UAE trade license renewal
Renew your UAE license, on time, every year.
A UAE trade license is valid for one year and must be renewed before it expires. We track your expiry date, confirm your lease, clear any government dues and renew on your behalf, on the Mainland or in any Free Zone, so the company keeps trading and no late fine ever appears.
- Expiry date tracked and diarised
- Mainland DED and 45+ Free Zones
- Dues cleared, lease confirmed
- Renewed before the deadline, no fines
- 15+Years in the UAE
- 1,500+Companies served
- 45+Free Zones covered
- 4.8★85+ Google reviews
How renewal works
What license renewal actually involves.
Renewing a UAE license is a yearly obligation, not a one-off task. The license is issued for twelve months, and keeping it valid is what lets your company trade, invoice, bank and sponsor visas without interruption. The mechanics are straightforward when they are handled ahead of the deadline.
A license is valid for one year
Every UAE trade license, on the Mainland or in a Free Zone, is issued for twelve months. It must be renewed before its expiry date to keep the company trading, invoicing and sponsoring visas without interruption.
Renewal is not automatic
The authority does not renew your license for you. It is a fresh application each year: a valid lease or flexi-desk, settlement of any dues, and the renewal fee, lodged and paid before the deadline.
It costs less than setup
Renewal fees are lower than the original formation cost, because there is no trade-name reservation or initial approval to pay for. The main variables are your office type and visa quota.
Lapsing carries fines
An expired license accrues a monthly late penalty, can freeze your bank account and visa transactions, and in serious cases leads to the company being struck off. Renewing on time is always the cheaper path.
What is at stake
What an expired license costs you.
Letting a license lapse is far more expensive than renewing it. The penalties compound the longer it stays overdue.
Monthly late-renewal fines
Most authorities charge a penalty for every month the license is overdue. The longer it lapses, the more it costs to bring back into good standing.
Frozen bank account
Banks check license validity. An expired license can suspend your corporate account, blocking incoming and outgoing payments until you renew.
Blocked visas
You cannot issue or renew residence visas for yourself or your staff against an expired license, and existing visas can be flagged at renewal.
Loss of good standing
Prolonged non-renewal can lead to blacklisting of shareholders and, ultimately, the company being struck off the register.
How we renew it
Your renewal, handled end to end.
Four steps, run by one advisor, ahead of your deadline so renewal is routine rather than urgent.
- 01
Ahead of expiry
We diary your expiry date
We record your license expiry date and reach out well before it, so the renewal is never a last-minute scramble. You get a clear reminder and a single fixed-price quote.
- 02
Day 1 to 2
Documents and dues
We confirm your tenancy or flexi-desk contract is valid, check for any outstanding government fees or fines, and collect the small document set the authority needs.
- 03
Day 2 to 4
Lodge and pay
We submit the renewal to the issuing authority, Mainland DED or your Free Zone, pay the renewal fee on your behalf, and handle any activity or shareholder amendments at the same time.
- 04
Day 3 to 7
Renewed license issued
You receive the renewed license and updated certificate. Where needed, we also refresh the establishment card so your visa file stays valid for the next cycle.
Before you renew
The renewal checklist.
We confirm the exact list for your specific license before lodging, but most renewals come down to four things being in order.
Current trade license
A copy of the license being renewed, plus the certificate of incorporation or registration.
Valid tenancy contract
An active Ejari lease for Mainland, or a valid flexi-desk or office agreement for a Free Zone.
Shareholder and visa details
Passport copies and Emirates IDs for shareholders, plus the current establishment card if visas are attached.
Cleared dues
Settlement of any outstanding government fees, fines or amendments before the renewal is lodged.
Renewal is cheaper than setup.
There is no trade-name reservation or initial approval to pay for again, so the renewal fee is lower than the original formation cost. The main variables are your office or flexi-desk and your visa quota. As an indicative guide, Free Zone renewals commonly fall between AED 5,500 and AED 15,000, while Mainland renewals depend on the lease and activities.
We quote one fixed price covering government fees and our service before you commit, with no surprises at the counter.
Why FZM Solutions
Renewals that never slip.
The whole point of a renewal partner is that you stop thinking about it. We track the date and act before it, every year.
