Mainland licence renewal follows the same idea in every emirate: keep your premises, approvals, and records current, then renew before the expiry date. The details, though, change once you cross an emirate border.
Each emirate has its own authority, portal, lease system, and late renewal rule. Exactitude Business Services handles mainland licence renewals in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Abu Dhabi through our PRO services team, so we see these differences on real files.
This guide compares the four emirates side by side, using only what each authority publishes. Where a figure is not published, we say so. Please confirm current fees on the portal before you pay.
Why Mainland Licence Renewal Differs by Emirate
A mainland licence is issued by the economic development authority of the emirate where the business is based. There is no single federal renewal system for mainland companies.
That means four things change from one emirate to the next:
- The authority and portal you renew through
- The lease system that proves your business address
- The term you can renew for, from one year to several
- The late renewal rule, including when penalties start
If your group holds licences in more than one emirate, each follows its own rules and expiry date. Treating them as one process is a common reason renewals slip.
Mainland Licence Renewal at a Glance
The table below summarises what each authority publishes. Fees are left out on purpose, because they depend on your activity, lease, and chamber category. Check the current figure on the portal.
| Point | Dubai | Sharjah | Ajman | Abu Dhabi |
| Authority | Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) | Ajman Department of Economic Development (Ajman DED) | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), through ADRA |
| Where to renew | Invest in Dubai portal, SMS 6969, service centres | SEDD website, SEDD app, SEDD branches, Tasheel centres | Ajman DED eServices (UAE Pass), app, service centres | TAMM (UAE PASS) |
| Timing rule | Renew within the last month before expiry | Renew on expiry; late fee after the set period | Penalty if not renewed within one month of expiry | No window published on TAMM; renew before expiry |
| Lease proof | Ejari-registered tenancy contract | Certified lease contract (if applicable) | Lease attested by Ajman Municipality | Approved lease (Tawtheeq), with stated exceptions |
| External approvals | Sent to the relevant authority before the payment letter | Attached by the investor, if the activity needs them | Required for regulated, high-risk activities | “Related entities’ approval”, where needed |
| Multi-year term | Up to four years, with DET approval | Not published on the renewal page | One to three years (DED page) | One year or more, linked to lease validity |
| Published late rule | AED 200 per month of delay (2011 schedule) | AED 200 per month | Monthly penalty; amount not shown | Expired licences can face revocation after three years |
The sections below explain each column in more detail.
Dubai Trade Licence Renewal (DET and Invest in Dubai)
The Department of Economy and Tourism issues Dubai mainland licences. DET runs renewal through the Invest in Dubai platform.
- Portal and channels: DET’s “Request to renew trade licence” page lists three channels: the Invest in Dubai portal, SMS 6969, and DET service centres. DET also sends an SMS reminder when the licence is close to expiry. The page states that the renewal fee depends on the business activity.
- Renewal window: Dubai Law No. 13 of 2011 sets the timing. Article 8 says a licence is valid for one year, renewable for the same period, and that a business “must renew its Licence within the last month before its expiry”.
- DET’s e-services help confirms you can renew a licence online before or after expiry, but late renewal incurs penalties.
- Documents and Ejari: DET’s help page says the documents you upload depend on your business activity. The fixed requirement is the lease: if your tenancy contract is not registered in the Ejari system (shown as RERA in the help page), the system will not let you renew.
- Before you start, check that the Ejari is registered, valid, and linked to the right licence, and that the contact details on the licence are current.
- External approvals: If your activity needs approval from another authority, DET sends the application to that authority first. DET issues the payment letter only after the approval comes back. For regulated activities, this step usually sets the timeline.
- Multi-year option: Article 8 of Law No. 13 of 2011 allows a licence term longer than one year, up to four years. This is at the business’s request and subject to DET approval in coordination with the competent authority, so it is not automatic.
- Late renewal: The Dubai Legislation Portal publishes Executive Council Resolution No. 13 of 2011, which lists AED 250 for failing to renew within the set period and AED 200 for each month of delay, with part of a month counted as a full month. This schedule dates from 2011, so confirm the current figure in the portal before you rely on it.
Sharjah Trade Licence Renewal (SEDD)
Sharjah mainland licences are issued by the Sharjah Economic Development Department. SEDD’s “License Renewal” service page sets out the full customer journey.
Portal and channels
SEDD lists four channels: SEDD branches, the SEDD website, Tasheel service centres and the SEDD app. Online, the investor registers on SEDD’s website through UAE Pass.
The steps SEDD publishes are simple:
- Log in with UAE Pass and select “License Renewal”
- Attach the required documents and any external approvals
- Review the data and submit
- Receive an SMS confirming the application
- Pay the voucher; the licence is sent automatically after payment
SEDD gives the delivery period as one working day.
Renewal timing
SEDD’s page states that the licence must be renewed on expiry. If it is not renewed within the specified period, SEDD charges a late fee of AED 200 per month.
