Annual UAE Trade Licence Renewal: What It Costs and What to Prepare

A UAE free zone trade licence is not a one time purchase. Each year it has to be renewed, and the cost, the grace period and the paperwork depend on the free zone that issued it. This article uses the free zones' own published pages for Ajman Free Zone, RAKEZ and Meydan Free Zone. It does not cover every zone, and it gives a cost figure only where a free zone has published one.

How often you renew

Meydan Free Zone states that trade licences in Dubai are valid for 12 months, and that renewal is required annually to keep the business active, legal and compliant. Plan on a yearly cycle unless your free zone offers a longer one.

What it costs

The honest answer is that it varies. Ajman Free Zone lists a starting price of AED 4,878.75 for licence renewal. It adds that the final fee depends on the current package, activities, facilities, linked services and any outstanding amounts. Its FAQ says the cost depends on the type of licence, the activity and the office type, and that the cost is shown in the service request in the customer portal.

RAKEZ publishes no price on its renewal support page. It offers payment options and says renewal is done online through its portal or mobile app. Meydan's renewal guide gives a late fine, described below, but no renewal fee.

So treat any single AED figure you see online as one zone's starting point. The fee you pay is made up of the licence, any linked services such as an establishment card, e channel or visa, and anything you still owe. Ask your free zone for a renewal quote before you choose a zone, not after.

Grace periods and late costs differ

• Ajman Free Zone: its FAQ says there is a grace period of one month after the licence expires, within which you can renew.
• RAKEZ: its renewal page says there is no grace period after the licence expiry date.
• Meydan Free Zone: its guide says a fine of AED 200 applies for every month of delay, and that long delays can lead to licence cancellation or blacklisting.

RAKEZ adds that delaying renewal may lead to additional penalties from RAKEZ and other authorities, including Immigration and the Tax Authority, and may affect the status of associated visas while the licence is expired. A lapsed licence therefore reaches beyond the licence itself.

What to prepare

Requirements follow your licensed activity and your premises. Using Ajman Free Zone's published list as an example, the checklist below is the kind of thing to gather:

1. Clear all outstanding amounts. Ajman says outstanding licence, lease, delay fine, facility or other company obligations must be completed where applicable.
2. Check whether your activity needs an external approval. Ajman says external approvals and facility clearances may be required for regulated activities or physical locations.
3. Gather premises certificates if you have physical premises. Ajman lists, for example, a valid Ajman Sewerage certificate for warehouse premises where applicable.
4. Confirm what is linked to the licence, such as the establishment card, e channel and residence visas, because Ajman says linked requests are created only where applicable.
5. Check the Meydan position if you are in Dubai. Meydan states that it does not require an Ejari lease or an NOC from your employer to renew.

Do not let the application sit

Ajman Free Zone states that if an application remains open for more than 30 calendar days without completion, the application will expire or be closed and a new application must be submitted. It lists an estimated delivery time of 30 minutes, but that clock runs only after the documents and payment are in. Start the application early enough to fix missing papers.

A simple annual routine

1. Put the expiry date and a reminder at least 30 days earlier in your diary.
2. Ask your free zone, or your adviser, for the renewal quote a month ahead.
3. Pay anything outstanding first, then raise the renewal request.
4. Renew before expiry, particularly if your zone has no grace period.
5. Once renewed, file the new licence with your bank and your tax records.

DBC packages start from USD 1,948 (AED 7,150) for the first year of setup. See /pricing or /pricing/calculator. Renewal cost depends on the zone and package, so confirm it before you choose.

Talk to DBC about your UAE company

Tell us where you live, what you sell and which free zone you are considering. We will explain the steps, the documents and the costs before you commit. Book a Free Discovery Call