not permitted, and payment gateways and marketplaces will ask for your trade licence during onboarding, so it is the first thing to put in place rather than an afterthought.

The licence also unlocks the operational layer that makes an online business work: a corporate bank account, a payment gateway merchant account, and the ability to import stock under your own customs code if you hold inventory.

The basics

An e-commerce licence is a trade licence whose registered activity is selling through electronic channels. It is available in both free zones and on the mainland, and the choice between them follows the same logic as any other business: where your customers are.

If you deliver to customers across the UAE, a mainland e-commerce licence keeps distribution simple. If you sell internationally, dropship, or sell mainly through marketplaces that handle fulfilment, a free zone package is usually the more efficient starting point.

Why it works

Sell legally online

Operate a compliant online business, which is a prerequisite for marketplaces and payment providers.

Payment gateway access

A trade licence and corporate bank account are required to obtain a merchant account and accept card payments.

Marketplace onboarding

Amazon, Noon and similar platforms require a valid UAE trade licence to register as a seller.

Import your own stock

Add a customs code to import inventory in your own name rather than relying on a third party importer.

Low entry cost

Free zone e-commerce packages are among the most affordable routes into a licensed UAE business.

Residence visas

The licence supports residence visas for you and your team, subject to the package or office you hold.

Scope

Depending on the exact activity registered, an e-commerce licence commonly covers the following models.

  • Selling physical products through your own online store
  • Selling through marketplaces such as Amazon and Noon
  • Dropshipping without holding inventory
  • Selling digital products and downloads
  • Subscription and membership services
  • Online booking and service platforms
  • Social commerce through Instagram and similar channels
Cost

E-commerce is one of the lower cost licences to obtain, particularly in a free zone where a flexi desk satisfies the facility requirement. Cost rises if you take a mainland licence, add visas, or need warehousing for inventory. Payment gateway setup is a separate commercial arrangement with the provider.

What makes up the cost

  • Licence and registration fee
  • Flexi desk or office facility
  • Establishment card and visas per person
  • Customs code if you import stock
  • Our professional fee, quoted as a fixed amount up front
Paperwork
  • Passport copies for every shareholder and the manager
  • Passport size photographs on a white background
  • Three proposed company names in order of preference
  • A description of your products and sales channels
  • Proof of address dated within the last three months
  • Emirates ID and visa copy if you are already a UAE resident
  • No objection certificate from your current sponsor where applicable
The process
01

Pick the model and jurisdiction

We map your channels, marketplace, own site or social, and your delivery footprint to the right jurisdiction and package.

02

Reserve the company name

We clear and reserve a compliant trade name with the authority.

03

Register the e-commerce activity

We register the correct activity for your model, including any additional activity if you also hold stock.

04

Licence issued

Your e-commerce trade licence and incorporation documents are issued.

05

Establishment card and visas

We process the establishment card, then residence visas including medical and Emirates ID.

06

Bank account and gateway

We prepare your bank application, then support the payment gateway merchant account application that follows it.

Why Layerz

We advise on the structure that fits your activity and customers rather than the package that is easiest to sell. You get a fixed quote with government fees itemised separately, a dedicated advisor from first call to licence, and the same team afterwards for visas, banking, accounting and renewals.

Get a free consultation
Faq

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers on cost, ownership, documents and timelines.

Ask us anything Ask us anything
  • 1. How much does an e-commerce licence cost in Dubai?
    Free zone e-commerce packages typically start from around AED 12,500 for a zero or single visa licence. Mainland costs more because of the office requirement. We quote a fixed figure with government fees separated.
  • 2. Do I need a licence to sell on Instagram or Amazon in the UAE?
    Yes. Selling online commercially requires a valid trade licence, and marketplaces such as Amazon and Noon ask for it during seller onboarding.
  • 3. Can I get a payment gateway with an e-commerce licence?
    Yes. A trade licence and a corporate bank account are the two prerequisites. Once both are in place we can support the merchant account application with the gateway provider.
  • 4. Do I need a warehouse for an e-commerce business?
    Only if you hold your own inventory. Dropshipping and marketplace fulfilment models do not require one. If you do hold stock, we arrange storage that matches your volume.
  • 5. Can I sell to customers outside the UAE?
    Yes. A free zone e-commerce licence is well suited to international selling, and you can add a customs code if you import goods into the UAE before shipping them onward.
Keep reading

General Trading License

Trade multiple unrelated product lines under a single licence.

Read guide

Dubai Free Zone Company Setup

Full ownership, fast setup and packaged costs across 30 plus free zones.

Read guide

Commercial License

The standard licence for buying, selling and distributing goods.

Read guide

Enquire about your e-commerce license

Tell us what you are planning and we will reply with the right structure and a fixed quote.