How to renew your trade licence in the UAE: A step-by-step guide in 2024

  • 09 Jan 2025
  • read
  • Business

Running a business in the UAE offers incredible opportunities, but staying on top of regulatory requirements is crucial to keeping your operations smooth. Among these, renewing your trade licence in the UAE is one of the most important. Without a valid trade licence, your business could face penalties, suspension or even closure. If you're gearing up to renew your trade licence in 2024, RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone) can assist you, making the process more seamless and hassle-free. 

What is a trade licence and why is it important?

A trade licence is an essential legal document issued by the Department of Economic Development (DED) or relevant Free Zone authorities. It outlines the specific business activities that a company or individual is permitted to conduct within the UAE. 

Renewing your trade licence annually is crucial for maintaining your business’s legal standing, ensuring smooth operations and compliance with business information regulations in the UAE. 

To apply for trade licence renewal service request (SR) through Portal 360 for both free zone and mainland, please follow the below steps:

1. Log in to Portal 360 and select ‘Registration’ from the services menu

2. Select ‘Renewal’ and enter the required details

3. Make the payment

4. Upload required documents

5. Submit the SR for RAKEZ verification

6. Upload the missing documents (if any)

7. Licence will be issued

Important Guidelines:

• In UAE, failure to renew on or before the expiry date will result in incurring a late renewal penalty charge of AED 50 per day from the trade licence expiry date. In addition, third-party fines will be incurred on the Immigration File, COC membership and RAK DED licence. RAKEZ will not take any responsibility for any fines incurred.

• Certain amendment requests including licence type and activity change, adding a new licence, cancelling additional licence and lease upgrade or downgrade, will only be accepted 60 days prior to licence expiry.

• To avail any service from Immigration, e-channel registration/renewal (as applicable) has to be completed.

• Power of Attorney (POA) must be accompanied by a valid passport or Emirates ID copy of the attorney. All required documents must be in Arabic. Documents in any other language must be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation.

• RAKEZ reserves the right to call for any additional documents and/or extra attestation, as necessary.

UAE's non-free zone/mainland trade licence renewal checklist

1. Required documents of the shareholder/parent company:

a. If the shareholder(s) or the parent company is a corporate entity registered in the UAE mainland:

Valid Trade Licence copy issued by Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (DED)

b. If the shareholder(s) or parent company is a corporate person registered in a UAE free zone or outside the UAE:

Certificate of good standing/extract from Commercial Register (as applicable to the jurisdiction)

2. Required documents of the individual shareholder(s), the director(s) and general manager

Valid passport copy (in case the copy previously submitted to RAKEZ expired)

3. Application forms for the renewal process of Chamber of Commerce (COC) Membership and RAK DED Licence

Duly signed by the manager or authorised signatory along with the Original COC Membership Certificate and RAK DED licence (if valid)

4. Renewed Lease Agreement (if applicable)

For physical facilities such as office, warehouse or land, it is required to submit two copies of the lease agreement signed by the authorised signatory.

5. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from relevant regulatory authorities (if applicable)

6. Audited financials (for industrial licence)

7. Valid Local Service Agent Agreement (in case the copy previously submitted to RAKEZ expired)

Free Zone Trade Licence Renewal Checklist:

1. Documents of the corporate shareholder(s) /parent company 

a. If the shareholder(s) is a corporate entity or the parent company is registered in the UAE mainland:

Valid trade licence copy issued by RAK DED

b. If the shareholder(s) is a corporate person or the parent company is registered in a UAE free zone or outside the UAE:

Certificate of good standing/extract from Commercial Register (as applicable to the jurisdiction) 

2. Documents of the individual shareholder(s), the director(s) and manager

Valid passport copy (in case the copy previously submitted to RAKEZ expired)

3. Application forms for the renewal of COC Membership (if any)

Duly signed by the manager or authorised signatory (if applicable)

4. Renewed Lease Agreement (if applicable)

For physical facilities such as office, warehouse or land, it is required to submit two copies of the Lease Agreement signed by the authorised signatory.

5. NOC from relevant regulatory authorities (if applicable)

6. Audited financials (for industrial licence)

The expert business set-up team at RAKEZ will guide you through every step of the process. 

Contact us now:

Phone: +971 7 204 1111  
Email: info@rakez.com


Categories

Copyright 2025 by RAKEZ - Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone Government of Ras Al Khaimah | Privacy Statement| Terms Of Use
Last Updated on 12/29/2019 9:23:05 PM

  • Virtual Tour
  • Happiness Survey
  • Callback
  • Portal 360
  • Chat with Us
  • Get in touch