UAE E-commerce License Cost in 2026: What Dubai, Ajman and the Free Zones Actually Publish

The cheapest published e-commerce license route in the UAE is Dubai's eTrader license at AED 1,370 a year: AED 1,070 for the license and knowledge and innovation fees, plus AED 300 for Dubai Chamber membership, as of October 2026. It is for home-based, single-owner businesses. A company license in a free zone starts higher, from about AED 4,888 to AED 15,000 a year depending on the zone, before visas. This page lists every number the authorities and zones publish, and says plainly where no price is published.

How much does an e-commerce license cost in the UAE?

There is no single UAE price. Each emirate and each free zone sets its own, and the license type changes the answer. These are the figures published as of October 2026, all per year and all before visas unless stated.

The sources for the table: Dubai and; Ajman and; RAKEZ and; Meydan and.

What does a Dubai mainland e-commerce license cost?

Dubai gives you two very different routes.

eTrader. Invest in Dubai describes the eTrader as a sole establishment license for Dubai home-based businesses, with a fee of AED 1,070 plus AED 300 for Chamber membership, issued within five minutes. Dubai describes it as tailored to individuals selling products or services through social media and online platforms, issued only as a sole proprietorship, with the owner carrying full legal responsibility. Read home business license in Dubai and the eTrader license definition before choosing it.

Normal company license. For an LLC or other company, Dubai says fees depend on the license type and the activities, and points you to its "Business Set-Up Recommendations" estimate tool. Dubai does not publish one all-in price on the pages we opened. A normal license also needs a site lease contract and a memorandum of association. Rent is the cost sellers most often forget.

Dubai's own steps for a normal license include an initial approval fee, a final license fee, establishment cards, and then a bank account, as set out in noon's seller guide. The amounts are not stated there.

What do the free zones charge?

Free zones publish package prices, but what each package contains differs. As of October 2026:

• Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone advertises a zero-visa package from AED 4,888. Details are in e-commerce license in Ajman.
• RAKEZ advertises its e-commerce set-up package from AED 6,000. See RAKEZ e-commerce license.
• Meydan starts at AED 12,500 for the regular license and AED 15,000 for Fawri. See Meydan e-commerce license.
• SHAMS lists Media and Standard packages with up to five activities and a flexi desk, but no prices; it says to speak to its team. Read SHAMS e-commerce license.

For a ranking by price with a visa, see cheapest free zone e-commerce license in the UAE.

What costs sit outside the license price?

Sources: Meydan; RAKEZ; TDRA approval; corporate tax; VAT.

The UAE government says every e-commerce license needs approval from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) as well. For VAT, see UAE VAT registration for sellers.

Worked example: year-one cost of three routes

Illustrative only, built from the published prices above. A single founder who already holds a UAE residence visa through an employer and needs a license only to sell.

The eTrader is cheapest, but it is a sole establishment for one owner working from home, not a company. Dubai's pages do not say whether it can sponsor visas, so confirm that with Invest in Dubai before you rely on it. If you also need your own residence visa, the RAKEZ partner package is AED 13,500. The three totals exclude rent, bank charges, bookkeeping and VAT.

Which license do Amazon.ae and noon accept?

Both want a valid license with a selling activity. Amazon.ae states that if your business operates in the UAE you need a valid commercial license, from the mainland or a free zone. noon requires a valid trade license that includes Sales, Trading, Manufacturing or Distribution/Wholesale, with at least 30 days of validity left, and offers its individual seller category in Egypt only. If you hold a Dubai trade license, Amazon.ae's Dubai programme offers up to AED 2,000 of ad credit in 2026. Check the activity on your license against what you sell before you pay.

FAQ

How much is an e-commerce license in Dubai? The only fixed published price is the eTrader at AED 1,070 plus AED 300 Chamber membership, AED 1,370 in total, for home-based sole establishments. A company license has no single published price because fees depend on the license type and activities. Use Dubai's estimate tool and ask for a written quote.

What is the cheapest e-commerce license in the UAE? Among prices published as of October 2026, the Dubai eTrader at AED 1,370 is the lowest, followed by free zone packages from AED 4,888 in Ajman and AED 6,000 at RAKEZ. Cheapest is not the same as best: check the visa, activity and where you can deliver.

Is the license price paid every year? Yes. Dubai charges the eTrader fee on issue and renewal, and Meydan describes a 12-month license that renews each year. RAKEZ says licenses are generally valid for one year, with three-year options at discounted rates.

Does the license price include a visa? Often not. Meydan prices visas separately from its AED 12,500 starting price. RAKEZ lists a complimentary UAE residence visa among the benefits of its e-commerce set-up but does not say which package price includes it, so confirm in writing. Amazon.ae's RAKEZ partner package at AED 13,500 includes one residence visa.

Do I need VAT registration as well? Only above the threshold. The FTA sets mandatory registration at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports and voluntary registration from AED 187,500. This is general information, not tax advice; confirm with the FTA.

Why are quotes from consultants higher than the zone's price? Consultants bundle visas, desks, bank help, attestation and their own fees. Compare line by line against the zone's published price list rather than the total.

What to do next

Pick the structure first with what license you need to sell online in the UAE, then get a written quote that names your activity, visa count, desk and renewal price. When the license is issued, Blooprint, an Amazon SPN verified partner and Amazon Ads Advanced Partner, can run your Amazon.ae account management and noon account management.