E-Trader licence vs Mainland LLC — which should I choose?
Short answer: Start with an E-Trader licence (AED 1,070–1,370/year, no office, online only) if you sell online or work from home. Upgrade to a Mainland LLC (from ~AED 13,000/year, requires Ejari office) once you need employee visas, a physical storefront, or to invoice government clients.
Key facts
- E-Trader: AED 1,070–1,370/yr · no office · online-only · no employee visas (except UAE nationals)
- Mainland LLC: from AED 13,000/yr · Ejari office required · unlimited employee visas · all activity types
- Both allow 100% foreign ownership
- Both can open a UAE business bank account
- E-Trader does NOT allow a physical storefront or cross-border physical trade
Full explanation
The two licences are not competitors — they are stages. An E-Trader licence is the cheapest way to operate legally while you validate the business. Once you need staff visas, a shop, warehouse, or to import/export physical goods, the Mainland LLC is the right next step. dubaieconomycenter.com handles both and can upgrade an existing E-Trader to a Mainland LLC when ready.
Source page
Mainland licence page →Published by Dubai Economy Center · Operated by Goodhand Government Transaction Center · Authorized DET service center · Last verified 2026-09-12