Quick answer: An e-commerce license in a Dubai free zone (IFZA or Meydan) costs roughly AED 12,500–15,000 for the licence alone, or about AED 16,000–20,000 all-in with one investor visa. The cheapest e-commerce licence in the UAE is Ajman Free Zone from around AED 4,880 (online activity only, no visa), and other Northern Emirates zones start around AED 5,750–7,000. Government fees are set by each authority and change without notice.
Key takeaways
- A Dubai-address e-commerce licence starts near AED 12,500; the same activity in the Northern Emirates starts near AED 5,750, and as low as AED 4,880 in Ajman.
- The advertised "from AED X" banner is usually licence only — it excludes the establishment card, visa, medical, Emirates ID and insurance.
- Adding one investor visa typically pushes a Dubai free zone total to AED 16,000–20,000.
- You need a UAE business bank account before most payment gateways (Stripe, Telr, PayTabs, N-Genius) will onboard you.
- Choose the emirate for where you actually need to be, not just the sticker price — a Dubai address costs roughly double, and it should buy you something.
What is an e-commerce license in Dubai?
An e-commerce license is a trade licence that legally permits you to sell goods or services online in the UAE — through your own website, a marketplace, or social media. It covers activity, not a physical shop; you can hold stock and fulfil orders, but the licence is tied to online selling rather than a walk-in retail unit.
You can hold an e-commerce licence on the mainland (issued by Dubai's DET) or in a free zone (issued by the zone authority). For most first-time online sellers, a free zone is cheaper, fully foreign-owned, and faster to set up. If you plan to sell physical products across UAE malls or supply directly to the local market at scale, the mainland route via Dubai mainland formation may fit better — but it costs more.
How much does an e-commerce license cost in Dubai?
An e-commerce license in Dubai costs approximately AED 12,500–15,000 for the licence only in a Dubai free zone such as IFZA or Meydan, before you add a visa or office. That is the honest Dubai entry point — and it is roughly double what the same licence costs outside Dubai.
The reason is simple: you are paying for a Dubai address and Dubai branding. If that matters to your customers or suppliers, it is worth it. If it does not, you can issue the identical online activity from a Northern Emirates zone for around half the price and still trade across the whole UAE.
Here is the real comparison, priced by zone:
| Zone | Licence only (no visa) | Licence + 1 investor visa (all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| Ajman e-commerce licence | from ~AED 4,880 | from ~AED 10,500 |
| Ajman (ANC), general | AED 5,500 – 6,800 | AED 10,500 – 12,500 |
| SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) | AED 5,750 – 6,500 | AED 11,000 – 13,000 |
| SHAMS (Sharjah) | AED 5,900 – 7,000 | AED 11,500 – 13,500 |
| IFZA (Dubai) | AED 12,500 – 14,000 | AED 16,000 – 18,500 |
| Meydan (Dubai) | AED 12,500 – 15,000 | AED 17,000 – 20,000 |
"All-in" means the licence plus the establishment card, investor visa, medical test, Emirates ID and basic insurance. That is the number to plan around — not the headline licence fee.
Dubai vs Northern Emirates: which is cheaper for e-commerce?
The Northern Emirates are significantly cheaper for e-commerce, with the genuine UAE floor sitting at around AED 4,880 in Ajman for online-only activity. A Dubai free zone licence starts at about AED 12,500 — roughly double — for the same core permission to sell online.
Both routes let you sell to customers anywhere in the UAE and abroad. The practical differences are:
- Address and perception. A Meydan or IFZA licence shows a Dubai address. Some B2B clients, suppliers and banks respond better to it. For a pure D2C online store, most customers never see it.
- Bank onboarding. Dubai-address companies sometimes clear bank due diligence marginally faster, but a well-prepared Northern Emirates company banks fine too. See our guide on opening a UAE business bank account.
- Visa allocation. The AED 4,880 Ajman licence is licence only — no visa is included. You can add one afterwards, but it is charged separately.
If budget is the deciding factor, a Northern Emirates free zone or SPC in Sharjah is the smart start. If a Dubai identity is part of your brand, compare IFZA and Meydan directly.
What's usually left out of the advertised price?
The "from AED X" banners quote the licence only. The costs that follow are real and predictable, and any honest quote states them upfront.
Here is what is missing from a bare licence price when you actually want to live and work here:
- Establishment / immigration card — approximately AED 1,200 – 2,000, required before any visa can be issued.
- Investor or employee visa — approximately AED 3,500 – 6,000 each (free zones typically bundle this into the all-in figure).
- Medical test — approximately AED 350 – 750.
