Business licences
Trade licence renewal in Dubai, with tenancy and establishment card
Licence renewal is the yearly process that keeps a company legally active. For a Dubai mainland company the order matters: renew the tenancy and its Ejari first, then the trade licence with the Department of Economy and Tourism, then the establishment card. Caliph tracks all three dates and files each renewal for you.
At a glance Fact sheet
- How often
- Normally once a year for a Dubai mainland licence
- Renewed by
- Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for Dubai mainland companies
- Order
- Tenancy and Ejari, then the licence, then the establishment card
- Must be valid
- The tenancy contract, and any approval from a second authority
- If it lapses
- Late fines, and company services such as visas can be stopped
- Free zones
- Renew through the zone authority, together with the zone lease
Overview
A trade licence has an expiry date printed on it. After that date the company is still registered, but it is no longer allowed to trade, and the offices that handle its visas, work permits and other services begin to refuse its applications. Renewal is routine when it is planned, and costly when it is left until something is blocked.
Most delays come from the order of the steps. The Department of Economy and Tourism will not renew a mainland licence without a valid registered tenancy for the company's address. So the lease is renewed with the landlord first, then the Ejari, then the licence. The establishment card, which the company uses for immigration work, is renewed after the licence because it relies on the new licence dates.
Regulated businesses have one more thing to check. If your activity depends on an approval from another authority, that approval must still be in force when you renew. Caliph keeps all of these dates on one schedule for each client and starts early, so the licence, the tenancy and the establishment card do not fall out of step.
What you get when Caliph handles renewal
One calendar for every expiry date
Licence, tenancy, establishment card and any regulator's approval are tracked together, and you hear from us before the first one falls due.
Steps taken in the right order
We renew the tenancy and Ejari first, so the licence application is not rejected for a missing or expired lease.
Problems found before they block you
We check for outstanding fines, expired approvals or mismatched details on the licence before the renewal is submitted.
Changes made at the same time
If you want to add an activity or change the manager, renewal is a convenient moment to file the amendment too.
Visas keep moving
With the establishment card renewed straight after the licence, staff visa renewals and new hires are not held up.
What to have ready for renewal
- The current trade licence
- The renewed tenancy contract and its Ejari certificate
- Passport copies of the owners or partners, if any passport has been renewed
- The current establishment card
- Renewed approvals from any second authority that regulates your activity
- The local service agent's details, where your legal form has one
- A note of any changes you want made to the licence
If the landlord has not yet issued the new lease, tell your consultant early. It is the most common reason a renewal runs late.
How licence renewal works
Review before expiry
Your consultant checks the licence, the tenancy, the approvals and any fines on the file well ahead of the expiry date.
Tenancy renewed
You agree the new lease with the landlord and the Ejari is renewed for the new period.
Approvals brought up to date
If a regulator's approval has expired, it is renewed so the licence application is complete.
Renewal submitted
The renewal request goes to DET and a payment voucher is issued.
Fees paid, licence renewed
The voucher is settled and the renewed licence is issued with its new expiry date.
Establishment card renewed
The establishment card is renewed on the strength of the new licence, so immigration services continue.
Good to know
- If you no longer need the company, do not simply let the licence run out. Fines keep adding up until the licence is formally cancelled.
- A lapsed licence can also affect the company bank account, because banks ask for a valid licence when they review their customers.
- The first renewal of an instant licence is different. The registered tenancy that was not needed in year one is needed now.
Questions people ask
How often do I renew a trade licence in Dubai?
A Dubai mainland trade licence is normally renewed once a year, before the expiry date shown on it. The tenancy for the company's address has to be renewed first, because the authority checks it as part of the licence renewal.
What do I renew first, Ejari or the trade licence?
The tenancy and its Ejari come first. The Department of Economy and Tourism asks for a valid registered tenancy before it renews a mainland licence. After the licence is renewed, the establishment card is renewed using the new licence.
What happens if my trade licence expires?
The company may not trade on an expired licence. Late renewal fines are added, and services tied to the company, such as new visas, visa renewals and work permits, can be stopped until the licence is valid again. A long lapse makes the eventual renewal or cancellation more costly.
Can I renew a licence without an office lease?
A mainland licence needs a valid registered tenancy at renewal. If your current lease has ended, Caliph can help you arrange a new office, shared desk or business centre address that is acceptable for your activity, then renew the licence against it.
Why does the establishment card need renewing too?
The establishment card is the company's file with the immigration authority, and its validity follows the licence. If it is not renewed after the licence, visa applications and renewals for owners and staff cannot proceed.
Can I change my licence details when I renew?
Yes. Renewal and amendment can be filed together, which is often simpler than doing them separately. Tell your consultant in advance if you plan to add activities or change the trade name, the manager, the partners or the address.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
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