Documents and lease
SEDD lists two documents for renewal:
- A certified copy of the lease contract, if applicable
- Approval from official authorities, depending on the activity, if applicable
SEDD also lists a related step: referral to the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) to pay electricity insurance and lease contract certification fees. Plan for the lease certification before you open the renewal.
Multi-year option
SEDD’s renewal page does not publish a multi-year option. Ask SEDD before you apply if you want a longer term.
Ajman Trade Licence Renewal (Ajman DED)
Ajman mainland licences are issued by the Ajman Department of Economic Development. The service is also listed by the Department of Digital Ajman as “Renew Trade License”.
Portal and channels
Ajman DED offers renewal through its eServices portal, its mobile app, and service centres. Digital Ajman lists the steps as:
- Log in with UAE Pass
- Submit the application and attach the documents
- Pay the fees
- Receive the renewed licence
Ajman DED gives the delivery time as 10 minutes once the file is complete.
Documents and lease
Ajman DED’s process has three stages: certification of the lease contract, external approvals where the activity needs them, and payment. Digital Ajman lists the documents as:
- A valid attested lease contract
- External approvals, if necessary
- For a branch, the original licence must be renewed first
The lease is attested through Ajman Municipality and Planning Department’s “Authentication of Lease Contract for Commercial Purposes” service. Ajman DED also notes that Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry fees are collected.
Multi-year option
Ajman DED’s service page states that a licence can be valid for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years, if the renewal conditions are met. Digital Ajman gives the same one-to-three-year range. The DED eServices listing mentions up to four years, so confirm the term offered for your licence before you apply.
Late renewal
Ajman DED lists two penalty items: not renewing within one month of the licence expiry date, and delay in renewing for each month, with part of a month counted as a full month. The page does not show the amounts, so check them on the portal.
Abu Dhabi Trade Licence Renewal (ADDED, ADRA and TAMM)
Abu Dhabi mainland licences are economic licences under the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) is ADDED’s arm that regulates business registration, and renewal runs through TAMM, the Abu Dhabi government services platform.
Portal and steps
TAMM’s “Renew Economic Licence – Commercial” service lists five steps:
- Log in using UAE PASS
- Submit the application and the required documents
- Receive an approval or rejection notification
- Pay the applicable fees, if approved
- Receive the renewed licence
TAMM gives the service time as one working day.
Documents and Tawtheeq
TAMM lists two required documents: an approved lease contract and related entities’ approval. In Abu Dhabi, leases are attested through Tawtheeq, and TAMM has a separate service to link a licence to an attested tenancy contract.
TAMM states that the lease requirement depends on the licence type. It is not required for some licences, such as the Freelancer Licence and the Mobdea Licence, or for the Tajer Abu Dhabi Licence during its first three years.
Multi-year option
TAMM says a commercial licence can be renewed for one year or more, depending on the licence type, lease validity, and approved requirements. If the lease is valid for more than one year, the licence may be renewed for the permitted duration.
Late renewal and expired licences
ADRA’s published rules are about what happens after expiry:
- Unrenewed licences move to an expired registry
- A licence expired for three years or more becomes subject to revocation
- If a licence is revoked, you must reserve a new trade name before renewing it
- A PRO can renew on your behalf with official authorisation or a power of attorney
ADRA ran a late renewal penalty waiver until 15 August 2026, which has now ended. TAMM does not show a penalty amount on the renewal page, so check your file before you renew.
Lease Rules Compared: Ejari, Certified Leases and Tawtheeq
In all four emirates, the lease is the document most likely to hold up a mainland licence renewal. The names differ, but each authority needs a registered or attested lease for your licensed address.
- Dubai: Ejari registration
- Sharjah: a certified lease, with fees paid through SEWA
- Ajman: attestation by Ajman Municipality and Planning Department
- Abu Dhabi: Tawtheeq, except for licence types TAMM exempts
A lease that expires a few weeks before the licence is a common trap. Renew and register the lease first, then open the licence renewal.
Multi-Year Renewal: Which Emirates Allow It
A longer term means fewer renewals, but the rules differ:
- Dubai: up to four years by law, at DET’s discretion and in coordination with the competent authority
- Sharjah: no multi-year option is published on SEDD’s renewal page
- Ajman: one to three years on the DED and Digital Ajman pages, if conditions are met
- Abu Dhabi: one year or more, tied to your lease validity and licence type
In practice, a multi-year term only works if your lease covers the same period.
Late Renewal Rules Side by Side
Late renewal costs more than the penalty. It can hold up visas, labour transactions and other government services until the licence is active again.
The published rules, covered in each emirate’s section above, range from monthly penalties in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman to revocation of long-expired licences in Abu Dhabi. Penalty amounts change, and temporary waivers come and go, so confirm the current figure on the portal before you renew.
What Depends on a Valid Licence
A mainland licence renewal is not only about the licence certificate. Other government records depend on it.
- Establishment card: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) requires a valid trade licence to renew an establishment card. ICP also charges a fine for renewing the card more than 30 days late. Dubai companies use GDRFA for this card, so check with GDRFA for its rules.
