So, you need to check if a company in Dubai is the real deal. Thankfully, you can do a trade license Dubai online check pretty easily using official government portals. The main ones are the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the DubaiNow app, and the UAE's National Economic Register.

Running this simple check confirms a company's legal status, which is your first line of defence against potential fraud. It’s a quick way to make sure you're dealing with a legitimate, compliant business.

Why You Absolutely Must Verify a Dubai Trade License

In Dubai's fast-paced business world, verifying a trade license isn't just a good idea—it's a critical due diligence step.

Whether you're about to sign a big contract with a new supplier, partner up with another firm, or even accept a job offer, this quick check gives you the peace of mind you need. It's the simplest way to confirm that a company is legally registered and actually authorised to operate in the UAE.

Skipping this step can open you up to some serious risks. If you end up dealing with a business that has an expired or non-existent license, you could face financial losses, messy contractual disputes, or major compliance headaches later on. Think of it as a foundational step to protect your professional and financial interests.

Ensuring Legitimacy in a Growing Market

The need for this verification is even more important given Dubai's explosive economic growth. The city is constantly seeing a huge number of new businesses pop up, making it essential to tell the legitimate ones from the questionable ones.

Recent data really paints a picture of this expansion. Over just nine months, Dubai issued thousands of new licenses in key sectors: 2,722 for building contracting, 2,678 for e-commerce, and 1,628 for general trade. This boom highlights why a reliable trade license check is so crucial for maintaining the integrity of the market.

Building Trust and Mitigating Risk

Verification is about more than just ticking a compliance box; it's about building trust from the ground up. When you check a company's license, you confirm the core details that give you a clear picture of their legal and operational standing.

A valid trade license is the bedrock of commercial trust in the UAE. It’s the first and most critical piece of evidence that a company is operating legally, ethically, and is accountable to the governing authorities.

A quick online search will tell you everything you need to know, including:

• License Status: Is it active, expired, or cancelled? An active status is what you're looking for—it confirms the company is in good standing.
• Registered Activities: Does their licensed activity actually match the services they're offering you? This is a big one.
• Company Details: You can verify the official legal name and address, which helps avoid any mix-ups with similarly named businesses.

Understanding a company's official registration details is vital. If you want to learn more about the whole process from start to finish, our guide on getting a trade license in Dubai is a great resource. This simple but powerful step empowers you to make informed decisions and do business with confidence.

Using the DET Portal for Your Licence Check

When you need to check a mainland trade licence in Dubai, your first port of call should always be the official portal for the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Think of it as the ultimate source of truth. Since DET is the government body that issues and regulates these licences, its database is the most accurate and up-to-date one you'll find.

The good news is that the platform is built for transparency and is surprisingly straightforward to use. You won't have to click through endless menus to find what you're looking for; the search function is right there. The trick is simply having the right details on hand. For the quickest and most precise search, the company's official licence number is your best bet, but you can also find a business using its registered trade name in either English or Arabic.

Kicking Off Your Search

To get started, head over to the DET's e-Services portal. Once you're on the site, you'll spot a search or verification service pretty easily. This is where you'll punch in the information for the company you're looking into.

Here’s a glimpse of what the search interface looks like on the DET service page.

As you can see, the fields are clearly marked, asking for either the business name or the licence number to get your query going.

Making Sense of the Results

After you hit search, the portal will pull up a page loaded with the company’s licence details. This isn't just a simple "valid" or "invalid" result; it’s a full snapshot of the business's legal and operational standing. It's really important to know what you're looking at.

The first thing to check is the licence status. Here’s a quick rundown of what you might see and what it means:

• Active: This is exactly what you want to see. It means the company is in good standing, has fulfilled all its legal requirements, and is fully authorised to do business.
• Expired: This is a red flag. The licence has passed its renewal date. A company with an expired licence cannot legally operate or sign any new contracts.
• Cancelled: This means the licence has been formally terminated. This could have been done voluntarily by the owners or enforced by the authorities. Either way, the business is no longer a legal entity.

Beyond just the status, the results page gives you a lot more to work with. You’ll see the company's official legal name (which can sometimes be different from its brand name), its registered address, and its legal type—like an LLC or a Sole Establishment.

Crucially, you'll also see a list of its approved business activities. This part is vital. You need to make sure the services the company is offering you are actually on its licence. If a business is operating outside of its approved scope, it’s a major compliance issue. For a closer look at all the possible business activities, you can check out our detailed guide on the DED activity list in Dubai.

In just a few clicks, this online check gives you a complete, official picture of a company's legitimacy before you decide to work with them.

