UAE trade licences must be renewed annually. Here is a comprehensive guide to calculate your UAE trade licence renewal costs for 2025.
Free Zone Licence Renewal Costs 2025
Annual renewal costs for the most popular UAE free zones: Shams: AED 5,500-8,500/year. UAQ FTZ: AED 4,500-7,500/year. Ajman FZ: AED 6,000-10,000/year. RAKEZ: AED 9,000-15,000/year. IFZA: AED 12,900-15,900/year. SAIF Zone: AED 10,000-18,000/year. DMCC: AED 18,000-25,000/year. Dubai Internet City: AED 20,000-35,000/year. DIFC: AED 25,000-35,000/year. ADGM: AED 25,000-40,000/year. Note: all costs are approximate government/authority fees. Agent service fees (PRO fees) may be additional (AED 1,000-5,000 per renewal).
Additional Renewal Costs to Budget
Beyond the licence fee itself, budget for: Establishment card renewal: AED 500-1,500 (some free zones). UAE residence visa renewal: AED 3,000-5,000 per visa (every 2 years). Emirates ID renewal: AED 370 per person (every 2 years). Medical fitness test: AED 250-600 per person (required at each visa renewal). Health insurance renewal: AED 700-3,000+/year per employee (mandatory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi). Office lease renewal: if in a physical office, the annual rent.
Common Renewal Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Late renewal: most UAE free zones allow a 30-day grace period after licence expiry. After the grace period: the licence is suspended and a late renewal penalty applies (AED 500-2,000 typically). Set a reminder 45 days before expiry. Lapsed visa with expired licence: if the company licence lapses, employee visas become invalid. Renew the licence first, then the visas. Activity change at renewal: if you want to add or change business activities, do it at renewal time (cheaper than mid-year amendment).