How to Add Activities in Trade License in UAE?

A Trade License acts as the legal backbone of your enterprise, but the specific business activities listed on it define your operational boundaries. In the UAE, authorities classify these activities as largely aligned with the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) system. Essentially, a business activity is the specific type of economic operation you are legally permitted to conduct, such as “General Trading” or “Software Development“.

When you define your Trade License, you actively choose the regulatory categories for your business. These categories determine your tax obligations, office requirements, and visa quotas.

• Classification: Authorities classify business activities into 6 main categories. Commercial, Professional, Industrial, Tourism, Agricultural, and Occupational.
• Legal Scope: You cannot legally invoice for services or goods not listed on your Dubai Trade License or other emirates.
• Compliance: Each activity carries its own set of rules. For example, industrial activities require a physical warehouse, whereas some professional activities allow for virtual office setups.
• Regulatory Codes: Authorities like the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) use an extensive Trade License activity list with over 2,000 codes. They rely on these codes to monitor and regulate economic activities accurately.

Your activity limit depends on whether you operate on the Mainland or inside a Free Zone.

Mainland (DET) Rules

On the mainland, the DET and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) generally allow adding typically up to 10 activities per license. However, these activities must be compatible.

For instance, you can easily group multiple trading activities (e.g., clothing trading and electronics trading) under one Commercial Trade License. You cannot, however, mix an industrial manufacturing activity with a professional consultancy activity on the same license without specific “Dual License” structures.

Free Zone Rules

Free Zones are often more restrictive but offer “Activity Groups.”

• Meydan Free Zone: Allows up to 3 activity groups, with multiple related activities within those groups.
• IFZA/Dubai South: Typically includes 3 activities in the base price, charging approximately AED 1,000 to AED 2,000 for each additional activity.

Do You Know?

In Q1 2025, Dubai issued approximately 19,000 new commercial licenses, accounting for 59% of all licenses in the UAE. This highlights that businesses widely adopt the multi-activity model to run flexible operations.

The Cost-Approval Correlation

Adding too many activities isn’t always better. Each extra activity can increase your:

• License Fees: Government fees often rise per activity added.
• External Approvals: If you add “Pharmacy Trading,” you suddenly need Ministry of Health approval, which delays the entire process.
• Corporate Tax Complexity: If one activity qualifies for 0% tax (Qualifying Income) and another does not, your accounting becomes significantly more complex under the 2026 tax regime.

The mainland process is now almost entirely digital through unified portals like Invest in Dubai (investindubai.gov.ae) or TAMM (Abu Dhabi).

a. Pre-Application Checklist

Before hitting the portal, gather these essentials:

• Activity Search: Consult the Dubai Trade License activities list or Abu Dhabi Trade License activities list to find the exact ISIC code.
• Shareholder Resolution: For a Limited Liability Company, you need a signed resolution from the board/shareholders agreeing to the amendment.
• MoA Addendum: Prepare an addendum to your Memorandum of Association. In 2026, this is often generated digitally, but it still requires notarization.

b. The Process (Dubai Example via Invest in Dubai)

1. Initial Approval: Log in via UAE PASS and apply for “Initial Approval” for the new activity.
2. Trade Name Check: Ensure your trade name still aligns with the new activity.
3. Document Upload: Submit the shareholder resolution and the existing Trade License.
4. Payment: Once the DET approves, they issue a payment voucher. Fees vary, but expect to pay between AED 500 and AED 2,000 for the amendment itself, plus any activity-specific fees.
5. Issuance: After payment, you instantly download your updated UAE business license.

c. Adding Activity in Trade License Abu Dhabi (TAMM)

In Abu Dhabi, you use the TAMM portal (tamm.abudhabi). The process is unique because it often integrates “Instant Licenses” for many activities. If the activity is “Low Risk,” you can receive approval in minutes. For “High Risk” activities (like those requiring security clearance), the portal automatically routes your application to the relevant authority (e.g., Abu Dhabi Police or Civil Defence).

