When starting a business in Dubai, one of the most important documents you need is a trade license. A trade license assigns business activities that your company can carry out throughout the UAE.
By law, the Department of Economic Development (DED) is responsible for all restrictions on all businesses set up outside the Free Zone. Moreover, since non-GCC citizens are not allowed to own a majority stake, the UAE has issued a system of shared ownership that allows GCC citizens to acquire 51% of the company unless you set up your business in the free zone.
There are three types of trade licenses to be obtained in Dubai: