The sections below expand the existing guide with the practical, step by step detail that readers most often search for. They cover every renewal channel offered by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the exact documents needed by license type, how to check your status, what to do about a lapsed license, a full fee breakdown, and the actions to take once your license is renewed.
This guide is prepared and maintained by BCL Globiz, a Dubai based accounting, tax, and business setup firm that manages trade license renewals for mainland and free zone companies across the UAE. The steps, documents, and fee ranges below reflect the process our team handles directly with the Department of Economy and Tourism, and we keep them current as government rules, portals, and fees change.
How to Renew Your Trade License by SMS?
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism offers an auto renewal service for eligible mainland licenses through the short code 6969. It is the fastest route for a straightforward renewal with no changes to activities, ownership, or premises.
Who Can Use SMS Renewal
SMS renewal is designed for eligible DET mainland licenses that have no pending amendments and no outstanding fines. It generally does not cover free zone licenses, which are renewed through each free zone authority instead.
Step by Step SMS Renewal
- Send your trade license number in a text message to 6969 from the mobile number registered against the license.
- DET calculates the renewal amount and replies with a secure payment link, also referred to as a payment voucher.
- Open the link and pay the fees online using a card.
- Once payment clears, the renewed license and the receipt are sent to your registered email, usually within one to three working days.
When SMS Renewal Will Not Work
If your activity needs activity specific external approvals, if your tenancy contract or Ejari has lapsed, or if there are unpaid fines, the SMS route will ask you to complete the renewal through the Invest in Dubai portal or a service center instead.
How to Renew Through Invest in Dubai Step by Step
The Invest in Dubai portal is the primary online channel for mainland renewals and is accessible with UAE Pass. It uses the standard business registration and licensing application, commonly known as the BR/1 form, to process the renewal.
Before You Log In
- Confirm your Ejari registration is valid for at least one month, and ideally three months, beyond your license expiry date.
- Have digital copies of your documents ready, including the current trade license, passport and Emirates ID copies of owners and partners, the Memorandum of Association if ownership changed, and any external approval letters.
- Clear any pending fines or violations, since an unresolved fine will block the renewal.
Step by Step on Invest in Dubai
- Go to the Invest in Dubai platform or the DET eService’s portal and sign in with your UAE Pass credentials.
- Enter your trade license number or registered trade name and confirm the auto populated company details.
- Complete the BR/1 renewal application and upload any required documents, including activity specific external approvals where these apply.
- Submit the application for review. The system checks your Ejari, activity codes, and any external approval requirements.
- Once reviewed, a payment voucher is issued with the exact amount due for your activity and license category.
Paying the Fee and Collecting the License
Pay the payment voucher online through the portal using a card or e-Dirham. Payment must clear before the certificate is issued. The renewed license is then available as a digital copy through the portal and by email, with a physical copy available on request. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership fee is collected as part of this cycle for commercial and industrial licenses.
How to Renew Through Dubai Now
Dubai Now is the government super app that brings many Dubai services into one place. Eligible mainland businesses can renew a trade license from a mobile device without visiting an office.
Step by Step on the Dubai Now App
- Download Dubai Now and sign in using UAE Pass.
- Open the business or license services section and select trade license renewal.
- Enter your trade license number and confirm the details that appear.
- Review the calculated fees, including the Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham, and pay the payment voucher in the app.
- Receive the renewed license by email once payment is confirmed.
As with SMS renewal, Dubai Now suits clean renewals. Cases that need external approvals or amendments are better handled through the Invest in Dubai portal.
Mainland vs Free Zone Renewal Differences
The renewal principle is the same across Dubai, but the authority, the portal, and the tenancy rules differ depending on where your company is registered.
Mainland Renewal With DET
- Handled by the Department of Economy and Tourism through the Invest in Dubai portal, DET eServices, SMS 6969, or Dubai Now.
- Requires a valid tenancy contract registered with Ejari before renewal can be processed.
- Includes Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership for commercial and industrial licenses, plus the Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham.
Free Zone Renewal
- Handled directly by each free zone authority through its own member portal, for example IFZA, DMCC, JAFZA, or Meydan Free Zone.
- Does not use the Ejari system. Tenancy or flexi desk arrangements are managed inside the free zone.
