The E-Trader license is a Dubai home-based license for individuals who sell products or services through social media and online platforms. It is issued only under the sole proprietorship legal form, so the owner is fully liable. Invest in Dubai lists a fee of AED 1,070 (license plus knowledge and innovation fees) plus AED 300 Dubai Chamber membership, as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who is it for, and who is it not for?
It suits a person selling from a Dubai home through Instagram, a website or marketplaces. It does not suit a team, partners or investors, because a sole proprietorship has one owner. The authority page also says all eTrade licenses require an approval or no-objection certificate from TDRA.
Whether non-GCC expats can obtain it is not stated on the pages we read. Some consultancies say it is limited to nationals; we could not confirm that from the authority, so ask Dubai Economy and Tourism in writing.
What can you sell?
Only goods legally approved for trade in the UAE, and items needing special approval are off limits until you get it. Cosmetics and similar products also need Montaji registration. Importing your own stock needs an importer code.
How does it compare with other licenses?
Dubai lists e-trader alongside industrial, commercial, professional and dual licenses as a mainland license type.
An E-Trader license has a low published fee, but it is not a company. For a company with a larger scope, see mainland license and the full guide what license to sell online in the UAE. Cost across licenses is in UAE e-commerce license cost.
What to confirm before you apply
Because several details are not published on the pages we read, ask Dubai Economy and Tourism in writing about these points before paying anyone.
- Whether your nationality and residence status allow an E-Trader license.
- Which activities are permitted. The permitted-activity list was not on the pages we read.
- How the TDRA approval or NOC step works for your sales channel, as the e-commerce page says all eTrade licenses need it.
- What happens when you outgrow it: moving to a company license means a new license, not an upgrade.
The license fee is quoted as issued within 5 minutes and needs an ID number. That speed applies to issuing the license, not to any extra approvals your products need.
Next step
Once licensed, Amazon.ae account management is where Blooprint can help with your marketplace set-up.