Want to run a business from your home? Maybe you bake cakes, design logos, coach clients online or sell handmade products on Instagram. You can do this legally, but you need a home business license in Dubai first.
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) offers low-cost licenses for people who work from home. The right one depends on your nationality, activity and visa needs. This guide explains who can apply, the cost, steps, documents and rules. We also compare a home business license in Dubai with a freelance permit and a free zone license.
At Aspira Business Setup Services, we have 12+ years of experience and have formed 5,000+ companies for 4,500+ clients. We help you choose the license that fits your plans, not just the cheapest one.
What Is a Home Business License in Dubai?
A home business license in Dubai is a DET trade license that lets you run a small business from your home address. You don’t need to rent an office or a shop. Your home becomes your registered business address, but it can’t be used as a shop or showroom.
There are two main types of home business license in Dubai:
- Intelaq license: for UAE and GCC nationals who live in Dubai. DET issues it with approval from Dubai SME.
- e-Trader license: for Dubai residents who sell products or services online, through social media or a website. Expat residents can apply for many service activities.
Both are sole proprietorships: one owner, no partners, and you are personally responsible for business debts.
Running a business from home without a license is illegal, and DET can issue fines. Selling on Instagram or WhatsApp counts too.
Who Can Apply? Emiratis vs Expats
| Point | Intelaq license | e-Trader license |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | UAE and GCC nationals living in Dubai | Dubai residents with a valid Emirates ID, including expats |
| Ownership | One owner, 100% owned and managed | One owner, individuals only |
| Activities | Services, design, events, some food activities | Selling products or services online |
| Employees | Up to 3, with an establishment card | None |
| Visas | Work visas for employees only | No visas |
| Walk-in customers | Not allowed | Not allowed |
Based on DET, Invest in Dubai and Dubai SME information in 2026. Rules can change.
Emiratis and GCC Nationals
Emiratis and GCC nationals living in Dubai can choose Intelaq or e-Trader. The business must be 100% owned and managed by the applicant. There is also a limit on how many licenses one person can hold, so check this with DET first.
Expats
Expats can’t get the Intelaq license, so most use the e-Trader license. Reports in 2025 and 2026 say expats are mainly limited to service activities, such as marketing, design, content creation and coaching. Some trading activities, such as selling food, are kept for nationals. You must usually be at least 21.
You also need your own UAE residence visa, for example through your employer or family, because a home business license in Dubai won’t give you a visa. On a family visa, your visa stays with your sponsor. Read more about the family and dependent visa. If you have a job, check that your employment contract allows a side business.
Eligible Activities
The list changes, so check the Invest in Dubai portal. Common activities for a home business license in Dubai include:
- Consultancy and training
- Marketing, social media and content creation
- Graphic, web and interior design
- Fashion design, tailoring and embroidery
- Photography and calligraphy
- Event planning (office work only)
- Handmade crafts, candles and accessories
- IT and technology services
- Online sale of products (some products are for nationals only)
Activities that need a shop, clinic, classroom, warehouse or visitors, such as restaurants and salons, need a full mainland or free zone license.
Home Food Businesses
Intelaq covers some food trading and preparation activities, such as sweets, pastries, juices and sandwiches. You also need Dubai Municipality food safety approval and a separate kitchen space that meets its rules, and you can’t serve customers at home. Under Dubai SME rules announced in 2020, food activities can run from home for five years, then must move to a commercial license.
Home Business License in Dubai Cost
| Cost item | Intelaq license | e-Trader license |
|---|---|---|
| License fee (per year) | AED 1,070 | AED 1,070 |
| Dubai Chamber membership | Check when you apply | AED 300 |
| Trade name reservation | May apply | Extra fee |
| Establishment card | Only if you hire staff | Not available |
| Food safety approval | Needed for food activities | Not needed for most activities |
License fees are based on the Invest in Dubai portal in 2026. They don’t include all federal fees, deposits or the trade name fee. Check the current fees before you pay.