- Often sold as a bundled package, and each free zone applies its own late penalty bands rather than the DET structure.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free Zone |
| Authority | Department of Economy and Tourism | The relevant free zone authority |
| Portal | Invest in Dubai, DET eServices, SMS 6969, Dubai Now | The free zone member portal |
| Tenancy proof | Ejari registered tenancy contract | Free zone lease or flexi desk |
| Chamber membership | Dubai Chamber of Commerce applies | Usually not applicable |
| Penalties | Monthly fine set by DET | Bands set by each free zone |
Exact Document Checklist by License Type
All renewals need the core documents. Each license type then adds its own requirements. Keep passport and Emirates ID copies of all owners and partner’s current, since expired identity documents are a common cause of delay.
Commercial License
- Current trade license copy and the completed BR/1 renewal application.
- Passport and Emirates ID copies of all partners and the manager.
- Valid tenancy contract with Ejari registration.
- Memorandum of Association if ownership or structure changed.
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership confirmation.
Professional License
- Current trade license copy and the BR/1 renewal application.
- Passport and Emirates ID copies of the owner and any partners.
- Valid tenancy contract with Ejari registration.
- Professional qualification certificates or experience letters where the activity requires them.
Industrial License
- Current trade license copy and the BR/1 renewal application.
- Passport and Emirates ID copies of owners and partners.
- Valid tenancy contract with Ejari for the industrial premises.
- Dubai Municipality and environmental clearances as activity specific external approvals.
Free Zone License
- Current trade license copy submitted through the free zone portal.
- Passport and Emirates ID copies of shareholders and the manager.
- Valid free zone lease or flexi desk agreement.
- Any financial statements or compliance documents the free zone requests.
How to Check Your Renewal Status or Expiry Online?
Knowing your exact expiry date and application status lets you start early and avoid penalties. Dubai offers several ways to check.
Checking on Invest in Dubai and DET eServices
Log in to the Invest in Dubai portal or DET eServices with UAE Pass and open your license record to see the expiry date and the live status of any submitted renewal. The DET verification tool also lets you confirm a license status using the license number or trade name.
Checking by SMS and Dubai Now
Sending your license number to 6969 returns the renewal amount, which confirms the license is due and eligible. The Dubai Now app shows the same license details and status on your phone, so you can check progress after submitting the payment voucher.
What to Do If the License Is Already Expired or Lapsed
There is no long open ended grace period. Penalties begin shortly after expiry and escalate the longer the license stays lapsed, so act as soon as you notice.
Within the First 30 Days
Renew through your normal channel as quickly as possible. A monthly penalty of roughly AED 250 applies from the day after expiry. Clearing it early keeps the amount small and protects your visas and bank services.
Lapsed for Several Months
Expect the monthly penalty to have accumulated, along with an additional surcharge on the license fee once the delay passes about 60 days. After around six months lapsed, DET may block employee visa renewals, which can create overstay fines that fall on you as the sponsor. Renew the license first, then bring visas back into good standing.
Lapsed for a Year or More
After roughly twelve months, DET may move to cancel the license, and prolonged non-renewal risks blacklisting the company and its principals. At this stage it is best to engage a specialist to settle penalties, restore the file, and confirm whether renewal or a fresh application is required. Renew the Ejari and secure any activity specific external approvals before reapplying.
If a license has been lapsed for a long time, BCL Globiz can review the file, calculate the exact penalties due, coordinate the Ejari and any activity specific external approvals, and liaise with DET on your behalf, so the company is restored correctly the first time.
Component by Component Fee Breakdown
The total you pay is built from several separate components. The base fee is set by your activity and license category under the official licensing categories decision, and the smaller charges below are added on top. Confirm the exact figures on the payment voucher, since fees are calculated dynamically from your activity codes.
2026 Fee Relief Update
As part of an AED 1 billion economic support package announced in Dubai on 30 March 2026, DET deferred several mainland trade license fees, including amendment fees, advertising fees, local license fees, and optional trade name fees, for a three-month period beginning 1 April 2026. Businesses that renewed during the window saw materially lower government charges, with some totals falling by several thousand dirhams. This was a time limited relief measure and the initial window has since closed, so always confirm the current charges on your payment voucher rather than relying on last year’s figures.
| Fee component | Typical amount (AED) | Notes |
| Base license fee | 1,000 to 15,000 | Varies by activity and license category |
| Dubai Chamber of Commerce | Varies | Applies to commercial and industrial licenses |
| Market or municipality fees | Varies | Often a percentage of annual rent for mainland |
| Knowledge Dirham | 10 per transaction | Fixed government charge |
| Innovation Dirham | 10 per transaction | Fixed government charge |
| External approval fees | Varies | Only where activity specific approvals apply |
| Late penalty | About 250 per month | From the day after expiry if applicable |
Notes on Variable Fees
- Regulated activities, such as those in health, food, or industrial sectors, may require inspections and paid external approvals before DET will renew.
