DET (Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism)

The DET — Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, widely still called 'Dubai Economy' or by its former name DED — is the authority that licenses and regulates mainland business in the emirate. It issues and renews trade licences, approves trade names and activities, registers commercial agencies and branches, regulates promotions and sales, and enforces consumer protection in retail: the consumer complaint channel for faulty goods and refused refunds in Dubai shops runs through DET. It also administers instant licences and the Invest in Dubai platform. Entrepreneurs meet DET at company formation and every licence renewal; consumers meet it when a merchant dispute needs escalation. Lawyers deal with DET in company structuring, licence activity scoping, commercial compliance, fines for unlicensed activity, and consumer disputes — and distinguish its mainland jurisdiction from the separate free zone authorities.