Checking Your Licence on Mobile and National Portals

Doing your due diligence doesn’t have to stop when you’re away from your desk. In a city that moves as fast as Dubai, being able to verify a business on the go is more than just a convenience—it's essential. This is where mobile solutions and national-level databases come into play, offering a wider net than just the primary DET portal.

The DubaiNow app is a powerful tool for this very purpose. It neatly bundles countless government services into a single, straightforward mobile interface. Tucked inside its features is a business lookup function that allows for a quick and simple trade licence Dubai online check right from your smartphone. It’s incredibly practical for confirming a company’s details moments before a meeting or while visiting a potential supplier’s office.

Using the DubaiNow App for On-the-Go Verification

Finding the verification tool within the DubaiNow app is easy. Once you've downloaded and logged in, you can usually find the business lookup or trade licence verification feature under the "Business" or "Economy" services section.

Much like the DET portal, all you need is the company's name or licence number. The app pulls the same official data and presents it in a mobile-friendly format. You’ll see all the critical information: licence status, registered activities, and expiry date. It’s an efficient way to get instant confirmation without being tied to a computer.

Expanding Your Search with the National Economic Register

But what if your business dealings extend beyond Dubai's borders? You might be vetting a potential partner from Abu Dhabi or a key supplier based in Sharjah. In these situations, a Dubai-focused tool simply won’t cut it. You need a UAE-wide perspective.

This is where the National Economic Register (NER) becomes invaluable. Managed by the UAE Ministry of Economy, the NER is a federal database that pulls together commercial data from all seven emirates. Think of it as your go-to platform for conducting due diligence on any company registered in the UAE, no matter its home emirate.

Using the NER is crucial when:

• You are partnering with a company headquartered outside of Dubai.
• You need to verify the licence of a business with branches across multiple emirates.
• You want a high-level overview of a company's national presence.

While the DET portal gives you granular detail specific to Dubai mainland licences, the NER offers a broader, national scope. The information might be slightly less detailed, but it authoritatively confirms a company's legal existence and status across the entire country. Knowing which tool to use—DET for Dubai-specific depth, NER for national breadth—ensures you always get the complete picture.

Comparing Verification Tools: DET Portal vs DubaiNow vs NER

With a few different options available, how do you decide which one is right for the task at hand? This table breaks down the key differences to help you choose the most suitable tool for your specific verification needs.

Ultimately, the best tool depends on what you need to know. For a deep dive into a Dubai-based business, the DET portal is your best bet. For a fast check on your phone, DubaiNow is perfect. And when your interests lie beyond Dubai, the NER is the authoritative source.

This simple flow shows that an “Active” status is the green light you’re looking for, while an “Expired” one is a clear red flag. This binary outcome—active or not—is the immediate result you get from any online check, giving you the clarity needed to make your next move.

Solving Common Problems During Your Licence Check

Running a trade licence Dubai online check is usually straightforward, but every now and then, the system can throw you a curveball. You might type in a company's name with total confidence, only to get a frustrating "no results found" message. It happens, especially when you're in a hurry to verify a new partner.

The good news is that most of these hiccups are easy to fix and rarely point to a serious problem.

The most common snag is a simple mismatch in how you've entered the name. Official government portals are incredibly literal. A tiny spelling mistake, an extra space, or forgetting to add the legal suffix like "LLC" or "FZE" is often enough to return a blank result. It's not a system failure; it’s a precision issue.

When Your Search Comes Up Empty

If your first search doesn't pull anything up, don't jump to conclusions. Before you worry that the company isn't legitimate, just run through this quick checklist. These small tweaks usually solve the problem right away.

• Try Name Variations: Businesses often have a formal legal name and a more common trading name. What’s on their marketing material might not be what's registered on the official licence. Try searching for both.
• Check the Arabic Spelling: In the UAE, many companies are registered with their primary name in Arabic. If you can find the company’s name in Arabic—often on their official website or documents—try searching with that instead.
• Use the Licence Number: This is the most reliable method, hands down. If you can get your hands on the company’s trade licence number, use it. This unique ID cuts through any confusion caused by similar-sounding trade names.
• Wait for System Updates: For brand new licences or those that have just been renewed, there can be a delay of 24 to 48 hours before the online portals sync up. If you know the licence is new, it might just be a matter of waiting a day or two.

Dealing with Conflicting Information

Sometimes, the issue isn't finding the licence, but making sense of what you've found. You might discover a licence that’s listed as "Expired" even though the company insists it’s active and simply "under renewal."

It's important to understand that in the UAE's regulatory system, there's no grey area. An expired licence means the company is not legally permitted to conduct business, period.

In this situation, it is crucial to ask for official proof that the renewal has been submitted, like a payment receipt issued by the authorities. Signing any new agreements before that status is updated to 'Active' online is a major risk.

