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The eTrader licence is the cheapest legal way to sell online in Dubai, and most people reading about it cannot have one. The UAE Government portal’s own page on the licence put it in a single sentence: the eTrader licence from Dubai Economy “allows UAE nationals and GCC nationals residing in Dubai to practise business activities through various social media networks.” If you hold neither nationality, that sentence is the whole answer, and the rest of this page is about what you do instead. Checked on 8 August 2026.
What the eTrader licence actually is
| Feature | Position |
|---|---|
| Who can hold it | UAE nationals and GCC nationals residing in Dubai |
| Owners | Registered under the name of a single owner only |
| Premises | Cannot open a shop |
| Visas | Cannot issue visas |
| Liability | In a legal dispute, the licensee alone is held responsible |
| What it covers | Practising business activities through social media networks |
| How to get it | Create a DED Trader account and register |
Every line of that table is the UAE Government portal’s own wording on its DED Trader page, which carried an update date of 25 March 2024. That page has since been removed from u.ae during a restructure, and we could not retrieve a current Dubai Economy and Tourism page stating eligibility on 8 August 2026: the official platform returns an access error to automated requests. Treat the eligibility rule as firm and the operational detail as worth confirming on the Invest in Dubai platform before you apply.
Why this page quotes no price
Figures around AED 1,070 for the licence plus roughly AED 300 for Dubai Chamber membership circulate widely. We could not verify either on an official page we can cite, so we do not print them as fact. The Invest in Dubai platform shows the exact amount payable before you confirm, and that figure is the only one worth acting on. Any article quoting an eTrader price without a date and a source is repeating another article.
If you are not a UAE or GCC national
The eTrader route is closed, and the substitutes are real licences with real costs. There are two.
| Mainland e-commerce licence | Free-zone e-commerce licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The emirate’s economic department, in Dubai through the Invest in Dubai platform | The free zone itself |
| Selling to UAE customers | Direct | Direct online sales; a mainland distributor or dual licence for physical retail presence |
| Visas | Yes, subject to office and quota rules | Yes, by package quota |
| Owners | More than one possible | More than one possible |
| Liability | Limited, in a properly formed company | Limited, in a properly formed company |
The UAE Government portal states the general rule for mainland e-commerce plainly: you need a commercial licence that includes the e-commerce activity from your emirate’s Department of Economic Development. It also names the equivalent channels in other emirates (Tajer Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, and the economic departments in Sharjah and Ajman), which matters if Dubai is not the only option you are weighing. Our guide to starting an e-commerce business in Dubai covers the activity choice, payment gateways and logistics that follow.
The route people confuse with eTrader
If what you want is to invoice for services rather than sell goods, the freelance permit is the nearer comparison, and unlike eTrader it is open to expatriates. It is a different product, a permit tied to a free zone, usually with a visa option, and it is priced accordingly. The freelance visa cost guide sets out what those packages contain.
How to decide in five minutes
| Your situation | Route |
|---|---|
| UAE or GCC national in Dubai, selling through social media, no staff, no shop | eTrader |
| Expat, selling goods online, needs a residence visa | Free-zone e-commerce licence with visa quota |
| Expat, selling goods online, wants mainland retail or government contracts later | Mainland commercial licence with e-commerce activity |
| Expat, selling services not goods | Freelance permit, or a professional licence |
| Anyone needing more than one owner | Not eTrader, it is single-owner only |
Our directory records 36 firms covering business licensing in Dubai, 35 for free-zone formation and 36 for mainland, which is the split that matters here: ask a firm which of the two it actually does before you take its recommendation on which one suits you.
Frequently asked questions
Can an expat get an e-trader licence in Dubai?
The UAE Government portal states the eTrader licence allows UAE nationals and GCC nationals residing in Dubai to practise business activities through social media networks. Expatriate residents use a mainland commercial licence with e-commerce activity or a free-zone e-commerce licence instead.
How much does the e-trader licence cost?
We do not print a figure we cannot verify on an official page. Widely repeated numbers exist, but the Invest in Dubai platform shows the exact amount payable before you confirm, and that is the figure to rely on.
Can an e-trader licence sponsor a visa?
No. The eTrader cannot issue visas and cannot open a shop, and the licensee alone is held responsible in a legal dispute.
Can two people share an e-trader licence?
No. It can be registered under the name of a single owner only.
What licence do I need to sell online in Dubai as a foreigner?
A commercial licence that includes the e-commerce activity from the emirate’s Department of Economic Development, or a free-zone e-commerce licence. The free-zone route is the usual one where a residence visa is needed alongside the licence.
Is a freelance permit the same as an e-trader licence?
No. A freelance permit is for selling services and is open to expatriates; eTrader is for UAE and GCC nationals selling through social media. They are different products with different costs.
Want the licence route priced for your actual product and visa need? Browse licensing consultants or describe your case and compare offers.
Official references used for context in this article.
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