Licence Renewal
Renewing a Dubai Trade Licence Without Stalling the Business
A licence renewal is a short form on top of a stack of things that must already be in order. If one of them is not, the renewal stops, and visas and banking stop behind it.
- Renewal requirements checked a month ahead
- Ejari and fines cleared first
- Audited accounts ready where the zone asks for them
- Establishment card and visas renewed in sequence
Dubai PRO, payroll and tax support for UAE companies, handled by one team.
Last reviewed against current MOHRE, ICP and GDRFA guidance.
Quick Answer
Mainland Dubai licences are renewed with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); free zone licences with their own authority. Renewal generally needs a valid tenancy registered on Ejari, any outstanding fines cleared, and current owner and manager documents. Some free zones ask for audited financial statements. After the licence, the establishment card and staff visas renew in turn. Late renewal brings fines, and an expired licence can block visa and bank transactions.
What the Renewal Depends On
Most renewals stall on something outside the form itself. The tenancy has expired. A fine from two years ago is still open. A partner's passport on file has expired.
Check these a month before the date and the renewal is quick.
- Tenancy contract valid and registered on Ejari
- Outstanding government fines cleared
- Owner and manager documents current
- Activity still matches what the business does
- Approvals renewed where the activity needs them
Audited Accounts
Several free zones ask for audited financial statements at renewal. Mainland LLCs also have an annual audit obligation under the Commercial Companies Law, even where the renewal form does not ask for it.
This is where renewal meets accounting. If the books are not ready, the audit is not, and nor is the renewal.
- Some free zones require audited accounts at renewal
- Mainland LLCs have an annual audit obligation
- Books must be closed before the audit
- Corporate tax filing uses the same accounts
What Follows the Licence
The licence comes first because everything else refers to it. The establishment card renews against the new licence, and staff visa renewals need an active card.
- 1Requirements checked and fines cleared
- 2Licence renewed with DET or the free zone
- 3Establishment card renewed
- 4MOHRE labour file kept active
- 5Staff visa renewals continue
If the Licence Lapses
Fines accrue from expiry. More disruptive is what stops: visa transactions for staff, and often the company bank account, since banks check licence validity.
DET does not publish one fine schedule that covers every case, and vendor figures vary widely, so we check the actual position for your licence rather than quote a number.
- Fines from the expiry date
- Staff visa transactions blocked
- Bank accounts can be restricted
- Long lapses can lead to cancellation
How Exiloz Handles Renewals
We diarise the renewal, check the requirements a month ahead, prepare any audit the zone needs, and renew the licence, card and visas in sequence.
See the full annual compliance calendar for mainland LLCs.
- Renewal date tracked
- Requirements checked in advance
- Audit prepared where required
- Licence, card and visas renewed
Related Exiloz Services & Guides
Who renews a mainland Dubai trade licence?
The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Free zone licences are renewed with the free zone authority.
Do I need Ejari to renew?
For most mainland licences, yes. The tenancy has to be valid and registered on Ejari.
Do I need audited accounts to renew?
Some free zones require them at renewal. Mainland LLCs have an annual audit obligation regardless.
What is the fine for late renewal?
It depends on the licence type and authority, and DET does not publish one schedule for all cases. We check your licence's actual position.
Can staff visas be renewed while the licence is expired?
No. The establishment card cannot be renewed on an expired licence, and staff visa transactions need an active card.
How early can I renew?
Start checking about a month before expiry. That leaves time to fix Ejari, fines or documents first.
The rest of what we do
Licence, visas, bank account, books and the first tax return — handled by the same team, so the structure has to survive its first year.
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Tax Residency Certificate
Day-count position verified and the FTA document pack assembled.
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Customs Registration
Client code and Mirsal registration, before your first shipment, not after.
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ICV Certification
Score modelled and improved before the audit, not explained afterwards.
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UAE Free Zones
All 37 zones compared by emirate, with the founding law and what each is really for.
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Company Formation
Mainland, free zone and offshore incorporation, started from your activity code.
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Mainland vs Free Zone
Pick the jurisdiction before the licence. The decision that survives year one.
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PRO & Document Clearing
Establishment card, immigration file, visas, medicals and attestation.
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VAT Registration
Threshold checks, grouping and registration handled against the FTA's current rules.
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Renewal Coming Up?
Send us your licence and its expiry date. We will tell you what has to be ready and by when.
