How to Add a Business Activity to Your UAE Free Zone Licence — 2026 Guide
If your business has expanded beyond your original licensed activities, you can add new activities to your UAE free zone trade licence. Here is the process for 2026.
In this guide:
Why Add Activities?
- Your business has expanded into new services or products
- You want to invoice for a new type of work not covered by your current licence
- You originally chose a narrow activity and now need broader coverage
Can Any Activity Be Added?
Activities that can be added must be:
- Permitted in your free zone (each zone has an approved activity list)
- Compatible with your current licence type (service, trading, industrial)
- Not requiring additional regulatory approval (e.g., financial, healthcare, legal activities that need external body approvals)
You cannot add a “general trading” activity if you hold a service licence (they are different licence categories). In that case, you would need to change your licence type or get an additional licence.
Process for Adding an Activity
- Log in to your free zone portal or contact your zone account manager
- Request the list of available activities for your licence type
- Select the activities to add
- Submit the activity addition application with:
- Company details (TL number)
- Requested new activities
- Passport copies (may or may not be required)
- Pay the activity addition fee
- Receive updated trade licence showing all activities
Cost and Timeline
| Zone | Per Activity Fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Most zones | AED 500 – 2,000 per activity | 1–5 business days |
| DMCC | AED 1,000 – 3,000 | 3–7 business days |
| IFZA, SPC Free Zone | AED 500 – 1,000 | 1–2 business days |
Tip: General Trading Licence
If you expect to frequently add trading activities, consider upgrading to a General Trading Licence at renewal time. A General Trading Licence covers most trading activities without having to add each one individually — often more cost-effective if you deal in multiple product types.