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The E-Trader license in Dubai is a home-based business license issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) that allows individuals to legally sell products or offer services online through social media platforms, personal websites, and mobile apps without renting an office, signing an Ejari contract, or setting up a traditional company. At just AED 1,070 per year (plus AED 300 Dubai Chamber membership), the DED E-Trader license is the most affordable way to start a legal online business in Dubai. It is designed for solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, social media sellers, content creators, and home-based businesses who want to operate within UAE regulations without the cost and complexity of a mainland or free zone company setup. GloboPrime Corporate Services handles the full E-Trader license application, activity selection, trade name reservation, and approval typically processed within 24-48 hours, subject to activity type and document completeness.
The E-Trader (Professional) License in Dubai is designed for individuals who want to legally carry out approved online business activities within the Emirate without setting up a physical office. It is suitable for small-scale, service-based or digital business activities conducted through online platforms.
The E-Trader license is generally suitable for:
The license is intended for individual use only and applies to activities carried out within Dubai under DET regulations. It must be renewed annually and does not cover large-scale commercial operations or activities outside the approved scope.
| Feature | E-Trader License |
| Issuing authority | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) |
| License type | Sole Establishment (individual) |
| Annual cost | AED 1,070 (license) + AED 300 (Dubai Chamber) = AED 1,370 |
| Office required | No home-based, no Ejari needed |
| Visa sponsorship | No cannot sponsor visas |
| Employee hiring | No individual only |
| Processing time | Typically 24–48 hours online (varies by activity) | 3–5 business days offline |
| Validity | 1 year (annual renewal) |
| Selling channels | Social media, personal websites, mobile apps |
| Business scope | Online sales and services only |
| Exhibitions | Yes can participate in exhibitions and conferences |
| Trade name protection | Yes legal protection of trade name and activities |
| Category | Commercial License | Professional License |
|---|---|---|
| UAE Nationals | Yes can trade products and offer services | Yes |
| GCC Nationals (Dubai residents) | Yes can trade products and offer services | Yes |
| Expats (Dubai residents) | No cannot trade physical products | Yes limited to professional services only |
| Age requirement | 21 years or older | 21 years or older |
| Residency | Valid Dubai residence visa + Emirates ID | Valid Dubai residence visa + Emirates ID |
| Companies/partnerships | Not eligible individuals only | Not eligible — individuals only |
Critical restriction for expats: Expatriates are typically limited to obtaining a professional E-Trader license. This means expats cannot sell physical products. Expats are limited to offering professional services online such as consulting, graphic design, web development, coaching, photography, content creation, digital marketing, online courses, and similar service-based activities. If you are an expat and want to sell physical products, you will need a mainland commercial license or a free zone e-commerce license instead. Note: eligibility rules for expats have evolved since the E-Trader scheme was first introduced. GloboPrime Corporate Services verifies your specific eligibility with DET before submitting your application.
The E-Trader license allows individuals to carry out approved online business activities in Dubai. The exact activities depend on the business activity selected during application and approval from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
For Digital Marketing & IT Services E-Trader Professional License approved activities can include:
Note: The final list of permitted activities is determined by DET based on the selected business activity, applicant profile, and license type. The sample activities above are examples from an issued professional E-Trader license and should not be treated as the standard activity list for every applicant.
| Feature | E-Trader License | Mainland License | Free Zone License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | AED 1,370 | AED 12,000–40,000+ | AED 5,000–15,000+ |
| Office/Ejari | Not required (home-based) | Mandatory (physical office + Ejari) | Flexi-desk or office (varies by zone) |
| Visa sponsorship | Not available | Yes: investor + employee + family visas | Yes: limited visa packages |
| Employee hiring | Not allowed | Yes: unlimited based on office size | Yes: limited per license tier |
| Physical store/shop | Not allowed | Allowed anywhere in UAE | Within free zone only |
| Government contracts | Not eligible | Eligible | Not eligible |
| UAE market access | Online only | Unrestricted: all UAE | Limited: needs mainland distributor |
| Product trading (expats) | Not allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Setup time | 24–48 hours | 1–4 weeks | 3–7 days |
| Best for | Solo online sellers, freelancers, side businesses | Full UAE market access, stores, employees | International trade, specific sectors |
When to upgrade from E-Trader: If your online business grows and you need to hire employees, sponsor visas, import products in bulk, open a warehouse, or serve mainland clients directly, you will need to upgrade to a mainland or free zone license. GloboPrime manages this transition seamlessly.