Free Zone authorities in the UAE follow a structured digital approval system for amending a Trade License. Unlike Mainland procedures, each Free Zone applies its own internal compliance rules, activity group limits, and sector-specific restrictions.

1. Review Your Current Trade License

Start by assessing your existing Trade License to identify gaps between your current permissions and planned business activities:

• Confirm all listed activities on your Trade License.
• Identify services or operations you intend to add.
• Determine if the license aligns with invoicing, banking, and regulatory requirements.

This step ensures your amendment request is precise and reduces the chance of rejection.

2. Select the Correct New Activities

Choose activities that match your business operations and comply with Free Zone rules:

• Align activities with your operational model and revenue streams.
• Select activity codes that are recognized by banks, payment gateways, and regulators.
• Ensure your chosen operations appear on the Free Zone’s approved list, such as the JAFZA activity list.

Expert guidance in Free Zones like Meydan helps businesses select from over 2,000 approved activities, avoiding future compliance issues.

3. Understand Business Activity Group Limits

Most Free Zones have specific limits on activity groups:

• A standard Trade License includes up to three activity groups.
• Businesses can combine related services, such as consultancy, digital marketing, and e-commerce, under one license.
• Each additional activity beyond the base limit incurs a fixed fee, typically AED 1,000 per activity.

Proper planning ensures cost efficiency and minimizes repeated amendments.

4. Determine Fees and Payment Options

• Base license fees cover a set number of activity groups.
• Additional activities attract extra charges according to Free Zone regulations.
• Certain licenses, like Fawri, allow first-year amendments free of cost.

5. Check for Third-Party Approvals or Sector-Specific Regulations

Some activities require external approvals before licensing:

• Education-related activities need Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) clearance.
• Healthcare operations require Dubai Health Authority (DHA) approval.
• Food, beverage, and industrial activities require the Dubai Municipality or relevant authorities’ consent.
• Authorities verify the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) and conduct KYC checks before approval.

Understanding these requirements in advance avoids delays and ensures smooth bank and regulatory processes.

6. Submit the Trade License Amendment

Once all activities are finalized and documents prepared, submit the amendment:

• Use the Free Zone’s online portal to upload documents and pay fees.
• Track the application digitally to monitor approval status.
• Receive the updated Trade License and ensure it is displayed according to UAE law.

Free Zones like Meydan offer a fully digital process. This eliminates unnecessary paperwork and repeated submissions.

Common Mistakes in Free Zones

Businesses often encounter delays due to preventable mistakes:

• Selecting incorrect activity codes that do not match operations.
• Ignoring lease requirements, such as adding a warehouse activity without sufficient office space.
• Overlooking visa or employee quotas needed for technical or industrial activities.
• Missing required third-party approvals for regulated sectors.

By carefully following these steps, businesses can add activities confidently, remain compliant, and grow without operational or regulatory hurdles.

To complete a Trade License amendment in the UAE, businesses must submit the following documents:

1. Original Trade License and Registration Certificate
2. Completed License Amendment Application
3. Office Lease Contract
4. Initial Approval Certificate
5. Board Resolution
6. DET Permission
7. No Objection Certificate (NOC)
8. Attested LLC Amendment or Court Agreement
9. Updated Memorandum of Association (MoA)

Submitting all these documents correctly ensures a smooth and compliant Trade License amendment process in the UAE.

In the UAE, any company with a valid UAE Business License must ensure the activities listed reflect what it actually does. Business owners need to add activities when they intend to expand, diversify, or change how they operate.

1. Expanding Business Offerings

If you own a retail shop and decide to launch an online delivery platform, you must add “E-commerce” to your license. Without this, your payment gateway providers will likely reject your application, as your current Trade License doesn’t cover digital transactions.

2. Opening New Divisions

Companies often introduce new divisions to grow. For example, a construction firm may start offering architectural design services. Since these fall under different categories, you must add the activity or create a secondary license to cover both areas.

