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 8 December 2022). Sharjah warns of the same violation plus closure of the social media account (SEDD Eitimad FAQ, archived 9 June 2022).

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.

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's charged fee lines come to AED 1,425: AED 790 organisational entities, AED 315 for the establishment card from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, AED 300 Abu Dhabi Chamber membership, AED 10 economic register and AED 10 issuance (TAMM, verified 3 October 2026); TAMM prints no total, so the sum is ours. 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), one renewable year, no retail sale from the home (Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council). On age, TAMM's terms of service set the minimum at 18 (TAMM); the Businesswomen Council's older pages say 21, and TAMM is the platform that takes your application, so treat its figure as the current one and see the Mubdiah guide. 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 27 May 2022). 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 8 December 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, Wayback snapshot of 16 February 2021). That page did not load from the live site when we checked on 3 October 2026, so the snapshot is what we cite. 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 on 9 June 2022, listed AED 1,200 to issue, AED 1,000 a year to renew and AED 200 per month late (SEDD Eitimad FAQ, archived 9 June 2022). That portal also set the age at 21, which is out of date: the live FAQ says the applicant must be at least 18. 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. Residents have their own route. RAK DED posted an announcement in May 2025 for the Chance Licence (رخصة فرصة, usually called Forsa): a licence for residents of Ras Al Khaimah to start a business from home, more than 63 professional and craft activities, open to all nationalities, at AED 1,500 a year (RAK DED, Chance License). A May 2025 report quoting RAK DED adds that Al Ghad itself covers UAE and GCC nationals (Al Bayan). Neither source names a food activity under Forsa, so ask RAK DED about your activity first. Both licences in detail: the Al Ghad licence in Ras Al Khaimah.

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: nothing published

Umm Al Quwain publishes no home business licence at all. UAQ DED's own catalogue lists permits only, with no home licence among them (UAQ DED). No official UAQ source names a home business licence, and none says there is not one, so this is an absence of publication rather than a documented rule either way. We looked for an official or press source for an "Ibda" home licence in the emirate and found only consultancy pages, which we do not treat as sources. Telephone UAQ DED, ask what you may run from your home, and ask for the answer in writing. The full picture is in our northern emirates guide.

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 8 December 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: RAK DED's own announcement opens it to residents of Ras Al Khaimah of all nationalities, with more than 63 professional and craft activities, at AED 1,500 a year (RAK DED, Chance License). No food activity is named, and a residency issued in another emirate may not qualify, so confirm both with RAK DED.

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 8 December 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 comes to AED 1,425 across TAMM's five charged fee lines, of which AED 790 is the base line, 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, Wayback snapshot of 16 February 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 9 June 2022). 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 8 December 2022). Sharjah's archived Eitimad FAQ charged AED 200 per month of delay after a one-month grace.

Sources

• eCommerce, The Official Platform of the UAE Government
• Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 on Trading by Modern Technological Means, Ministry of Economy
• Registration for VAT, Federal Tax Authority
• Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011 Regulating the Conduct of Economic Activities, Dubai Legislation Portal
• Issue Economic Licence, Tajer Abu Dhabi, TAMM
• Economic Licence listing, TAMM
• Issue Economic Licence, Mobdea, TAMM
• Tajer Abu Dhabi Licence, Abu Dhabi Registration Authority
• Mobdea Licence, Abu Dhabi Registration Authority
• Mubdiah licence issuance, Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council
• Civil Defence exempts Emirati women from Mubdiah licence fees, WAM (2020)
• Practice Guide No. 5 of 2024, Licensing Food Establishments in Abu Dhabi, ADAFSA (Arabic)
• Request for Intelaq licence, Invest in Dubai (DET)
• Request to issue a trade licence, Invest in Dubai (DET)
• DED Trader licences issued in 2020 increase by 132%, Invest in Dubai (2021), Wayback snapshot of 16 February 2021 (the live page did not load when we checked on 3 October 2026)
• DED Trader FAQ, Dubai Economy (archived 8 December 2022, Arabic)
• Dubai SME adds foodstuff to Intelaq licence, Government of Dubai Media Office
• Intelaq licence request, Dubai SME (archived 27 May 2022)
• Guide DM-FSD-GU62 on preparing and selling products from homes, Dubai Municipality (Arabic)
• FAQ, Sharjah Economic Development Department (English)
• FAQ, Sharjah Economic Development Department (Arabic)
• Eitimad licence FAQ, SEDD Eitimad portal (archived 9 June 2022, Arabic)
• Reyada Program, Ajman Department of Economic Development
• Bidayat licence approval request, Department of Digital Ajman
• Starting a business, Ras Al Khaimah Government Portal
• Economic Licensing Fees, Ras Al Khaimah Government Portal
• 242 active Al Ghad licences in RAK DED, Ras Al Khaimah Government Portal (2018)
• Chance Licence (Forsa) announcement, RAK Department of Economic Development (May 2025)
• Licensing services, Fujairah Municipality e-services portal
• Services, Department of Economic Development Umm Al Quwain
• Fujairah home licences for citizens, WAM (2016, Arabic)
• 1,647 home licences in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Bayan (2025, Arabic)
• Dubai Municipality reminds residents of the rules on selling food prepared at home, Khaleej Times (2026)

Last verified: 3 October 2026.