Social media platforms have changed e-commerce forever. Selling on social media enables just about anyone to turn their skills into money. Dubai is widely regarded as one of the world’s best business destinations, and many foreign national entrepreneurs launch their businesses in the emirate.
An e-trader license in Dubai allows you to work from home using social media platforms to do business online. This is an ideal business model for entrepreneurs to sell their services and products on social media in Dubai.
In this article, we’ll showcase the benefits of an e-trader license, the steps and costs to get one, and just why partnering with Trade License Zone will help you.
Benefits of an e-trader license in Dubai
The Department of Economic Development (DED) introduced e-trader licenses in Dubai in 2017. They aimed to make it easier for home business owners to sell products and services over social media. The e-trader license also helps to regulate online shopping as the emirate looks to wipe out the sale of counterfeit and fake products being sold on social media platforms.
If you’re wondering about getting an e-trader license in Dubai, here are some of the major benefits for these license holders:
- People can legally promote and sell products and services through their social media accounts, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and personal websites.
- An e-trader license also entitles people to market their products and services in online marketplaces such as Souqplace.com, Dubizzle.com, TheLuxuryCloset.com, and SecondhandDubai.ae.
- There are rights reserved for sellers: the e-trader license protects their business name and intellectual property.
- The DED also hosts training sessions and workshops for e-trader license holders to attend to improve their business success.
- There is no need to rent a physical premises for a shop or an office with this trade license type.
- It also entitles a license holder to sell products and services within the United Arab Emirates.
These are some important notes on the eligibility of the e-trader license:
- This license is only available for UAE residents and GCC nationals living in Dubai.
- The trade license holder must be a minimum of 21 years of age.
- The trade license must be registered in the name of a single person; the trade name must be the person’s name.
Under the current DED regulations, expats aren’t allowed to sell physical products as an e-trader, but may only offer professional services. These services include functions such as event management, maintenance and repair, modeling, photography, and graphic design.
Contact Trade License Zone to discuss your e-trader license needs today with our team of specialists. We’ll provide you with expert advice and guide you on the processing of getting your e-trader license.
Steps to get a e-trader license in Dubai
To start your business, you’ll need to follow our step-by-step guide to getting an e-trader license in Dubai:
Step #1: Partner with Trade License Zone
Partnering with a local company formation specialist such as Trade License Zone is the first step to getting an e-trader license in Dubai.
Our specialists at Trade License Zone will manage all aspects of your company registration and setup process, and guide you on the various governmental and municipal trade regulations for operating an online business in Dubai.
Step #2: Provide your personal details
To register as a DED trader, you must provide the following personal details to us to help you:
- Your Emirates ID number
- Your e-mail address
- Your mobile number
- Accurate information about your social media accounts to be used for trading
Step #3: Register your trade name
Trade License Zone can help you register your e-trader business trade name with the UAE’s Registry Office. You must use your name in full rather than just your surname or initials.
Step #4: Applying for a trade license
To trade in Dubai (and the rest of the UAE), you’ll need to apply for a professional license under an e-trader license application.
When you apply for an e-trader license, you will need the following documents:
- Completed application form
- Passport copies of the proposed business owner/owners
- Two colour passport size photos of the proposed business owner/owners
Contact Trade License Zone to make use of their highly experienced specialists to guide you on every step of the process in applying for your e-trader license. It is as easy as telling us a little about your business and sending us the required documents to get your application process started.
Cost of an e-trader license in Dubai, UAE
The cost of an e-trader license in Dubai is AED 1,070. For this, an expat can sell their professional services on social media, such as graphic design, event management, and marketing, as a registered e-trader.
Applicants have up to 24 hours to pay for their e-trader license once they have received the payment form or voucher form from the DED. If a person cannot do so, the DED’s system automatically cancels the payment approval.
Along with the e-trader license fee of AED 1,070, entrepreneurs will also need to pay the Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership fee of AED 300 with their license fee.
Applicants will receive a verification of their application status within minutes of their submission. The successful applicants will receive their e-trader licenses within 3 to 5 business days.
Can an expat get an e-trader license in Dubai
An expat can get an e-trader license in Dubai. The only conditions are that the person must reside in Dubai and be over the age of 21.
Getting a visa for the United Arab Emirates can be done through employment, business ownership or being a dependent and having a sponsored visa as a spouse or other family member.
Working with Trade License Zone
Business setup in the UAE is straightforward, but it remains a complex process – even if you think you know what you’re doing. When you partner with Trade License Zone, we will save you from unnecessary delays or rejections and make the entire process a streamlined one.
When you work with the specialists at Trade License Zone, all you need to provide is some basic documentation and a little information about the nature of your business. Then, sit back and let the experts take care of the rest – managing your trade license and visa applications, communicating with all relevant departments and authorities, and reporting back when you’re ready to trade. It really is that simple.