3. Entering New Emirates or Free Zones

If your business expands into another emirate or establishes a presence in a Free Zone, you may need to add activities to match local licensing rules. Each emirate and Free Zone has specific activity categories, and aligning your license prevents operational delays and regulatory issues.

4. Regulatory Compliance & Tax

The UAE Federal Tax Authority monitors revenue streams closely. Generating income from an unlisted activity can lead to fines. Keeping your license updated also ensures eligibility for programs like Small Business Relief. This supports businesses with revenue under AED 3 million.

5. Partnering with Other Businesses

When entering partnerships or joint ventures, you may need to add activities that reflect collaborative services. For example, a consulting firm partnering with a digital marketing agency must update its license to include marketing services. This ensures all partners operate legally under the UAE Business License framework.

Even experienced business owners face challenges when adding new activities to a Dubai Trade License, Free Zone, or other UAE licenses. Most issues arise from preventable errors that cause delays, fines, or compliance problems. Understanding the following pitfalls and applying proper solutions ensures a smooth amendment process.

1. Selecting the Wrong Activity Code

Issue: Many businesses choose activity codes that seem correct but do not match actual operations. For example, selecting “General Trading” instead of “Specialized Medical Equipment Trading” can result in fines or prevent opening a corporate bank account.

Solution: Always verify codes using the official Ajman or Sharjah Trade License lists, or Free Zone directories. Consult a professional to ensure the selected code accurately reflects your operations.

2. Missing External or Third-Party Approvals

Issue: Some activities require approvals beyond DED or Free Zone authorities. Education activities need KHDA approval, security services need SIRA approval, and healthcare or food activities require municipal or DHA clearance. Missing these approvals blocks the amendment.

Solution: Check the “Third-Party Approval” section on the DED or Free Zone portal. Obtain all required permissions before submitting your application.

3. Neglecting the MoA Addendum

Issue: Many companies forget to notarize or digitally confirm the Memorandum of Association (MoA) when adding activities, which invalidates the request.

Solution: Complete a Digital Notary session or physical notarization to confirm shareholder approval before submitting the amendment.

By addressing these issues proactively, businesses can add activities efficiently, remain compliant, and expand smoothly in the UAE.

If you want to avoid these common mistakes and complete your amendment without delays, choose SafeLedger. Our experts handle activity selection, third-party approvals, MoA amendments, and full coordination with Mainland and Free Zone authorities.

Adding a new activity is not a one-time decision. It directly increases your license amendment and annual government fee obligations.

• Amendment Fee: Authorities usually charge a one-time fee between AED 500 and AED 3,000.

• Annual Increase: Each activity adds to the “Knowledge Fee” and “Innovation Fee” in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Trade License activities fees are now more bundled, but additional activities can still bump you into a higher “Chamber of Commerce” fee tier.
• Corporate Tax Impact: Corporate Tax in UAE applies at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% on income exceeding this threshold. Ensure your bookkeeping segments income by activity to optimize tax filings.

Consider the following expert recommendations before updating your Trade License:

1. Strategic Grouping: Instead of adding five separate activities, look for a “General” category that covers all of them. This saves money and paperwork.
2. Market Research First: Don’t change activity in the Trade License just because of a trend. Ensure there is a viable market, as some activities (like Cryptocurrency Trading) come with very high annual fees and strict compliance audits.
3. Consult a PRO: The rules for Sharjah Trade License activities differ slightly from Ajman or Dubai. A professional PRO can spot “Incompatible Activities” that the digital portal might not flag until the final (and non-refundable) payment stage.

If you want to add new activities without compliance risks or costly rejections, choose expert guidance. SafeLedger provides reliable PRO Services in UAE to review activity codes, secure approvals, and manage complete amendments. We ensure smooth coordination with Mainland and Free Zone authorities. Contact us today and expand your business confidently.