Issue and renew initial approval
Obtains or renews the initial approval for your business activity from Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET).
How it works
- 1
Documents
You
- 2
Reviewed by MARIO E.G.S.H AI
MARIO E.G.S.H AI
- 3
Submitted on Invest in Dubai
Runner at DET
- 4
Licence issued
DET
Documents required
Completed business registration and licensing form
copyID / passport number of the owners
copyCopy of residence permit
in some casescopyOnly if: For UAE residentsNo-objection certificate from the sponsor
in some casesoriginalOnly if: Non-GCC residents who will practise the activity (not for partner or investor)Parent company's board resolution to open a Dubai branch and its commercial registration (and free-zone NOC if applicable)
in some casesoriginalattestedlegal Arabic translationOnly if: Only for branches
Conditions, time and validity
- Trade name is linked to this service; initial approval comes before the licence.
- Processing time
- Former DET page (2021): about 10 minutes.
- Validity of the result
- Former DET page (2021): six months. Not confirmed for 2026.
- Where it is applied for
- Invest in Dubai portal or DET service centres (to be confirmed).
Steps at the authority
- Submit the form and requirements on the portal or at a service centre.
- Pay the fee; approval issued; use it to obtain other authorities' approvals.
Tips that save you a trip
- Ask our staff first: in the current Invest in Dubai flow the approval step may be built into the licence application.
Common reasons for rejection or delay
- Missing sponsor NOC for an employed resident who will run the business.
- Activity or legal form not allowed for the owners' nationality or situation.
Questions and answers
Does the initial approval allow me to start trading?
No. It only lets you complete approvals and preparations; trading needs the issued licence.
Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.
Legal basis
DET (Dubai) licensing procedures
Related services
Trade licence renewal
Renew a Dubai mainland licence through Invest in Dubai, including Ejari and approvals check.
Change business location
Moves your licensed business to a new location and updates the licence with Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET).
Reserve and renew trade name
Reserves a new trade name or renews an existing reservation with Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET).
Print licence
Prints an official copy of your trade licence from Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET).