Home business licence UAE: 7 emirates and the fees

Do you actually need a licence to run a home business in the UAE?

Yes. The federal portal says you "must have the appropriate licence to conduct eCommerce activities" (u.ae, eCommerce). That covers Instagram, WhatsApp, a website and a marketplace, and every eCommerce licence needs TDRA approval.

Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023, Article 5, requires anyone trading through websites, social media or apps to hold the competent authority's approvals and licences (Ministry of Economy PDF). Each emirate sets its own rules and fees.

Penalties are set emirate by emirate. Dubai's Law No. 13 of 2011 sets a fine of AED 100 to AED 100,000 plus possible closure (Dubai Legislation Portal, Article 29), and the official eTrader FAQ says an "illegal selling" violation starts at AED 25,000 (DED Trader FAQ, archived 2022). Sharjah warns of the same violation plus closure of the social media account (SEDD Eitimad FAQ, archived).

Licensing is your responsibility as the seller. KLU welcomes home businesses across the UAE; this guide is here so you can do it properly.

Which home business licence does each emirate offer?

Fees are published base figures and exclude external approvals such as food safety.

Emirate	Licence	Who qualifies	Indicative fee	Validity	Authority
Abu Dhabi	Tajer Abu Dhabi	UAE and GCC nationals; residents via an LLC with an Emirati partner; age not published	AED 790 base incl. 6 activities plus small line items; AED 100 per extra activity	1 year, renewable; no premises for first 3 years	ADDED via TAMM
Abu Dhabi	Mobdea (Mubdiah)	Emirati women resident in Abu Dhabi, 21+	AED 860 base (ADRA); TAMM line items total AED 1,110; a 2020 fee exemption for Emirati women was announced, confirm with ADDED	1 year, renewable	ADRA
Dubai	Intelaq	UAE or GCC nationals resident in Dubai; 100% UAE/GCC owned	AED 1,070 per year	1 year, renewable	DET via Invest in Dubai
Dubai	eTrader	UAE/GCC nationals from 18; other Dubai residents from 21 (activities differ)	AED 1,070, plus AED 300 Dubai Chamber for commercial activities	Renewed annually, with one month after expiry to renew (DED Trader FAQ, archived 2022); check the current rule on Invest in Dubai	DET via Invest in Dubai
Sharjah	Eitimad	UAE nationals resident in Sharjah, 18+ (SEDD FAQ, Arabic)	AED 1,200 to issue, AED 1,000 to renew (Eitimad FAQ, archived 2022); confirm with SEDD	1 year, renewable	SEDD
Ajman	Reyada home licence	UAE nationals resident in Ajman, 21+	Exempt from local fees for 3 years; later fee unpublished	Unpublished (annual data update required)	Ajman DED
Ras Al Khaimah	Al Ghad	UAE nationals (press reports GCC too); 18+ per the 2018 Al Ghad text; RAK's general rule says 21+	AED 1,000 to issue or renew	Annual renewal cycle per the 2018 statement, which also says Al Ghad supports activities for up to 3 years	RAK DED
Fujairah	My Project (Mashroui)	UAE nationals resident in Fujairah, 21+ (18 with guardian approval)	AED 100 at launch in 2016; confirm today's figure	Unpublished	Fujairah Municipality
Umm Al Quwain	Ibda	Unpublished	Unpublished	Unpublished	UAQ DED

What does each emirate's home business licence actually allow?

Abu Dhabi: Tajer Abu Dhabi and Mobdea

Tajer Abu Dhabi runs for one year, renewable without premises for the first three years only; TAMM lists AED 790 base plus smaller line items (TAMM). ADRA puts the total at AED 790 to AED 5,500 (ADRA). Sources differ on eligibility: ADRA says residents qualify only through an LLC "in partnership with Emiratis", while TAMM's Economic Licence listing page tags the licence "Emirati" (TAMM, Economic Licence).

Mobdea is for Emirati women resident in Abu Dhabi: AED 860 including two activities, no employees (ADRA), age 21 or older, one renewable year, no retail sale from the home (Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council). ADRA allows two similar activities per licence, the Businesswomen Council text says one; the 2020 fee exemption (WAM) is not on TAMM or ADRA, so ask ADDED what you will pay.

