Activities · E-commerce and selling on Amazon, Noon, Shopify from a UAE company
Set up a E-commerce and selling on Amazon, Noon, Shopify from a UAE company company in the UAE.
To sell on Amazon, Noon, or your own Shopify store from the UAE, you need a commercial licence that includes e-commerce activity. Both mainland (DED e-trader licence) and free zone licences are accepted by marketplaces. Free zone companies can sell on Amazon.ae and Noon because the marketplace handles the onshore sale, but selling directly to mainland consumers at scale (own delivery, physical shop) requires a mainland licence. All e-commerce licences require a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the TDRA. Costs vary: a Dubai mainland e-trader licence can be as low as amount not yet confirmed first year, while free zone packages typically start around amount not yet confirmed/year. You must also open a corporate bank account, set up a compliant website, and register for VAT once you cross the threshold.
Commercial licence with e-commerce activity (mainland DED e-trader licence or free zone e-commerce licence).
When you run your own onshore distribution at scale (e.g., a delivery fleet doing cash-on-delivery across the Emirates) or operate a physical shop selling to walk-in UAE consumers. Selling through marketplaces like Amazon.ae or Noon does not require a mainland licence because the marketplace acts as the onshore seller.
Zones that fit the activity
Names as the researchers wrote them, with the catalogue entry where the zone publishes one. A price is a package price and may cover a different package than another zone.
| Zone | Why | Catalogue entry | Package price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Mainland | Lowest published cost for individuals selling physical products online; allows selling on Amazon, Noon, Shopify; no office required. | Commercial E-Trader License (e-commerce) | not published | source |
| Meydan Free Zone | Activity 4791.02 covers online retail to consumers; no third-party approval or AML compliance required. | 4791.02 - Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet | not published | source |
| RAKEZ | Dedicated e-commerce licence available in Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone. | E-commerce | not published | source |
Approvals outside the free zone
Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)
Corporate tax: 0% on taxable profit up to amount not yet confirmed, 9% above. Free zone companies may qualify for 0% on qualifying income, but B2C sales are generally excluded activities, making the regime hard to use. VAT: 5% standard rate. Registration mandatory once taxable supplies/imports exceed amount not yet confirmed in 12 months; voluntary from amount not yet confirmed. Import VAT (5%) is levied at customs entry and recoverable only if VAT-registered. E-invoicing becomes mandatory for B2B invoices from 1 July 2027 (for most businesses). Exports of goods are zero-rated. Marketplaces require your TRN on file once you cross the VAT threshold.
Payment gateways (Stripe, Telr, Checkout.com, etc.) require: a licence with e-commerce/trading activity, a corporate bank account in the company’s name, and a live website with terms of sale, refund/return policy, and privacy notice. Open the corporate account early, gateway approval cannot proceed without it. Marketplaces also expect your TRN for VAT handling.
Mistakes that cost a resubmission
- Under-licensing: using a licence with an activity like 'management consultancy' while selling physical goods. source
- Applying for a payment gateway before opening a corporate bank account. source
- Launching a store without a live website that displays terms, refund policy, and privacy notice. source
- Assuming the free zone 0% corporate tax rate applies automatically to B2C e-commerce. source
- Delaying VAT registration until after import costs have been incurred, losing recoverable import VAT. source
- Confusing wholesale, marketplace platform operation, or physical retail with the correct e-commerce activity classification. source
Questions founders ask
Yes. Marketplaces handle the onshore sale and accept free zone licences. You do not need a mainland licence just to list on these platforms.
For a Dubai mainland e-trader licence, no physical office is required. Free zones typically offer flexi-desk or virtual office options as part of the licence package.
It is a no-objection certificate from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, required for all e-commerce activities. You apply online using UAE Pass.
Mandatory registration when your taxable supplies and imports exceed amount not yet confirmed over the previous 12 months. Voluntary registration is possible from amount not yet confirmed.
What the research does not settle
- No official price list found for free zone e-commerce licences (Meydan, RAKEZ, UAQ FTZ, etc.). Only agent estimates (e.g., Gulf News mentions packages from ~amount not yet confirmed/year).
- Dubai DET e-trader licence cost sourced from an agent site (dubaieconomycenter.ae), not directly from the official DET website.
- Specific activity names for RAKEZ and UAQ FTZ e-commerce licences not confirmed from official catalogues.
- No official confirmation of whether the TDRA NOC fee is included in licence packages or charged separately.