Guide · updated 20.10.2026 · 6 min read · Lucent Legal team

How to Verify a Company's Trade Licence in Dubai and Across the UAE

Key points

  • A Dubai mainland licence is checked on the Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) website. DET offers a search by business name and a search for licence information.
  • The National Economic Register (NER) of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism covers licences and activities across the UAE.
  • Free zone companies (DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA and others) are not in the DET database. Check them on the free zone's own portal.
  • Each emirate has its own tool. Abu Dhabi searches by reference number. Sharjah and Ajman offer a trade name search. The u.ae list shows no search service for Ras Al Khaimah.
  • A licence check shows the company exists. It doesn't prove you should pay a deposit: you also need the owner, signing authority and court history.

You have a photo of a licence and an invoice to pay, and you want proof the company exists. The check is free and takes minutes, but you must look in the right place. Dubai mainland, other emirates and free zones each keep their own records.

Dubai mainland: start with DET

The government portal u.ae keeps one official list of verification tools. Its "Verify business licences" page was updated on 6 April 2026.

For Dubai it lists two DET services: "Search for business names" and "Search for licence information". The first searches by name. The second shows licence details. If you have the licence number, search by it: company names are often spelled several ways.

What the record shows depends on the portal. Typically you see the company name, licence number and type, activities, issue and expiry dates, address and status. Compare each item with the copy you were sent. Everything should match.

Other emirates

Outside Dubai, use the economic department of the emirate. According to the u.ae list:

  • Abu Dhabi — "Enquire about economic licences", searched by reference number.
  • Sharjah — Economic Development Department, trade name search.
  • Ajman — Department of Economic Development, trade name enquiry.
  • Fujairah — the municipality provides trade licence services.
  • Ras Al Khaimah — u.ae names no dedicated tool. Try the NER or ask the department for a confirmation.

National Economic Register: one database for the UAE

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism runs the NER. On u.ae it is listed as a tool for checking business activities and licences issued in the UAE. It helps when you don't know which emirate the company registered in.

You usually search by company name or licence number. If you find the company, compare status and activity. If you don't, don't panic: the register can lag, and free zones keep their own records.

Free zones: use the zone's portal

A company licensed by DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA or another zone sits in that zone's registry, not in DET. The licence names the zone. Open the zone's website and look for licence verification or a company directory. Section names differ, so search for "verify" or "company directory".

The choice between mainland and a free zone changes more than where you check. It affects courts, closing rules and more — see mainland vs free zone.

If you can't find the company

Work through this list before drawing conclusions:

  1. Check the spelling. Search the legal name on the licence, not the brand on the website. A trade name and the legal name often differ.
  2. Search by licence number. It is more reliable than a name.
  3. Try another emirate and the free zones. The company may be registered elsewhere.
  4. Check the NER. It spans all emirates.
  5. Ask for a copy of the licence and compare again. A mismatch in name, activity or expiry date is a reason to stop.

An expired licence is not a forged one: the company may simply have missed the renewal. For what that means for a deal, see expired licence in the UAE. If the licence was cancelled, the status shows it: how trade licences are cancelled.

What the check does not show

A licence record confirms registration. It doesn't answer the questions that matter before you pay:

  • who really owns the company and who can sign;
  • whether the company has court cases or debts;
  • whether it actually trades.

The counterparty checklist covers these. If the company already owes you money, see recovering a debt from a company.

FAQ

How do I check a trade licence in Dubai?

Open the Dubai Economy and Tourism website and use the search by business name or licence information. Enter the licence number or legal name, then compare status, activity and expiry date with the copy you received. Free zone companies need the zone's own portal.

Where can I check a company's licence across all UAE emirates?

In the National Economic Register of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. According to u.ae it covers business activities and licences issued in the UAE. If the company isn't there, check the economic department of the emirate and the free zone registry.

Can I check a licence by company name?

Yes. Dubai has a business name search and a licence information search, and the NER also searches by name. Use the legal name from the licence: the trade name on a sign often differs.

Is a licence check free?

The u.ae page on licence verification doesn't mention fees for searching. Check the terms of the specific portal before you submit a request.

How do I verify a free zone company's licence?

On the website of the zone that issued it. Don't look for these companies in the DET database. The zone's name is on the licence. Look for licence verification or a company directory.

What does it mean if a company is not in the register?

It doesn't prove fraud. Check the spelling, the licence number, other emirates and free zones. If the company appears nowhere, don't transfer money and ask it for a confirmation from the register.

Is checking the licence enough before I pay?

No. A licence confirms registration, not the owner, the signing authority or the absence of disputes. Before a large payment, check those as well.

Sources

This is general information, not legal advice. Portal and section names change: confirm them on the official sites.

Related: business and companies in the UAE, opening a company in the UAE.

Topic: Doing Business in the UAE

Get a lawyer's help: Corporate disputes and asset protection

This material is for information only and is not legal advice. UAE law changes — a lawyer will assess how it applies to your situation.