What is Dubai Unified Licence (DUL): How to Get Dubai Unified Licence, Eligibility, Costs, and Benefits

What is Dubai Unified Licence (DUL)?

The Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) is a single unique ID number given to all businesses in Dubai, covering both mainland and free zone companies. It comes with a QR code for instant verification of business details like status, address, and activities.

Launched under Law No. 6 of 2023 by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), it replaces multiple licences with one trusted digital identity to speed up processes.

Law No. 6 of 2023 Overview

Law No. 6 of 2023 made a new group called the Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation, or DBLC. Dubai business licence integration connects mainland and free zones. This law helps businesses start easy in Dubai by putting all licence rules in one place. No more running to many offices for papers.​

The big goal is to make Dubai the best spot for shops, factories, and new ideas. DBLC joins old offices like DET together. They take slow steps so investors save time and money.​

Every company gets one special number called the Unified Business Number. This turns into the DUL with a QR code you can scan. Data stays safe, but shares fast with banks and free zones like JAFZA.

DUL vs Traditional Licence

Old licences come from one office only. DED gives mainland ones. JAFZA gives free zone numbers. Each has its own code. Hard to check and easy to lose.​

DUL works for all businesses. One scan shows status, address, and what you do. No lost papers or long waits for proof.​

Traditional needs many numbers for banks or visas. DUL has one QR code that shares data safe across Dubai. Renewals happen in one place, not many.

Who Qualifies for the Unified Licence Dubai?

All licensed businesses in Dubai qualify for the Unified Licence (DUL), with no special exclusions under Law No. 6 of 2023.​

Mainland Businesses

Mainland companies under DET/DED. It includes shops in city areas, which automatically receive DUL upon trade licence issuance. They follow standard Ejari lease and notarised MOA/AOA rules.​

Free Zone Businesses

Free zone entities in DMCC, JAFZA, or others qualify equally, with their authority pushing data into the unified system. No separate application needed.​

Business Categories

Commercial shops selling goods qualify easily. Industrial factories that manufacture goods receive full DUL access.

Consulting services and other professionals also integrate without interruptions.

New Vs Established Firms

New businesses receive DUL upon license approval. Over 900,000 existing businesses receive automated migration notices, which is why this is done in stages. 

Freelancers and Other Exceptions

Freelancers who hold a DUL QR permit for client verification qualify. Banks and utilities mandate it, making compliance universal.

Key Benefits Of Unified Business Licence Dubai

• One trusted data source

The DUL creates a single, clean record for each business. Banks, suppliers, and government offices can securely view instead of asking you for repeated documents. This unified profile reduces errors, lost papers, and repeated KYC checks.​

• Faster deals and approvals

With a unique DUL ID and QR code, banks and partners verify your company in seconds, cutting account opening and transaction times sharply. The appropriate governmental entities also utilize the DUL data for the purposes of managing workflows for the issuance of permits and NOC in an efficient manner.

• Lower administrative costs incurred

Due to the same license and Dubai business identity system holding for mainland and free zones, the businesses do incur charges related to the duplicate renewal of licenses, acquisition of new additional licenses, and the repeated renewal of licenses.

• Further diversification and Ease of scaling

The DUL makes the opening of new branches and transit between free zones and the mainland a seamless Dubai Unified Licence process. Further, the onboarding of new service providers is regarded as simple through the use of a standard digital profile. 

90% Reduction in Time to Open a Bank Account with Dubai Unified License

Time is reduced by 90%: With the Dubai Unified License, banks can open a business account for a company in 5 days compared to 65 days, which is the standard timeframe. Banks do not have to do any paperwork, as all the business information can be seen through a simple QR code.

Unified Document Management System (DUL) consolidates your license, owner names, and rules into one profile. There is no longer a need to send documents multiple times to banks. 

Started in October 2024, integrating large banks, including Emirates NBD, with DUL.

This opened 3,000 new accounts quickly.​

• Saves Money for Small Shops: Small businesses save AED 15,000 a year. No more lost time or extra doc fees.​
• Grows Dubai Economy: DUL helps Dubai’s plan to double its money by 2033. Easy banks bring more investors.