For food, ADAFSA's Practice Guide No. 5 of 2024 adds a separate preparation area with its own entrance, a no-objection certificate before you start, food handler training and an undertaking to admit inspectors (ADAFSA guide, Arabic). Full process: Sell food from home in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai: Intelaq and eTrader

Intelaq is the Dubai home licence: residence in Dubai, 100% owned and managed by UAE or GCC nationals, AED 1,070 a year (Invest in Dubai). Dubai SME's older page says AED 1,050; Invest in Dubai now shows AED 1,070. investindubai.gov.ae blocks visitors outside the UAE. Sole proprietorship only, up to three employees (Dubai SME, archived). Food activities need external approval and are capped at five years before conversion to a commercial licence (Dubai Media Office, 2020). See the Intelaq guide, or the home business licence in Dubai for both Dubai routes side by side.

eTrader covers selling through social media: AED 1,070 plus AED 300 Dubai Chamber membership for commercial activities (Invest in Dubai). The official FAQ sets the minimum age at 18 for UAE and GCC nationals, 21 for other Dubai residents, and gives one month after expiry to renew (DED Trader FAQ, archived 2022). The FAQ says no workers may be requested on the licence at all, with no nationality qualifier; separately, Invest in Dubai (2021) says a 100% Emirati-owned licence can obtain three visas (Invest in Dubai, 2021). The two statements are not reconciled on any official page, so ask DET before you plan for staff.

Food is the exception. Dubai Municipality's guide on selling products made at home limits food activities under an eTrader (Trader) or Intelaq licence to UAE and GCC nationals resident in Dubai. Preparation in an apartment is not allowed: you need a separate, dedicated food preparation space within the house (not the family one) (Dubai Municipality guide DM-FSD-GU62, Arabic). The 2020 Intelaq rules go further: that space must sit outside the home with its own outside entrance (Dubai Media Office, 2020). Ask Dubai Municipality which applies to your plot. In June 2026 it repeated that any food sale needs a DET licence first (Khaleej Times). More: Sell food from home in Dubai.

Sharjah: Eitimad

Eitimad is for UAE nationals with a business at home. SEDD's current FAQ requires Emirati nationality, residence in Sharjah, age 18 or over, landlord approval if renting, a municipality undertaking for food or beauty activities, and Ruwad membership (SEDD FAQ, Arabic). Activities include traditional cooking, sweets, spice packing, beauty, tailoring, perfumes and e-commerce.

The fee is not on the live site. SEDD's Eitimad portal, captured in 2022, listed AED 1,200 to issue, AED 1,000 a year to renew and AED 200 per month late, and set the age at 21 (SEDD Eitimad FAQ, archived). The newer FAQ says 18; take the live FAQ for age. The live FAQ also lists a 100% fee discount for three years under the Ruwad umbrella, which Eitimad requires; ask SEDD whether that applies and what today's fee is. Residents cannot hold Eitimad, but SEDD's e-commerce licence is "available to citizens and residents" with no physical location (SEDD FAQ). More: Home business licence in Sharjah.

Ajman: Reyada and Bidayat

Ajman DED's Reyada programme issues a home licence to UAE citizens aged 21 or over living in Ajman with a Makani number: one licence per person, no labour, no renting it out, sales invoices required, and exemption from local fees for three years (Ajman DED). The fee after year three is unpublished.

Bidayat is a separate three-year home licence for home-based business and professional women, issued by the Ajman Businesswomen Council in coordination with the Department of Economic Development. The online service is the Council's no-objection certificate addressed to DED, and the page lists paying the fees as a step, so the amount is not published on the service page; ask the Council (Ajman Digital). Steps: Home business licence in Ajman.

Ras Al Khaimah: Al Ghad and Forsa

RAK's fee schedule lists AED 1,000 to issue or renew Al Ghad and AED 150 to cancel (RAK fee schedule). The 2018 announcement says applicants must be citizens over 18, gives the annual renewal value as AED 1,000, and says Al Ghad will support activities for up to three years (rak.ae news, 2018); RAK's general licence conditions say at least 21 (RAK Government portal). Ask RAK DED which applies. The 2018 text also allows two licences in one house and no employment permits. A May 2025 report quoting RAK DED says Al Ghad is for UAE and GCC nationals, plus a "Forsa" licence for residents with 12 professional categories (Al Bayan); we could not find a Forsa page on rak.ae, so ask RAK DED.

