General Trading Licence in Dubai — What It Allows

What a general trading licence permits

A standard commercial licence lists specific product categories you may trade. A general trading licence broadens that considerably, letting you deal in a wide range of unrelated goods under a single licence — electronics one quarter, textiles the next — without returning to the authority for an amendment each time.

Who it is worth it for

Traders whose product mix genuinely changes, or who buy opportunistically
Import/export businesses handling varied consignments
Distributors building a portfolio across categories
E-commerce operators expanding beyond one niche

If you sell one well-defined product category and expect to keep doing so, a standard commercial licence is cheaper and entirely sufficient.

Restrictions still apply

“General” is not “anything”. Controlled and regulated goods — pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, certain chemicals — require specific approvals or separate licensing regardless of a general trading licence. Services are also outside its scope: a general trading licence does not let you invoice for consulting.

Mainland or free zone?

	Mainland general trading	Free zone general trading
Sell directly in the UAE market	Yes	Requires distributor, agent or mainland branch
Import/export and re-export	Yes	Yes, well suited
Office requirement	Premises with Ejari	Flexi-desk often sufficient
Relative cost	Higher	Lower entry point

Free-zone general trading suits import/export and international trade. If your buyers are UAE businesses and consumers, mainland avoids the market-access complication.

Cost

General trading licences cost more than narrow commercial licences in both mainland and free zones — that premium is precisely what you are buying flexibility with. Ranges vary by authority; we confirm the live quote before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Only if your product mix is genuinely varied or changing. If you trade one category consistently, a standard commercial licence covers you for less. The premium buys flexibility you may never use.

No. Controlled goods — pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food, alcohol, tobacco, certain chemicals — need specific approvals or separate licensing. Services are not covered at all.

Selling goods online generally fits within trading activities, but some authorities expect an e-commerce activity to be listed explicitly. We confirm this with the specific authority rather than assuming.

General Trading Licence