UAE Trade Licence Renewal — Annual Compliance and Cost Guide 2026
All UAE free zone and mainland trade licences must be renewed annually (most are 1-year licences). Failing to renew on time results in fines, visa cancellation risk, and potential company deregistration. This guide covers UAE trade licence renewal for free zone companies in 2026.
In this guide:
UAE Trade Licence Renewal Timeline
- Renewal window: most UAE free zones allow renewal 30-60 days before expiry date
- Early renewal recommended: renewing 30 days early prevents any licence gap
- Late renewal penalty: AED 100–1,000+/month depending on free zone; some free zones have escalating penalties
- Licence expiry consequences: expired licence = company in breach; visas linked to expired licence become invalid; banking restrictions possible
What Triggers Trade Licence Renewal
- Annual anniversary of company formation date (most common)
- Some free zones (DMCC, JAFZA) have fixed renewal dates (e.g., all companies renew December 31)
- Renewal is due regardless of whether the company traded or not
UAE Free Zone Renewal Cost Examples 2026
- IFZA: AED 11,900–15,000/year renewal (depends on original package)
- Shams: AED 5,750–9,000/year
- RAKEZ: AED 7,500–12,000/year
- DMCC: AED 18,000–30,000/year (licence) + separate desk/office renewal
- JAFZA (no space): AED 15,000–25,000/year
Documents Needed for UAE Trade Licence Renewal
- Existing licence copy
- Audited financial statements (required by many free zones)
- Shareholder passport copies (if any change since last renewal)
- UBO declarations (annual reconfirmation)
- Lease agreement (if office/desk is part of licence package)
Visa Renewal at Licence Renewal Time
UAE investor residence visas linked to the company typically have 2-3 year validity. When investor visas are due for renewal, the process requires:
- Updated trade licence (renewed)
- Updated medical fitness test
- Emirates ID renewal
- GDRFA/ICA processing
Visa renewal cost: AED 1,000–2,500 per visa (medical + ID + residence stamp). Many free zone company service providers bundle licence and visa renewal into a single annual service package.