Which authority issues trade licences in the UAE and in Dubai?

Trade licences in the UAE are issued at the emirate level by each emirate's economic department, not by a single nationwide body. In Dubai, the licensing authority is the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly the Department of Economic Development), while other emirates have their own departments of economic development, such as those in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the remaining emirates. These authorities handle mainland company registration, trade-name approval, activity classification, and the trade licence itself, under the framework of the UAE Commercial Companies Law. If you set up inside a free zone, the licence is instead issued by that free zone's own authority rather than the emirate's economic department. Some regulated activities also require approval from a sector-specific federal or local authority before the licence is granted. Because the right authority depends on your jurisdiction and activity, confirm where to apply before you start. For help navigating approvals and choosing a jurisdiction, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI.