Trade License Renewal Cost Calculator
Mainland or free zone, plus the AED 250/month late fine if your license has already expired.
Mainland extras — Chamber & Ejari
Estimate only, based on typical 2026 ranges from multiple authority-referencing sources — not an official DET or free-zone rate card. Fees vary significantly by activity, authority and package. Late fine assumes a ~30-day grace period then AED 250/month, with no confirmed universal cap and escalating risk (visa/banking restrictions, possible administrative closure) the longer it stays unrenewed. Confirm your exact renewal invoice with your licensing authority.
Mainland vs free zone: why the range is so wide
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Mainland (DET) renewal | AED 8,000–25,000/year |
| Free zone renewal | AED 5,000–40,000/year (varies hugely by zone) |
| Chamber of Commerce (mainland) | AED 300–1,500/year |
| Ejari renewal (mainland) | AED 200–1,000/year |
| Late fine | AED 250/month after ~30-day grace period |
Mainland licensing through DET is comparatively standardised, so founders can estimate it with more confidence. Free zones each set their own pricing and often bundle the license with office/flexi-desk costs and admin charges — which is why two companies in different zones can see very different invoices for what looks like the same business type.
Before a mainland renewal will go through
DET generally requires a current, valid Ejari tenancy registration before processing a mainland renewal — an expired Ejari is one of the most common reasons a renewal gets stuck. You'll also typically need updated partner passports/Emirates IDs, your MoA/AoA in order, and all outstanding labour, immigration, municipality or traffic fines cleared. Start checking 2–4 weeks before expiry, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does trade license renewal actually cost?
It varies a lot by authority and activity, which is why this tool shows a range rather than one number. Mainland (DET) renewal typically runs AED 8,000 to 25,000 a year, plus Chamber of Commerce membership (AED 300 to 1,500) and a current Ejari registration (AED 200 to 1,000) as prerequisites. Free zone renewal ranges even wider — roughly AED 5,000 to 40,000 — since budget zones like RAKEZ or IFZA sit at the low end while premium zones like DMCC or DIFC can run well above that. Always check your specific authority's current invoice rather than assuming last year's total repeats exactly.
What happens if I renew late?
After the grace period, a fine of AED 250 per month starts accruing, and it keeps growing the longer the license stays unrenewed — unlike Emirates ID's fine, there's no single universally confirmed cap here. Beyond the fine itself, an expired license quickly cascades into bigger problems: employee visa renewals get blocked, banking access can be restricted, and VAT/corporate tax compliance can be compromised, since so many other government processes check that your license is currently valid.
Is there a grace period before the fine starts?
Most sources describe a roughly 30-day grace period after expiry before the AED 250/month fine begins accruing, though this is described as an industry-observed standard that can vary by specific free zone rather than one universal federal rule. Some mainland guidance describes fines starting essentially from day one with no grace period at all. Don't rely on getting a full month of slack — start the renewal process before expiry, not after.
Why do free zone renewal costs vary so much more than mainland?
Each free zone sets its own pricing independently, and many packages bundle the license fee together with office/flexi-desk costs, visa allocation, and admin charges tied to how the company was originally set up — so two companies in different zones (or even different packages within the same zone) can see very different renewal invoices for what looks like the same type of business. Mainland licensing through DET is comparatively more standardised, which is why founders can usually estimate the mainland cost with a bit more confidence.
What do I need in place before a mainland renewal will go through?
A current, valid Ejari tenancy registration is generally required before DET will process a mainland trade license renewal — an expired Ejari is one of the most common reasons a renewal gets stuck. You'll also typically need updated partner passports/Emirates IDs if any have expired, your MoA/AoA in order, and Chamber of Commerce membership current. Most authorities also hold the renewal until any outstanding labour, immigration, municipality or traffic fines tied to the company are cleared — worth checking your status 2 to 4 weeks ahead of expiry.
What happens if my license stays expired for a long time?
Beyond the accumulating monthly fine, a long-expired license risks administrative closure by the authority, which carries its own separate penalty (commonly cited around AED 10,000 for operating after closure) on top of everything already owed. At that point, reinstating the company can become a materially bigger and slower process than a standard renewal would have been — the practical lesson from every source on this topic is the same: renew before expiry, not after.