A Dubai trade licence amendment in 2026 costs between AED 500–2,000 at the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), depending on scope. Amendments suit single-element changes (activity, trade name, or shareholder details), whilst full reissue is cheaper when multiple elements change simultaneously. Processing takes 7–14 business days via DET.

What Is a Dubai Trade Licence Amendment?

A trade licence amendment allows you to modify one or more elements of your existing business registration without cancelling and reissuing the entire licence. Changes include activity codes, trade name, legal form (sole proprietor to LLC, for example), shareholder composition, or branch details. This process is governed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for mainland businesses and respective free-zone authorities (such as Jafza, DMCC, or RAK FZ) for zone entities. Amendments are faster and cheaper than reissue when the scope is narrow—but understanding when to amend versus reissue is critical to cost control. Dubai Business Services guides 80,000+ entrepreneurs through this decision annually; our Dubai mainland company formation service includes amendment strategy from day one.

2026 DED Amendment Fee Schedule

The Department of Economy and Tourism publishes tiered amendment fees based on scope:

Contact DBS via WhatsApp +971 54 332 2846 to confirm 2026 DET rates for your specific scenario.

Notary Public & External Approval Costs

Most DET amendments require notarised documents—particularly shareholder agreements, board resolutions, or power-of-attorney letters. Notary public fees in Dubai range from AED 150–400 per document (charged by the Dubai Courts Notary Public Office). Additionally, certain amendments trigger external approvals: for example, adding a healthcare activity requires a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) pre-approval (AED 1,000–3,000 and 5–10 days), whilst food-related amendments need Dubai Municipality clearance (AED 500–1,500 and 3–7 days). Financial services amendments may require Central Bank approval (variable timelines). These external costs stack on top of DET fees and extend overall timelines to 14–21 days. Our Dubai business setup guides map all sector-specific approvals upfront.

External approvals can double your amendment cost—request a free scoping call to model all expenses.

Amendment vs New Licence: The Break-Even Rule

A common misconception is that amendment is always cheaper. In reality, a full licence reissue becomes more cost-effective when two or more major elements require change. Here's the logic: a mainland LLC reissue costs AED 3,000–4,500 (DET + notary + trademark search) and takes 10–14 days; a multi-element amendment costs AED 1,600–2,000 plus notary fees (AED 300–500 total), but if external approvals apply, timeline and cost both spike. If you're simultaneously changing legal form, trade name, activity, and shareholder structure, reissue is often cheaper (single DET transaction vs four separate amendments with cumulative notary fees). DBS analysis recommends: if three or more elements change, compare reissue cost against bundled amendment cost—reissue wins 60% of the time. Free-zone amendments (e.g., DMCC or Jafza) follow different fee schedules; DMCC charges AED 1,500–3,000 for amendments and often mandates notary certification, making reissue more attractive for complex changes.

Amendment Timelines & DET Processing

DET processes amendments within 7–10 business days for straightforward changes (single activity, trade name) and 10–14 days for multi-element amendments or those requiring external approvals. Timeline breakdown: document submission → DET pre-check (1–2 days) → DET review (3–5 days) → external agency review if required (3–7 days) → licence issuance and collection (1 day). Free-zone amendments often run parallel or sequential approvals; DMCC typically takes 5–10 days, Jafza 7–12 days. Delays occur if documents are incomplete, notary signatures are missing, or external agencies request clarification. DBS customers using our amendment service experience 95% first-submission approval rates because we audit all documents against 2026 DET checklists before submission.

Can You Amend Trade Name and Legal Form Together?

Yes. You may amend both trade name and legal form (e.g., changing from "Ahmed Trading" sole proprietor to "Ahmed Trading LLC" with a new shareholder structure) in a single DET transaction. The fee is typically the higher of the two elements (AED 1,200–1,600 for legal form) plus notary charges for the amended partnership deed or board resolution. However, this dual amendment triggers stricter DET scrutiny: the trademark search must confirm both the new Arabic and English names are available, and any new shareholder must provide emirates ID and proof of address. Processing extends to 12–14 days. If adding a shareholder during this amendment, that shareholder must also notarise their consent document (additional AED 150–250). Many entrepreneurs delay trade name changes because they fear complexity—but bundling name + legal form is actually faster than doing them separately with two sets of notary and DET fees.