Renewal on autopilot
We diary every renewal, corporate-tax and VAT date, then renew ahead of expiry so your license never lapses and no fine ever surprises you.
Dedicated Senior Advisor
You work directly with one advisor who knows your file, handles the paperwork and remains your point of contact between renewals.
Every issuer, one desk
Mainland DED and 45+ Free Zones, all renewed from a single point of contact, so you never chase an authority yourself.
Multilingual
English, Arabic, French, Urdu and Hindi, in-house, across every step of the renewal.
Since 2013
More than 1,500 companies served, with renewals processed on time, year after year.
Meet us in JLT
Office 1908, Jumeirah Bay X2. Walk-ins are welcome, or book a video call when distance is the only constraint.
Related services
Keep the whole company in good standing.
Business license types
New to licensing, or changing activity? Compare the six UAE license types and where each is issued.
Learn moreCost calculator
An indicative all-in price for your renewal and visas in under 60 seconds. Free, no signup.
Learn moreFree-zone setup
Thinking of moving zone at renewal? Compare 45+ Free Zones on price and visa quota.
Learn moreMainland setup
Direct UAE market access, government work and full ownership under a DED license.
Learn moreAccounting and tax
Corporate-tax registration, VAT, bookkeeping and audit, kept in step with your license.
Learn moreCorporate banking
Keep your account in good standing, or open a new one against a pre-vetted file.
Learn more
Questions
License renewal, answered.
How do I renew my trade license in Dubai?
A UAE trade license is renewed each year before its expiry date. You need a valid tenancy or flexi-desk contract, settlement of any outstanding government dues, and payment of the renewal fee to the issuing authority, the Mainland Department of Economic Development or your Free Zone. We track your expiry date, prepare the documents, lodge the renewal and pay the fee on your behalf so the license stays valid without interruption.
How much does it cost to renew a UAE business license?
Renewal is cheaper than the original setup because there is no trade-name reservation or initial approval to pay for again. As an indicative range, a Free Zone license renewal commonly falls between AED 5,500 and AED 15,000 depending on the zone, the package and the visa quota, while a Mainland renewal depends on the office lease and activities. The largest single variable is usually your office or flexi-desk cost. We quote one fixed price covering government fees and our service before you commit.
What happens if my trade license expires?
An expired license accrues a late-renewal penalty for every month it is overdue, and it can freeze your corporate bank account and block visa issuance or renewal. If it lapses for long enough, shareholders can be blacklisted and the company can be struck off the register. Renewing on time, or as soon as possible after expiry, is always the cheaper and safer route. We diary the date specifically so this does not happen.
When should I start the renewal?
Start at least two to four weeks before the expiry date. That leaves time to renew the tenancy contract if needed, clear any dues, and process the renewal without rushing. We reach out to clients well ahead of expiry so the renewal is routine rather than urgent.
What documents do I need to renew a license?
Typically a copy of the current license, a valid Ejari tenancy contract for Mainland or a flexi-desk or office agreement for a Free Zone, passport copies and Emirates IDs for shareholders, the current establishment card if visas are attached, and settlement of any outstanding government fees. The exact list varies slightly by authority, and we confirm it for your specific license before lodging.
Can I renew if I have outstanding fines or want to change activity?
Yes. Outstanding government fees or fines must be settled as part of the renewal, and we handle that for you. Renewal is also the natural moment to amend your activity list, add or remove a shareholder, or adjust your visa quota, and we process those amendments alongside the renewal so it is one coordinated step rather than several.
Maha BadrHighly recommended. A professional team, prompt on every detailed query and seamless on every requirement, trade license, corporate tax, bank account, residence ID, medical.
Largo HomeSimply impeccable. They didn't just meet deadlines, they anticipated them, with quick and effective solutions even in complex situations.
Maciej KolodziejczykVery efficient. Company formation, employment contract, residency visa, and all the prerequisites handled. Friendly and professional throughout.
Ready to incorporate
One advisor.From company formation to corporate banking.
A 30-minute consultation is all it takes to receive a tailored proposal, a transparent quotation, and a written roadmap delivered the same day. You will deal directly with an experienced advisor throughout the process.
- Response instantly
- Five languages spoken
- Independent. Not a license reseller.