- Emirates ID — approximately AED 300 – 370, usually issued to align with a 2-year visa term.
- Medical insurance — approximately AED 800 – 1,500 for a 1-year term, or AED 1,600 – 3,000 for two years.
Add those to a licence and you can see why a "AED 5,750" banner becomes an AED 11,000–13,000 all-in reality once one visa is attached. This is exactly why we quote the all-in figure first. For the visa side of the process, see our visa services.
Payment gateways: what you need before you can take money
You cannot connect a payment gateway until you have a trade licence and a UAE business bank account — the gateway settles funds into that account, so it comes first. Budget time for this: bank onboarding is often the slowest part of launching an online store.
Common options in the UAE market include:
- Telr, PayTabs, N-Genius (Network International) — UAE-focused gateways that support AED and local cards.
- Stripe — available in the UAE and popular with SaaS and cross-border sellers.
- Amazon Payment Services (formerly PayFort) — strong for regional coverage.
Most require your trade licence, a UAE corporate bank account, and basic KYC on the shareholders. A clean, well-documented application clears faster — which is why the order matters: licence, then bank account, then gateway.
How to get an e-commerce license in Dubai: step by step
Getting an e-commerce licence follows a clear sequence, and most free zone applications complete in a few working days once documents are in order.
- Choose your jurisdiction. Dubai free zone (IFZA/Meydan), a cheaper Northern Emirates zone, or mainland — based on budget, address and visa needs.
- Select your activities. Confirm the online/e-commerce activity codes cover what you sell (goods, services, or both).
- Reserve your trade name and submit initial approval to the authority.
- Pay the licence fee and receive your e-commerce trade licence.
- Apply for the establishment card, then your investor visa (medical, Emirates ID, stamping) if you need residence.
- Open a business bank account, then connect your payment gateway and go live.
Prefer to see numbers for your exact case? Use our cost calculator or read our dedicated e-commerce license Dubai page.
Document checklist
You will typically need:
- Passport copy of each shareholder (and a copy of any current UAE visa/Emirates ID)
- Passport-size photograph
- Proposed trade name (two or three options)
- List of intended e-commerce activities
- Proof of address (some banks and zones request it)
- Entry permit / status change details if you are applying for a residence visa
FAQ
How much does it cost to start an e-commerce business in Dubai?
Starting an e-commerce business in Dubai costs about AED 12,500–15,000 for a Dubai free zone licence alone, or roughly AED 16,000–20,000 all-in with one investor visa. Outside Dubai it is far cheaper — from around AED 4,880 in Ajman (online only, no visa) or around AED 11,000–13,000 all-in in the Northern Emirates.
What is the cheapest e-commerce license in the UAE?
The cheapest e-commerce licence in the UAE is Ajman Free Zone from around AED 4,880, restricted to online and e-commerce activity with no visa included. A visa can be added later for a separate fee. Other low-cost options include SPC in Sharjah from around AED 5,750 and SHAMS from about AED 5,900.
Do I need a visa to run an online store in Dubai?
No — you can hold an e-commerce licence without a residence visa, which is why licence-only prices like Ajman's AED 4,880 exist. You need a visa only if you want to live in the UAE or sponsor family. A visa also unlocks smoother bank and Emirates ID processing, so most owner-operators add one.
Can I sell across the UAE with a free zone e-commerce license?
Yes — a free zone e-commerce licence lets you sell online to customers anywhere in the UAE and internationally. The distinction matters mainly for physical retail: to open a walk-in shop or trade directly into the local mainland market at scale, you would typically need a mainland licence or a local distribution arrangement.
How long does it take to get an e-commerce license in Dubai?
Most free zone e-commerce licences are issued within 2–5 working days once your documents and trade name are approved. Adding a residence visa extends the timeline by one to three weeks for the establishment card, medical, Emirates ID and stamping. Bank account opening usually takes the longest and should be started early.
Is a Dubai e-commerce license worth double the Northern Emirates price?
It is worth it if a Dubai address adds real value to your brand, B2B credibility or supplier relationships. For a pure direct-to-consumer online store where customers never see your licence, a Northern Emirates zone gives you the same trading rights at roughly half the cost. Match the emirate to your actual need, not the banner.
Every online business is a little different, and the right answer depends on your activity, visa needs and where you plan to bank. DBM has helped form over 1,000 companies in the UAE and holds a 4.9-star rating from 126 Google reviews — with plain, itemised quotes that separate government fees from our service fee. Book a free consultation via our contact page or message us on WhatsApp at +971 50 504 6228, and we'll price your e-commerce licence honestly, all-in.