Dubai formally licenses home-based businesses through the E-Trader License, issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). It costs AED 1,416.50/year for Professional activities or AED 1,716.50/year for Commercial activities, is home-based (no Ejari, no office lease), and is issued within 1–3 working days. This is the same licence that covers online sellers, freelancers with commercial intent and social-media sellers — provided the activity does not require a physical shop, storage or client foot traffic to the home.
Ready to license your online business?
Apply for the Dubai E-Trader License online — issued in 1–3 working days.
What counts as a home-based business
Home-based means the licensed activity is delivered digitally, online, or at the client's premises — not at your Dubai residence. Consulting delivered on Zoom, an online store shipped by courier, a freelance designer working from a laptop and a social-media seller all qualify.
What does NOT qualify: activities that require clients to visit your home (salons, tuition centres, clinics), food preparation for sale, storage of retail inventory at scale, or manufacturing.
Approved home-based activities
Online Seller (6312009), Marketing Services, Management Consultancy, Software Development, Graphic Design, Translation Services, Content Creation, Photography and dozens more are available under E-Trader.
Food-related home businesses (home-baked goods, catering) fall under Intelaq (for UAE nationals) or require a Mainland Food & Beverage licence with municipality approval — E-Trader alone does not cover food preparation.
DET enforcement and neighbour complaints
DET runs periodic checks against unlicensed online sellers by cross-referencing Instagram, TikTok and marketplace listings against the trade licence database. Fines start at AED 5,000 and can reach AED 50,000 for repeat offences.
Home businesses are exempt from Ejari inspections, but running activities that generate visible traffic (customers ringing the doorbell, deliveries at scale) can trigger community-manager complaints and DET follow-up.
VAT, invoicing and banking
Home businesses under E-Trader can register for VAT and issue compliant tax invoices. Registration is mandatory above AED 375,000/year in taxable turnover.
UAE banks accept the E-Trader License for corporate accounts, subject to their internal KYC (expect proof of address, Emirates ID, business model description).
What you can do
- ✓Run digital services (consulting, design, marketing, coding) from home
- ✓Sell online with fulfilment via courier or third-party warehouses outside the home
- ✓Register for VAT and invoice UAE and international clients
- ✓Hire up to 3 UAE-national employees under E-Trader
- ✓Open a UAE corporate bank account against the E-Trader License
What you cannot do
- ✕Receive clients at your Dubai residence (no home clinics, salons, tuition)
- ✕Store commercial inventory at scale in your home
- ✕Prepare food for sale from a home kitchen without municipality approval
- ✕Sponsor investor or employment visas under E-Trader
- ✕Operate regulated activities (financial services, healthcare, education) from home
What it costs
E-Trader License fee: AED 1,070 for Professional activities or AED 1,370 for Commercial activities (including the Online Seller code 6312009). DET transaction fees add AED 346.50 (3 × AED 115.50). Total annual cost: AED 1,416.50 or AED 1,716.50.
Get your E-Trader License in 1–3 working days
Dubai Economy Center handles activity selection, tradename, DET application and approvals.
Step-by-step: how to apply
- 1Confirm activity fits home-based rules
No client visits, no on-site inventory, no food prep. Digital or courier-fulfilled only.
- 2Pick an E-Trader activity code
Online Seller (6312009), Management Consultancy, Marketing Services or another approved code.
- 3Reserve a tradename
Included in the E-Trader application via DET.
- 4Submit E-Trader application
Upload Emirates ID, residence visa and Dubai address. Approval within 24 hours.
- 5Receive licence and start invoicing
Licence issued in 1–3 working days; open a bank account and register for VAT if applicable.
Frequently asked questions
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