How to Get Dubai Unified Licence: Step-by-Step Process

The DUL comes free when you start your Unified Business Licence Dubai. No extra work needed. Follow these easy steps to get it fast.​

Step 1: Pick Your Spot

Choose the mainland to sell anywhere in Dubai city. Or pick a free zone like DMCC for no tax. Both spots give you one DUL number right away.

Step 2: Pick Company Type

Decide if you work alone as the sole owner. Or make an LLC with friends. Freelancers pick a special permit. This sets your business rules.

Step 3: Book Your Name

Go to the DET website or the free zone page. Type your company name. It checks and says yes in one day. Do not use bad words like bank names.

Step 4: Get First Okay and NOC Letter

Send papers to the DED office or the free zone. They say okay first. If you have a job, get a NOC letter from your boss to start a side business.

Step 5: Get All Papers Ready

Copy passports for owners. Write MOA and AOA rules. Show Ejari rent paper for the office. Add visas. Notary stamps mainland papers.

Step 6: Send and Pay Money

Put it all online. Pay 10,000 to 50,000 dirhams in fees. Wait 3 to 7 days. Get a trade licence with a DUL number and QR code.

Step 7: Get Visas and Bank

Ask for owner visas with the new DUL. Take QR to the bank like Emirates NBD. Open an account in 5 days, not 65 days, 65-day-old ways.

Key Documents for DUL

• Passport Copies: Show passports of all owners and bosses. Use your Emirates ID if you live here.​
• Visa Copies: Give visa or entry papers for people from other countries.​
• Trade Name Paper: Get okay from DET or the free zone for your company name.​
• MOA and AOA: Write rules for your company. Notary signs for the mainland.​
• Rent Contract: Show Ejari rent paper for office or desk deal.​
• No-Objection Letter (NOC): Boss or sponsor says okay if you have a job now.​
• Extra Okay Papers: Need special permits for doctors or shops.​

Dubai Unified Licence Requirements by Business Type

Mainland Companies

Mainland shops need Ejari rent paper and notary-stamped MOA/AOA rules for LLCs. Follow the DET Unified Licence system and office steps before DUL turns on.​

Free Zone Companies

Free zone firms like DMCC give forms, owner ID copies, and office deals. The zone sends data to the Free Zone Unified Licence Dubai system.​

Professional Firms and Freelancers

For DUL for freelancers in Dubai, they show personal ID, visa, NOC if from a job, and desk rent. Skip hard MOA papers sometimes.

How to Use Your DUL & QR Code

Scan the DUL QR code Dubai to share business details fast with banks, clients, or the government.​

• Put QR on the office door, website, and bills to build trust quickly.
• Share with banks like Emirates NBD for 5-day accounts, no extra papers.
• Send to suppliers and clients for same-day payments and deals.
• Upload to portals for visas, DEWA hookup, or new NOCs.
• Download from the DET app or the UAE Pass; update status anytime.

How to Search Businesses Using DUL

Search Dubai businesses fast via the Invest in Dubai portal with DUL numbers or QR scans. UAE Pass Unified Licence login shows full details like status and ownership.​

5-Step Invest in Dubai Portal Guide

• Go to the official portal and click “Search License Information”.
• Log in with UAE Pass or use guest mode for basics.
• Enter DUL number, scan QR, or type company name.
• Check results: licence status, address, activities, expiry.
• Download a verified report for banks or suppliers.​

UAE Pass Login Demo

Open the UAE Pass app, pick the Invest portal. Press “DUL Services” to begin your search. If you want to obtain the information in a matter of seconds, please scan the DUL QR code Dubai.  

Integrated Banks and Partners  

A majority of Dubai’s financial institutions have integrated the DUL for rapid account opening.  

• Emirates NBD: Reduces the onboarding time for SMEs by 35%, and updates 4,000+ profiles.  
• Emirates Islamic Bank: Fully integrated DUL for the past 5 months.  
• Mashreq Bank: DUL QR for instant KYC.    
• Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD): Current 3,000+ new accounts onboarding.  
• First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB): Fast Unified Licence Dubai verification for mainland/free zone.  
• Emirates Development Bank (EDB): Predominantly for SMEs.  
• Ruya Bank: Digital-first.  