| Feature | E-Trader License (DET) | Freelance Permit (Free Zone) |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | DET: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism | Free zone authority (e.g., IFZA, DIC, DMC, DAFZA, Tecom) |
| Visa included | No: must already have a Dubai visa | Yes: includes a residence visa |
| Cost | AED 1,370/year (government fees only) | AED 7,500–15,000+/year (varies by free zone) |
| Office | Home-based: no office needed | Flexi-desk or virtual office (included in most packages) |
| Employee sponsorship | Not available | Limited: typically 1–3 visas |
| Bank account | Some banks accept E-Trader: limited options | Widely accepted by UAE banks |
| Product trading (expats) | Not allowed | Allowed in most free zones |
| Invoicing B2B clients | Yes: but some large companies prefer free zone/mainland | Yes: more widely accepted for corporate contracts |
| VAT registration | Required if turnover exceeds AED 375,000 | Required if turnover exceeds AED 375,000 |
| Best for | Residents who already have a visa and want cheap, fast legal cover for online selling | People who need a visa AND want to freelance or run a small business |
Choose E-Trader if: you already have a valid Dubai residence visa (through your employer, spouse, or family) and want the cheapest legal way to sell online or offer services. You do not need a visa, you do not need to hire staff, and your business is entirely online.
Choose a Freelance Permit if: you need a residence visa, you want to open a business bank account easily, you need to invoice corporate clients who prefer a free zone entity, or you want to trade physical products as an expat. A freelance permit through a free zone like IFZA gives you a visa, a license, and an establishment card in one package.Posted on Google![]()
Manglu Tyagi4 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent ServicePosted on Google![]()
Lubna Jiad4 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great team and support.Posted on Google![]()
Rachel Matthews5 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The team could not have been more helpful, I had quite a complicated situation but they were always available and ready to provide support. I would definitely recommend Globoprime to anyone who needs help with administration, required documents etc….Posted on Google![]()
Nada Umshahd6 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
My experience with Glopoprime was excellent when it came to obtaining a UK Apostille for my educational certificates All the procedures were handled professionally efficiently and with great attention to detail making what could have been a stressful and time consuming process a smooth easy and hassle free experience. One of the things I appreciated most was how quickly they completed the process and their reasonable and affordable prices. I received my educational certificates with the UK Apostille tonight The combination of speed affordable prices and professionalism truly makes Glopoprime stand out. I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Glopoprime team for their wonderful service and excellent support I truly appreciate their efficiency reliability and commitment to customer satisfaction. I highly recommend Glopoprime to anyone looking for fast and reliable services especially for the apostille of educational certificates and documents. Thank you once again for making the entire process easy and convenient. Keep up the fantastic work 👌👏Posted on Google![]()
Chris Mowat6 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Everything happened way quicker than I expected.Posted on Google![]()
Yoyo8 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I had my Saudi Consulate attestation done through GloboPrime Corporate Services, Abu Dhabi. The service was completed on time, and I am very happy with their professional and efficient service. Highly recommended!Posted on Google![]()
Kurt Barros20 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent and timely service!Posted on Google![]()
Muneera Khan43 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Exceptional Service from GloboPrime and I highly recommend their services to people wanting to retrieve certificates or PCC’s .Posted on Google![]()
Diana Duff46 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent service and turnaround I was extremely impressed with Globo Prime’s service. From the outset, communication was efficient, clear and professional. I needed a document to be stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consulate, and other companies had quoted a turnaround time of up to 20 working days. Globo Prime managed to obtain both stamps in less than a week, which was an amazing turnaround and made a potentially stressful process much easier. Their service fees are higher than some other companies, but given the speed and efficiency of the service, I felt it was well worth it. They also offer the option of receiving an electronic PDF, which is very convenient. The customer service was excellent throughout, with everything communicated via WhatsApp. This made the whole process incredibly straightforward, and responses were prompt and helpful. I’m really happy with the service and would definitely recommend Globo Prime to anyone needing document attestation and processing.Posted on Google![]()
Sacapanca47 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
A great service, Very Professional, I recommend them