Can I switch from E-Trader to Mainland later?

Yes. DET keeps your trade history and you can convert without losing your tradename, subject to activity and structure availability.

Is E-Trader cheaper than Mainland?

Yes — AED 1,416.50–1,716.50/year for E-Trader vs AED 12,000+ per year for Mainland including office rent.

Can I hire staff under E-Trader?

Only UAE nationals (up to 3). For expat staff you need a Mainland or Freezone licence.

Do I need Ejari for E-Trader?

No. E-Trader is home-based and does not require an office lease. Mainland requires Ejari.

Which licence is better for e-commerce?

For a single owner shipping direct-to-consumer without a warehouse, E-Trader is enough. For imports, warehousing or a physical shop, choose Mainland General Trading.

Can expats hold both licences?

Yes. Any nationality with a UAE residence visa can hold either an E-Trader License or a Mainland licence.

Which licence is accepted by UAE banks?

Both, but banks generally onboard Mainland accounts faster and with higher turnover ceilings.

How long does each take to issue?

E-Trader: 1–3 working days. Mainland: 5–10 working days including Ejari and Chamber of Commerce registration.

E-Trader vs Mainland License Dubai 2026

By Dubai Economy Center Goodhand Branch Editorial DeskReviewed by our licensing team

Both the E-Trader License and a Dubai Mainland license are issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and both let you invoice UAE customers. They target very different businesses. The E-Trader License is a home-based, single-owner online license from AED 1,416.50–1,716.50/year with no office and no staff visas. A Mainland LLC or Sole Establishment starts closer to AED 12,000–20,000/year all-in, needs a physical Ejari office, and unlocks staff visas, physical shops, import codes and multiple partners.

Ready to license your online business?

Apply for the Dubai E-Trader License online — issued in 1–3 working days.

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Who each license is for

E-Trader is designed for individual online sellers, freelancers with commercial intent and social-media businesses run from home. It is limited to UAE and GCC nationals for the pure Intelaq variant, but the standard E-Trader License is open to all nationalities holding a valid UAE residence visa.

Mainland licenses are the standard for anyone who needs a shop, an office, staff, multiple shareholders, an import/export code, or a business bank account with high transaction volume. If you want to hire employees or invoice government entities, you need Mainland.

Fees and total cost of ownership

E-Trader all-in: AED 1,416.50 (Professional) or AED 1,716.50 (Commercial) per year, including DET transaction fees. No Ejari, no office rent, no immigration establishment card required.

Mainland all-in typically ranges from AED 12,000 to AED 30,000+ per year depending on activities, office size, external approvals and number of visas. Ejari (office lease), DED trade licence, Chamber of Commerce and immigration cards are all mandatory.

Activities and scope

E-Trader supports a curated list of online-friendly activities — Online Seller (6312009), various consultancies, content-creation and freelance codes. It cannot hold multiple activities freely and does not support regulated or physical-shop activities.

Mainland covers 2,000+ activities across Commercial, Professional and Industrial categories, supports multiple activities on one licence, and integrates with all external approvals (RTA, KHDA, DHA, Dubai Municipality).

Visas, staff and office

E-Trader does not issue investor or staff visas — you must already hold a UAE residence visa to apply. Hiring is limited to UAE nationals (up to 3).

Mainland issues investor and employment visas based on office size (usually 1 visa per 9 sqm of Ejari space). You can hire any nationality, subject to MOHRE quotas.

Banking, VAT and government contracts

Both licences let you open a UAE business bank account, but banks are stricter with E-Trader accounts and often cap monthly turnover expectations at AED 500,000. Mainland licences pass KYC faster for higher-volume corporate accounts.

VAT registration is identical for both: mandatory above AED 375,000/year in taxable turnover. Only Mainland licences can bid on most Dubai Government tenders.

What you can do

✓Start with E-Trader and upgrade to Mainland later — DET keeps your trade history
✓Hold an E-Trader License while employed under a residence visa (with NOC where required)
✓Run e-commerce, social selling and consultancies under E-Trader from a home address
✓Operate a physical shop, hire staff and sponsor investor visas under Mainland
✓Register for VAT and issue tax invoices under either licence

What you cannot do

✕Sponsor investor or staff visas under E-Trader
✕Open a physical shop, cafe, salon or clinic under E-Trader
✕Bid on most Dubai Government tenders with an E-Trader License
✕Hire non-UAE nationals under E-Trader

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.

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Step-by-step: how to apply

1
Confirm your business model
Home-based online sales or consulting → E-Trader. Shop, office, staff or multiple partners → Mainland.
2
List required activities
Check whether your activity codes exist under E-Trader — if not, Mainland is the only route.
3
Estimate visa needs
If you need staff or investor visas, price a Mainland Sole Establishment or LLC with Ejari.
4
Compare 3-year cost
E-Trader AED ~5,000 over 3 years vs Mainland AED 36,000–90,000 depending on setup.
5
Apply through Dubai Economy Center
Both licences are processed by DET — E-Trader in 1–3 days, Mainland in 5–10 working days including Ejari.