Other Partners  

• DEWA: Rapid utility connections.  
• Etisalat: Efficient telecom.
• MoHRE: Quick labour and visa processing.
• RTA: Easy transport approvals.

Dubai Unified Licence Cost

DUL issues free with trade licence from DET/free zones—no extra charge.​

One-Time Setup Breakdown

• Trade licence issuance: AED 10,000–15,000 mainland; AED 5,500–15,000 free zone (covers commercial/professional activities).​
• Trade name reservation: AED 620–2,000 (1-day approval via portal).​
• Initial approval/NOC: AED 120–300 (from DED or employer if sponsored).​
• Legal docs (MOA/AOA notarization): AED 500–2,000 (mandatory for LLC mainland).​
• Ejari/tenancy registration: 2.5% of annual rent (minimum AED 250).​
• Investor/employee visas: AED 3,500–6,000 per person (includes medical, Emirates ID).​

Annual Renewal Breakdown

• Trade licence renewal: AED 10,000–18,000 (matches issuance, due yearly).​
• Chamber of Commerce fee: AED 1,200–3,000 (mandatory for mainland).​
• Visa renewals: AED 3,000–6,000 each (2-year cycle).​
• Market/innovation fees: AED 250–10,000 (based on revenue/activity).​
• Office rent (flexi-desk to full): AED 15,000–50,000+ (ongoing, Ejari required).​

Total Estimates

• Setup: AED 20K–70K (low for freelancers, high for multi-visa industrial). 
• Renewals: AED 15K–50K yearly. Varies by zone, activity, and visas.

Compliance & Renewal Rules

The Unified Licence Dubai renews automatically with your trade licence—no separate process or fees.​

Renewal Process

• Renew trade licence 30 days before expiry via the Invest in Dubai portal or the DET app using UAE Pass.
• Submit a current licence copy, a valid Ejari/lease, passports, and a BR/1 form if needed.
• Pay fees online; get updated DUL QR instantly in PDF.​

Penalties for Late Renewal

• Monthly fine starts at AED 250; grace period 30 days.
• Expired operation risks AED 5,000 fine plus service blocks like visas or banks.​

Changes and Updates

• Update name, activity, or partners via amendment first, then renew.
• DUL syncs across DET, free zones; no duplicates needed.​

Digital Compliance

• Central profile auto-updates status, ownership; banks access via QR.
• AML checks use clean DUL data for global standards.

Our experts from PRO Services in Dubai will help you with the licensing process. They are licensed business setup consultants with over 12+ years of experience in Dubai. 

FAQs

Q1: Does the DUL QR code work across all free zones like DMCC and JAFZA?    

Yes, DUL QR directly verifies between the mainland and free zone companies with just one scan, instantaneously integrating DMCC/JAFZA and DET’s central systems.  

Q2: Can freelancers display DUL on LinkedIn for client trust?    

Yes, freelancers have the DUL QR integrated into their profiles, where clients can verify their status and associated activities with all their details and no additional paperwork.  

Q3: What happens if DUL expires during bank KYC?   

If DUL expires, banks won’t approve the application. There would also be an auto sync failure that would create additional delays of over 30 days, so renew your trade license more than 30 days in advance with your UAE Pass.  

Q4: Does DUL auto-block suspended firms from DEWA hookup?   

Yes, DUL employees’ real-time suspension notifications, DEWA and other utilities like it automatically withhold their services, and no efficiencies carry on.  

Q5: Can DUL replace multiple NOCs for visa renewals?  

Yes, DUL achieves faster MoHRE visa processing, but an employer NOC is still required. It just verifies the base status and nothing more.  

Conclusion  

Should you be looking for a dependable and unified identification to start your Dubai business? 

The Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) is for you. It allows instant QR verification, and it quickly opens bank accounts in 5 days with no paperwork required for either the mainland or the free zone. It is a fast method to see the workload of experts completing your trade license, visas, and DUL activation in no time. 

Like over 900,000 other businesses, you can set up Dubai to be ready for 2025 and book a free consultation after seamless work digestion during the Busy Consultancy.

Contact PRO Services in Dubai for more help!