- Number of visas linked to the license can affect the total, and any amendments made at renewal add their own fees.
- Trade name renewal is separate from license renewal and is renewed for one or three year terms.
- Budget for ancillary costs outside the DET fee, mainly Ejari renewal at about AED 220, the establishment card renewal, and any visa renewals due.
Post Renewal Actions Such as Updating the Bank and Stakeholders
Renewing the license keeps you legally trading, but a few follow up actions prevent problems with banking, visas, and compliance.
Update Your Bank
Banks in the UAE monitor trade license validity. Send your renewed license to your relationship manager so the account is not flagged or frozen for an expired license. Update any payment gateways, merchant accounts, and financing facilities that hold a copy of the license on file.
Update Stakeholders and Records
- Confirm the Ultimate Beneficial Owner register is current, since accurate UBO information is required at renewal and carries penalties if neglected.
- Check that employee and investor visas linked to the license are valid and renew any that are due, since license renewal does not renew visas automatically.
- Send the renewed license to landlords, insurers, suppliers, and any portal or platform that verifies your license, and keep a digital copy with your compliance records for VAT and corporate tax.
How BCL Globiz Supports Your Trade License Renewal
BCL Globiz is an accounting and business consultancy based on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. We handle trade license renewals from start to finish for mainland and free zone companies, and we do it alongside the accounting, VAT, and corporate tax work that keeps a business compliant through the year. That combined view is what lets us catch issues, such as an expired Ejari or an unresolved fine, before they hold up a renewal.
What You Get With BCL
- A dedicated Manager and Account Executive as your single point of contact, so you are never routed through a call center.
- Full handling of the renewal, from document preparation and Ejari coordination to BR/1 submission on the Invest in Dubai portal, external approvals, and payment of the voucher.
- Transparent, fixed pricing agreed in advance, with no surprise charges once the work is underway.
- Proactive expiry reminders and deadline tracking, so you renew before late penalties begin to accrue.
- One team for renewal, accounting, VAT, and corporate tax, which keeps all of your compliance dates and records in a single place.
- A full refund guarantee within the first three months of service if you are not satisfied.
Talk to BCL Globiz
If you would like BCL Globiz to manage your renewal, or simply to confirm your current DET fees, you can reach the team at info@bcl.ae or through the contact page at bcl.ae. We will review your license status and give you a clear, written quote before any work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does it cost to renew a trade license in Dubai in 2026?
The total depends on your activity, license category, number of visas, and market fees, and can run higher for large or regulated activities. Free zone costs vary by authority and package. The exact amount is only fixed when your payment voucher is issued, so confirm it there.
Can I renew my Dubai trade license online?
Yes. Mainland licenses can be renewed fully online through the Invest in Dubai portal or DET eServices using UAE Pass, and eligible licenses can also renew by SMS to 6969 or through the Dubai Now App. Free zone companies renew through their own authority portals. Most clean renewals are processed within one to five working days and the license is issued digitally.
Is there a grace period if my trade license expires?
There is no long open ended grace period. A late penalty of roughly AED 250 per month accrues from the day after expiry, though DET does not usually start closure action in the first month. Longer delays add surcharges, can block visa renewals after about six months, and risk cancellation after around twelve months. Renew before expiry to avoid all of this.
What is the difference between mainland and free zone renewal?
Mainland licenses are renewed by DET and require a valid Ejari registered tenancy contract, plus Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership for commercial and industrial activities. Free zone licenses are renewed directly through each free zone authority, do not use Ejari, and are often sold as bundled packages. Each free zone also sets its own late penalty bands rather than following the DET structure.
Do I need a valid Ejari to renew my trade license?
For mainland licenses, yes. DET will not process a renewal without a current Ejari registered tenancy contract, and an expired or invalid Ejari is the most common cause of delay. The tenancy should ideally remain valid for at least one to three months beyond your license expiry. Free zone companies do not use Ejari, since tenancy is managed inside the free zone.