Fujairah: My Project

Fujairah Municipality issues the emirate's licences. Its "My Project" (Mashroui) licence launched in 2016 for citizens resident in Fujairah aged 21 or over (18 with guardian approval), at AED 100 with exemption from Chamber and other local fees, no leasing, and no expatriate labour except household workers (WAM, Arabic). The portal still lists a trade-name reservation service for it (Fujairah Municipality), but the fee is unpublished; check with the municipality.

Umm Al Quwain: Ibda

UAQ's Department of Economic Development issues an Ibda licence for home projects. The last public mention is a 2021 agreement letting holders sell food through a delivery platform (Al Khaleej). No official page states eligibility, fee or validity (UAQ DED); contact the department.

Can expats get a home business licence in the UAE?

Mostly no. Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi's Mobdea are for UAE nationals only, and Dubai's Intelaq requires 100% UAE or GCC ownership. That leaves:

Abu Dhabi Tajer: residents qualify through an LLC with an Emirati partner (ADRA); TAMM's Economic Licence listing page tags the licence "Emirati" (TAMM).
Dubai eTrader: the official FAQ admits "all residents of Dubai" from 21 (DED Trader FAQ, archived 2022), but it does not say which activities are open to non-GCC residents, and food prepared at home stays closed to them.
Sharjah e-commerce licence: open to citizens and residents, no premises needed (SEDD FAQ). It does not by itself authorise preparing food at home.
Ras Al Khaimah Forsa: reported for residents, professional categories only; we could not find a Forsa page on rak.ae, so ask RAK DED (Al Bayan).

Dubai's official guide closes food prepared at home to non-GCC residents. Abu Dhabi's pages set no explicit nationality gate on the Tajer route for food prepared at home, so ask ADDED and ADAFSA in writing before you commit.

When does a home business have to register for VAT?

The Federal Tax Authority sets mandatory VAT registration at AED 375,000 of taxable supplies and imports in the past 12 months or expected in the next 30 days; voluntary registration opens at AED 187,500 (FTA, Registration for VAT). Keep sales records from day one. For pricing with VAT in mind, read How to price cakes and food as a home business in the UAE.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell on Instagram or WhatsApp without a licence?

No. The federal portal says you must hold the appropriate eCommerce licence, and Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 covers websites, social media and apps (u.ae). In Dubai the official eTrader FAQ puts the starting fine at AED 25,000 (DED Trader FAQ, archived 2022).

Which emirate has the cheapest home business licence?

On published figures, Fujairah's My Project was AED 100 at launch and Ajman's Reyada is exempt from local fees for three years. Abu Dhabi's Tajer starts at AED 790, RAK's Al Ghad is AED 1,000, Dubai's Intelaq and eTrader are AED 1,070 (eTrader plus AED 300 Dubai Chamber for commercial activities), and Sharjah's Eitimad was AED 1,200 to issue in 2022. Confirm today's figure with the authority before applying.

Can I hire staff on a home licence?

Usually not. Sharjah Eitimad, Ajman Reyada, Abu Dhabi Mobdea, RAK Al Ghad and Fujairah My Project allow no labour or work permits. The eTrader FAQ says no workers may be requested on the licence at all; separately, Invest in Dubai (2021) says a 100% Emirati-owned licence can obtain three visas (Invest in Dubai, 2021), and the two are not reconciled on any official page. Dubai Intelaq allows up to three employees (Dubai Media Office).

Does a home licence let me sell in other emirates?

Only Sharjah answers this: SEDD's archived FAQ says Eitimad holders may operate across the UAE (SEDD Eitimad FAQ, archived). Other emirates are silent, so ask your issuing authority. For how delivery works, read Home business delivery in the UAE.

Do I need a licence to list on KLU?

Licensing is your responsibility under UAE law. KLU is a UAE marketplace for home businesses: free to join, no listing, subscription or setup fees, 5% commission on completed orders plus 2% card processing on card payments, weekly payouts to a UAE bank account. More in the FAQ.

What happens if my licence expires?

Dubai's eTrader FAQ gives one month to renew before the trade name is cancelled (DED Trader FAQ, archived 2022). Sharjah's archived Eitimad FAQ charged AED 200 per month of delay after a one-month grace.

Sources

Last verified: 23 August 2026.