- Visas and work permits: The UAE government portal states that a company’s trade licence must be valid and free of violations for work permit transactions. ADRA also warns that revoking a licence may affect the owner’s or partner’s residency visa and work permit.
- Corporate Tax and VAT records: The Federal Tax Authority requires a copy of the trade licence for Corporate Tax registration. If details change at renewal, such as activities, partners, or the trade name, the FTA must be told within 20 business days.
Keep the renewed licence on file with your tax records. Our Corporate Tax and VAT services team updates EmaraTax records after a renewal where needed.
Renewal is also a good moment to check your activities still match what you do. See our guide on misaligned activities on a UAE trade licence.
A Practical Renewal Timeline We Use With Clients
None of the four authorities publish a long lead time, so we work back from the expiry date. This is our own practice, not an official deadline.
60 days before expiry
- Confirm the expiry dates of the licence, lease, and establishment card
- List any external approvals the activities need
45 days before expiry
- Renew and register the lease (Ejari, certified lease or Tawtheeq)
- Request external approvals, which often take the longest
30 days before expiry
- Submit the renewal on Invest in Dubai, SEDD, Ajman DED or TAMM
- Choose the renewal term, if a multi-year option is available
- Check the voucher amount on the portal before paying
After renewal
- Download and save the renewed licence
- Renew the establishment card if it is due
- Update the FTA, your bank and your accounting records
A Business Owner’s Experience
This is an illustrative composite based on the kinds of files we handle. It does not describe a specific client.
“I run a small trading business with a main licence in Sharjah and a second company in Dubai. For years, I treated both renewals as one task and booked them in the same week. It worked until the year my Dubai lease ran out before the licence did.
I had renewed the Sharjah licence without trouble. When I opened the Dubai renewal, the portal would not move forward because the new tenancy contract had not been registered in Ejari yet. My landlord had signed it, but nobody had registered it.
By the time it was sorted out, I was close to the expiry date and worried about a visa due the following month.
When I spoke to the Exactitude team, they asked for both licences, both leases, and my establishment cards, and built one calendar with every expiry date on it. They registered the Ejari first, then renewed the Dubai licence, and then dealt with the establishment card.
What changed for me was the order of the steps. Now the leases are renewed first in both emirates, and the licence renewals follow. I get one reminder for each date, not one for the whole group.“
How Exactitude Business Services Handles Mainland Licence Renewal
Exactitude Business Services handles mainland licence renewals in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi, including companies first set up with another provider. Our work covers the full file:
- Checking the licence, lease, and establishment card dates
- Coordinating lease registration or attestation in each emirate
- Requesting external approvals for regulated activities
- Submitting the renewal on Invest in Dubai, SEDD, Ajman DED or TAMM
- Renewing the establishment card and updating tax and accounting records
Our renewal work is led by Hashim Rizvi, Head of Sales, who brings 14+ years of experience in the field. Reviewing your setup too? See our mainland pages for Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Abu Dhabi.
Documents that need translation or attestation can go through our attestation and legal translation services.
Book a Free Consultation on Mainland Licence Renewal
If your licence expires in the next three months, now is the time to check the lease, approvals, and dates. Share your licence copy, and we will tell you what your emirate will ask for.
Book a Free Consultation with Exactitude Business Services:
- Phone: +971 52 177 1150
- Email: sales@exactitudebusiness.com
FAQ
Can I renew a mainland licence after it has expired?
Yes, but late renewal penalties can apply. In Abu Dhabi, a licence expired for three years or more can be revoked, and a revoked licence needs a new trade name before renewal.
Do I need Ejari to renew a Dubai mainland licence?
Yes. DET’s help page states that a licence cannot be renewed if the tenancy contract is not registered. Register the new Ejari before you open the renewal.
What documents does Sharjah trade licence renewal need?
SEDD lists a certified copy of the lease contract, if applicable, and approvals from official authorities, depending on the activity. Lease certification fees are paid through SEWA.
Is there a grace period for Sharjah trade licence renewal?
SEDD states that the licence must be renewed on expiry and charges AED 200 per month if it is not renewed within the specified period. It does not publish a separate grace period on the renewal page, so renew on time.
Can I renew my Ajman trade licence for more than one year?
Ajman DED’s service page allows a term of one to three years if the renewal conditions are met. Confirm the term offered for your licence on the portal.
Is Tawtheeq required for Abu Dhabi trade licence renewal?
For most licences, yes. TAMM lists an approved lease contract as a required document. It is not required for some licence types, such as the Freelancer and Mobdea licences, or for the Tajer Abu Dhabi Licence during its first three years.
Can someone else renew the licence on my behalf?
Yes. ADRA confirms a PRO can renew with official authorisation or a power of attorney. Exactitude handles renewals this way in all four emirates.
Where can I check the current renewal fees?
Fees depend on the activity, lease, and chamber category, and they change. Check the voucher on Invest in Dubai, SEDD, Ajman DED eServices, or TAMM before you pay.