If the discrepancies are more complex—like the listed business activities don't match what they told you, or the partner information seems wrong—it’s a clear signal to investigate further.

While you could contact the DET directly for clarification, this is often where professional help saves you time and stress. Our corporate PROs can dig into these issues for you, liaising directly with government bodies to get you a definitive answer. For immediate support with a complex verification issue, WhatsApp us today for a free consultation.

What to Do After Your Online Check

So you’ve run the trade license Dubai online check. What happens next is entirely down to what you found. Think of that results page not as the final step, but as the starting line for your next smart business move.

If the status comes back as "Active" and every detail—from the business activities to the registered address—is exactly as you expected, you're good to go. It's the green light you were looking for, confirming the company is legitimate and you can sign contracts or finalise that partnership with peace of mind.

But if you see anything else, it's time to pause and proceed with caution.

Navigating Different Licence Statuses

An "Expired" status is a major red flag. A company is not legally allowed to operate in Dubai with an expired licence, plain and simple. In this situation, the best course of action is to professionally ask the company for proof of renewal, like an official payment receipt. Don't even think about signing a new agreement until you've gone back to the portal and seen that status flip to "Active".

What if you spot major discrepancies? Maybe the listed business activities don't match up with the services they're offering you. This calls for a much deeper dive, and frankly, this is where professional support becomes invaluable.

Navigating discrepancies in a company’s trade licence requires more than just a search; it demands expertise in local regulations to understand the full implications and protect your interests.

Trying to figure out complex verification issues on your own, or even just managing timely renewals for your own company, can quickly become a headache. This is exactly why many businesses turn to corporate PRO services as a strategic advantage.

When to Bring in Professional Support

A dedicated PRO services partner can handle these tricky situations for you. They have the experience to talk directly with government bodies, sort out complicated verification problems, and manage your entire licence renewal process so you never risk a lapse. Their job is to provide the right advice to keep your business fully compliant with Dubai's regulations.

This kind of support lets you get back to focusing on what you do best—running your business—knowing the administrative heavy lifting is in expert hands.

Of course, managing your own licence means keeping an eye on the costs. For a clearer picture of the investment involved, you can check out our detailed guide on the trading license cost in Dubai.

Ultimately, a good PRO partner is like an extension of your own team. Whether you're setting up a mainland company, need help with a Golden Visa application, or require urgent document attestation, having an expert just a call away is a game-changer. For immediate support, call us now at +971-54-4710034.

Common Questions You Might Have

To wrap things up, here are some quick answers to the questions that pop up most often when people are trying to do a trade license Dubai online check. Think of this as the practical side of things, clearing up any loose ends after the main guide.

How Long Does It Take for a New Licence to Appear Online?

Once a new trade licence is issued or an old one is renewed, you can typically expect it to show up on the DET's online portal within 24 to 48 hours. It’s a good idea to factor in this short processing window before you start searching for it.

Sometimes, minor system delays happen. If you’re sure a licence was just processed but can't find it, it's best to give it another day before you start worrying. If it's really urgent, a good PRO service can often get you faster confirmation by checking directly with the authorities.

Can I Check the Licence of a Dubai Free Zone Company?

This is a really important distinction. The DET portal is your go-to for mainland (onshore) companies, but most free zones have their own separate online directories.

For instance, major hubs like DMCC and JAFZA have their own searchable portals for companies registered within their jurisdiction. For some of the smaller free zones, you might need to check their official website or get in touch with their admin office directly. While the National Economic Register can sometimes give you a high-level view, the free zone's own portal will always be the most reliable source.

One of the most common slip-ups is trying to find a free zone company on the DET portal. Always figure out the correct jurisdiction first and use that specific authority's tool for accurate results.

What if a Licence Is Expired but They Claim It Is Under Renewal?

This is a situation where you need to be careful. If a licence status reads 'Expired', it means the company is not legally active. They cannot lawfully operate or sign new contracts, period.

They might genuinely be in the process of renewing it, but you shouldn't just take their word for it. It's completely reasonable—and professionally smart—to ask for proof, like an official payment receipt for the renewal application from the DET. It's a huge risk to get into any new agreements until you can personally see that licence status updated to 'Active' on the official portal.

What Is the Difference Between a Trade Name and a Legal Name?

Knowing the difference here is key to a successful search. A Trade Name is what the company calls itself in public—it's the name you see on their website, business cards, and shopfront.

The Legal Name, on the other hand, is the official name registered with the government, which will usually have a suffix like "LLC" or "FZCO." These two names aren't always the same. When you're doing your trade license Dubai online check, using the full legal name or the unique licence number will always give you the most accurate results, as trade names can sometimes be very similar between different companies.

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