MAINLAND · DUBAI · UAE
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Mainland) (UAE): Licenses, Costs & Activities (2026)
- Activity combinations
- 548 48 of 52 clusters
- Median package
- from AED 15,665* market benchmark
- Price range
- AED 15,665 – 46,530* min–max in snapshot
- Setup time
- 4–64 days fastest → slowest filed
About Dubai DET
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Dubai DET) accounts for 548 license combinations in the September 2026 snapshot, spread over 48 of the 52 activity clusters tracked on the platform. The strongest cluster here is General Trading with 42 packages, followed by Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading (38 packages).
Entry packages start at AED 15,665*, the median combination runs from AED 15,665*, and the fullest configurations in the catalog reach AED 46,530*. Filed setup timelines range from 4 to 64 days depending on the activity mix, visa quota and office option.
Dubai DET is the Dubai mainland licensing authority: DET licenses trade anywhere in the UAE, not just in-zone. This guide breaks the zone down by activity: the strongest clusters below, then the visa, establishment-card and bank-account steps that come bundled with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism licenses — all figures from the same market snapshot.
Fit check
Who is Dubai DET best for?
- Businesses that must trade anywhere in the UAE: this is the Dubai mainland licensing authority, not a free zone
- Retail, hospitality and B2G companies serving the onshore Dubai market directly
- Trading companies that want the widest activity coverage, 48 of the 52 tracked clusters
- Firms planning premises, branches or client-facing offices anywhere in Dubai
Verdict
Pros & cons
Pros
- Mainland licence: sell directly across the UAE with no free-zone territorial limit
- The deepest catalog in the snapshot, 548 combinations across 48 clusters, from general trading to media production
- Direct access to onshore Dubai: retail locations, government-linked demand and the emirate's consumer market
- The office can be leased anywhere in Dubai rather than inside a designated zone
Cons
- This is not a free zone: licensing, renewals and visas follow Dubai mainland rules
- A physical office in Dubai is part of the mainland setup, which adds a lease commitment
- Full configurations run to 64 days in the snapshot, noticeably longer than typical free-zone filings
- Regulated activities require external approvals, which extend the timeline further
Activities
Top activity clusters at Dubai DET
| Activity cluster | Packages at Dubai DET | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| General Trading | 42 | from AED 15,665* |
| Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading | 38 | from AED 15,665* |
| Software Development & IT | 36 | from AED 15,665* |
| Building Materials Trading | 32 | from AED 15,665* |
| Business Consulting | 28 | from AED 15,665* |
| Auto Parts & Accessories Trading | 25 | from AED 15,665* |
| Media Production & Broadcasting | 22 | from AED 15,665* |
| Events & Entertainment | 22 | from AED 15,665* |
* Market reference as of September 2026, exact quote on request. Market data, Sep 2026.
Visas & banking
Visa, establishment-card and bank steps at Dubai DET
- Establishment card
- 548 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 15,665*
- Corporate bank account
- 548 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 15,665*
- Investor visa
- 548 packages in the zone's catalog, from AED 15,665*
- Scope tagging
- 1% visa / 1% bank share of packages tagging visa / bank steps
- Head office address
- One Central, The Offices 2, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
The typical Dubai DET sequence files the license, then the establishment card, then residence visas and the corporate bank account — the same order the platform's catalog records across Dubai jurisdictions.
FAQ
Dubai DET: questions
How much does a Dubai DET license cost in 2026?
In the September 2026 snapshot, 548 combinations are tracked, starting from AED 15,665*. The median package runs from AED 15,665* and the range stretches to AED 46,530*. The spread reflects activity type, visa quota and office option. Every figure on this page is a market reference; the exact quote is confirmed on request.
How long does company setup at Dubai DET take?
Filed packages at Dubai DET complete in 4 to 64 days in the snapshot. License-only setups sit near the fast end; adding establishment card, residence visas and bank account moves the timeline toward the upper bound because banking KYC runs on the bank's schedule.
Which activities can a Dubai DET license cover?
The catalog maps 548 Dubai DET combinations onto 48 activity clusters. The strongest are General Trading; Industrial Equipment & Machinery Trading; Software Development & IT. Each cluster in the table above links to the cross-zone license breakdown for that activity.
Where is Dubai DET located and who is it for?
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism is based in Dubai — the Dubai mainland licensing authority: DET licenses trade anywhere in the UAE, not just in-zone. As a mainland jurisdiction it suits founders who need that licensing regime specifically; the free-zone-vs-mainland comparison on this site covers when a free zone beats the mainland and vice versa.
Where is Dubai DET located?
The authority is headquartered at One Central, The Offices 2, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai. License applications are submitted to this authority — online or at its customer service desk, depending on the license type.
Which authority issues licenses in Dubai DET?
Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Dubai emirate) is the issuing authority. Its September 2026 catalog tracks 548 activity combinations, with entry packages from AED 15,665*.
Related breakdowns
Setting up in Dubai DET?
We match the license package to your activity and visa plan — priced against the same market snapshot shown above.