A general trading licence lets one company trade many unrelated product categories under a single licence. Here is what it really costs across verified UAE free zones, and which zones suit broad trading. No sales calls.
A general trading licence permits one company to buy and sell across many unrelated goods categories โ say electronics, garments, furniture and building materials โ under a single licence. A specific or commercial trading licence is limited to the named activities you register, such as "foodstuff trading" alone. General trading is the broadest, most flexible option; a specific activity is narrower and sometimes cheaper. Exact activity scope, naming and any restrictions differ by free zone, so we confirm your scope in writing per application โ we never invent it.
In practice the choice is about flexibility. If you expect to add new product lines over time, or to trade several unrelated categories from day one, a general trading licence saves you re-filing every time your range grows. If your business is built around one tight category and you want the leanest licence, a specific activity can do the job for less. Note that some free zones price a broad general-trading scope higher than a narrow activity, and some restrict which goods a general licence may cover โ both points are confirmed in writing before you file, never assumed.
These are live 2026 Formenzo figures. RAKEZ, SPC and Ajman carry broad trading activity lists and competitive prices; DMCC is the premium commodities and trading flagship in Dubai.
| Free zone | Emirate | Licence only | All-in, 1 visa | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AjmanCheapest | Ajman | AED 4,888 | AED 10,800 | Lowest-cost general trading |
| RAKEZTrading-strong | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 6,000 | AED 14,000 | Warehousing & broad lists |
| SPC Free Zone | Sharjah | AED 5,750 | AED 13,165 | Wide trading activities |
| Fujairah Creative City | Fujairah | AED 4,900 | AED 12,500 | Lean light trading |
| SRTIP | Sharjah | AED 5,500 | AED 12,500 | Tech-product trading |
| Masdar City | Abu Dhabi | AED 7,000 | AED 17,500 | Abu Dhabi address |
| Meydan | Dubai | AED 12,500 | AED 24,450 | Premium Dubai address |
| IFZA | Dubai (DSO) | AED 12,900 | AED 17,615 | Dubai trading address |
| DMCCCommodities | Dubai | AED 35,484 | Add visa separately | Premium commodities & trading |
All-in = trade licence + government fees + the residence-visa block. DMCC is shown licence-only (its commodities/trading flagship pricing). Prices are live Formenzo 2026 figures and exclude optional add-ons. Some zones add a fee for a broad general-trading scope โ confirmed in writing. Verify your exact number, extra visas and activity with the free calculator.
A Dubai address carries a premium. Meydan (AED 12,500 licence-only), IFZA (AED 12,900) and the commodities flagship DMCC (AED 35,484 licence-only) all sit in Dubai and price accordingly โ you pay for the emirate's brand, banking ecosystem and prestige rather than a different licence. If a Dubai postcode matters for your buyers or your bank, that premium can be worth it; DMCC in particular is the natural home for commodities and large-scale trading.
If cost is the priority, the northern emirates win clearly. Ajman is the cheapest general trading at AED 4,888 licence-only, with RAKEZ (AED 6,000) close behind and purpose-built for trading with warehousing options. SPC in Sharjah (AED 5,750) carries one of the widest activity lists. The licence rights are comparable โ what differs is the address, facilities and the fee. Use the UAE free-zone cost index to see every zone side by side.
Ajman (from AED 4,888). The cheapest all-in path to a broad trading licence โ ideal for a lean setup with no warehousing needed.
RAKEZ (from AED 6,000). Purpose-built for trading and industry with broad activity lists and affordable warehousing if you store goods.
SPC (from AED 5,750). One of the longest trading activity lists in the UAE, so a single general licence can span many categories.
DMCC (from AED 35,484 licence-only). The flagship for commodities and large-scale trading, with a prestige Dubai address.
Every all-in figure on this page is one honest number: the trade licence, government fees and the residence-visa block. Here is what that covers.
Your general trading licence plus the free-zone registration and government fees. The exact activity scope is confirmed in writing per application.
Add residence visas to any general trading licence. Ajman is AED 10,800 with one visa; licence-only (zero-visa) general trading starts from AED 4,888.
Compare every zone's price side by side and decide on your own terms โ no forms-to-unlock, no follow-up pressure, no cold calls.
First, decide whether you genuinely need general trading (many unrelated categories) or a narrower specific activity โ the calculator helps you match goods to a zone. Then pick a zone on price and facilities: Ajman or RAKEZ for value, DMCC for premium Dubai commodities. Run your numbers on the free cost calculator with your visa count, and we confirm the exact all-in figure and activity scope in writing โ locked, before you file.
Pick your visa count and goods โ get the real all-in number for every zone we verify. Free, instant, no sign-up.
Open the free calculator โA general trading licence lets one company trade many unrelated product categories under a single licence โ for example electronics, garments and building materials together. A specific or commercial trading licence is limited to the named activities you register. The exact scope of a general trading licence is confirmed per application, because lists and naming differ by free zone.
All-in prices in verified free zones start from AED 4,888 licence-only at Ajman (AED 10,800 with one residence visa). RAKEZ is AED 6,000 licence-only and SPC AED 5,750. Some zones price a broad general-trading scope higher than a narrow activity, so confirm your exact figure in writing before filing.
RAKEZ, SPC and Ajman carry broad trading activity lists and competitive prices, so they are common picks for general trading. DMCC is the premium commodities and trading flagship in Dubai at AED 35,484 licence-only. Match your goods to a zone with the free calculator.
Sometimes. A narrow, specific activity can be cheaper, while some zones add a fee for the broad general-trading scope. Because this varies by free zone and changes over time, we confirm the exact activity scope and any surcharge in writing for your application rather than quote an invented figure.
You can add residence visas to any general trading licence. Our all-in figures include the residence-visa block โ for example Ajman is AED 10,800 with one visa. Licence-only (zero-visa) general trading starts from AED 4,888.
Send your name and WhatsApp or email — we reply with the exact all-in figure for your general trading setup, locked 14 days in writing. No calls, ever.
