Opening a retail business in the UAE requires specific licences and approvals. Here is the complete 2025 guide to UAE retail setup.
UAE Retail Business Licensing
Retail businesses in the UAE require a mainland trade licence (not a free zone licence, as retail requires physical presence on UAE mainland in most cases). Dubai: DED (Department of Economic Development) issues retail trade licences. Abu Dhabi: ADCD (Abu Dhabi City Department) or ADCCI. Retail licence activities: general trading (allows selling multiple product categories), specialised retail (clothing, electronics, F&B, jewellery — more specific activities), and e-commerce (online retail — can be free zone or mainland). Physical store requirements: valid Ejari (tenancy agreement for the retail space), municipality approval (fit-out permit from Dubai Municipality or Abu Dhabi Municipality), and for F&B: additional food safety approvals (Dubai Municipality Food Control Department, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority).
UAE Retail Locations and Costs
Dubai mall retail: prime malls (Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Galleria) have: GLA (Gross Leasable Area) rates of AED 400-800/sqft/year for prime positions. Revenue share arrangements (landlord takes percentage of retail sales in addition to or instead of base rent — common in UAE malls). High entry costs: tenant fit-out contribution (AED 500-2,000/sqft fit-out investment). UAE mall operators: Emaar Malls, Majid Al Futtaim, Al Futtaim, and Aldar. High street and neighbourhood retail: significantly cheaper. JBR Walk, City Walk, La Mer: AED 150-350/sqft/year. Deira and Bur Dubai (old city areas): AED 60-150/sqft/year (affordable for immigrant-community retail). RAK and Northern Emirates retail: AED 40-100/sqft/year — significantly cheaper than Dubai prime.