Free-Zone Amendment Nuances

Free-zone businesses (Dubai Silicon Oasis, DMCC, Jafza, RAK FZ, etc.) amend via their own authority, not DET. DMCC amendments cost AED 1,500–2,500 depending on scope; Jafza charges AED 1,200–2,000. Free-zone amendments often require the original sponsor's consent (if applicable), trade licence copy, passport copies of all signatories, and a notarised board resolution. Free zones also enforce stricter shareholding caps: DMCC allows only UAE national sponsors at 51% minimum in certain sectors, so shareholder amendments may require regulatory pre-approval (additional 5 days). Reissuing a free-zone licence (rather than amending) usually costs the same or more, making amendment the default choice in zones—unless your activity code changes dramatically (e.g., trading to manufacturing), at which point reissue may unlock different zone benefits or cheaper lease rates.

Frequently asked questions

When should I amend my Dubai trade licence vs cancel and re-issue?

Amend if you're changing one or two elements (activity, trade name, or shareholder). Reissue if three or more elements change simultaneously—the DET reissue fee (AED 3,000–4,500) is often cheaper than four separate amendments with cumulative notary costs. Reissue also delivers a fresh licence with no cumulative approvals needed. DBS recommends a cost comparison for changes affecting legal form + activity + shareholder.

What does DED charge for an amendment in 2026?

DET (formerly DED) charges AED 500–750 for single-activity amendments, AED 600–900 for trade name, and AED 1,200–1,600 for legal form changes. Multi-element amendments cost AED 1,600–2,000. Notary public fees add AED 150–400 per document. External sector approvals (e.g., DHA, Dubai Municipality) add AED 500–3,000 and 3–10 days separately.

Does adding a shareholder require a new licence?

No. Adding a shareholder is an amendment, not a reissue. DET charges AED 800–1,200 for shareholder addition plus AED 150–250 per notarised consent letter. The new shareholder must provide emirates ID and proof of address. Processing takes 7–10 days unless the zone or sector requires additional approvals. A new licence is only needed if shareholding falls below legal minimums or sector caps change.

How long does an amendment take in 2026?

Simple amendments (single activity or trade name) take 7–10 business days. Multi-element amendments take 10–14 days. If external sector approvals are required (DHA, Dubai Municipality, Central Bank), add 3–7 days per agency. DBS tracks live DET queues; peak submission windows (Mondays–Wednesdays) can delay collection by 1–2 days. Free-zone amendments vary: DMCC 5–10 days, Jafza 7–12 days.

Are external approvals required for an amendment?

Yes, if your amended activity touches regulated sectors. Healthcare (DHA), food (Dubai Municipality), financial services (Central Bank), and import/export (DET's Customs) amendments all require pre-approval. Education, real estate, and tourism may also trigger approvals depending on your exact activity code. DBS screens all amendments against the 2026 sector matrix before submission to avoid surprise delays.

Can I amend my licence's trade name and legal form together?

Yes. Bundling trade name + legal form amendment into one DET transaction costs AED 1,200–1,600 (single fee) plus notary charges. The new trade name must pass trademark search, and any new shareholder must provide a notarised consent letter. Processing takes 12–14 days due to stricter DET review. This is faster and cheaper than filing two separate amendments with duplicate notary and DET fees.

What is the difference between amending a mainland licence and a free-zone licence?

Mainland amendments are processed by DET with fees of AED 500–2,000. Free-zone amendments (DMCC, Jafza, etc.) are processed by the zone authority with fees of AED 1,200–3,000 and often require sponsor consent or additional notarisation. Free zones rarely charge less for reissue, making amendment the default. Mainland reissue is sometimes cheaper than multi-element amendment, but free-zone reissue rarely offers cost advantage.

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