So a home business license in Dubai starts at about AED 1,070 a year for Intelaq. An e-Trader license costs about AED 1,370 in the first year, including Dubai Chamber membership, plus the trade name fee. Both are valid for one year and renewed every year.
Other costs to plan for:
- Trade name reservation and yearly renewal
- Establishment card and visa costs (Intelaq, if you hire staff)
- Bank account, payment gateway and accounting fees
Need a full company with visas? Use our business setup cost calculator.
How to Get a Home Business License in Dubai: Step by Step
- Choose your license: Emirati and GCC nationals can choose Intelaq or e-Trader. Expats usually apply for e-Trader.
- Pick your activity: choose one from the official list that can legally run from a home.
- Get Dubai SME approval (Intelaq only): Dubai SME reviews your idea and issues an approval letter.
- Reserve a trade name: it must follow DET naming rules.
- Apply online: log in to the Invest in Dubai portal with UAE PASS. Enter your details, home address and social media or website links.
- Upload your documents: see the list below.
- Pay the fees: you get a payment voucher once your application is approved.
- Get your license: your home business license in Dubai is issued online, often quickly for simple applications.
- Get extra approvals if needed: food activities need Dubai Municipality approval, and Intelaq holders who hire staff need an establishment card from GDRFA.
Documents Required
- Emirates ID and a UAE PASS account
- Passport copy (with the residence visa page for expats)
- Proof of your Dubai address: Ejari tenancy contract, title deed or Makani number
- Landlord no-objection letter if you rent (asked for Intelaq, strongly advised for e-Trader)
- Dubai SME approval letter (Intelaq only)
- Family book, if requested (Emirati applicants)
- Activity approvals, such as Dubai Municipality food approval
Tip: names and details must match on all documents, or your home business license in Dubai can be delayed.
Rules You Must Follow
A home business license in Dubai comes with clear limits. Break them and you risk fines.
- No shop, showroom, signboard or walk-in customers.
- No large stock at home. Food traders can’t store or repackage food at home.
- Get your landlord’s OK. Business use without it can break your tenancy contract, and your landlord may ask to end the tenancy. Keep your Ejari up to date.
- Homeowners must follow building and community rules.
- Tell DET about changes, such as a new address, and renew on time.
Tax Rules
A home business is not tax-free. You must register for VAT if your taxable supplies go above AED 375,000 in 12 months. For individuals, a business is subject to UAE corporate tax only when its turnover is above AED 1 million in a calendar year. Corporate tax is then 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000. Read our guides on corporate tax registration in Dubai and VAT consultancy in Dubai.
Home Business License vs Freelance Permit vs Free Zone License
| Feature | Home business license (DET) | Freelance permit | Free zone license |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Intelaq: UAE and GCC nationals; e-Trader: Dubai residents | Mostly solo professionals | Any nationality, resident or not |
| Issued by | DET (Dubai mainland) | A free zone authority | A free zone authority |
| Starting cost | From AED 1,070 a year | Varies by free zone | From AED 5,565 with Aspira |
| Residence visa for you | No | Often yes | Yes, with a visa package |
| Employees | Intelaq: up to 3; e-Trader: none | Usually none | Yes, based on visa quota |
| Partners | No | No | Yes |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes | Yes, with a flexi-desk or virtual office address |
| Best for | Small home start-ups selling in Dubai | Solo professionals who need a visa | Growing businesses and international clients |
Prices are starting prices for 2026 and can change. Visas, establishment card, medical test and health insurance are extra. Contact Aspira for an exact quote.
Choose a home business license in Dubai if you already have a UAE visa, work alone and want the lowest cost. It is a smart way to test an idea. Choose a freelance permit if you work alone but need your own visa; SHAMS free zone and Ajman Free Zone both offer freelancer packages.
Choose a free zone license if you want visas, partners or staff; RAKEZ is another good low-cost choice. Choose a mainland license for a shop, an office or trade across the UAE. Aspira’s mainland packages start from AED 18,000 with a virtual office.
Upgrading to a Full License
There is no direct upgrade from a home business license in Dubai. You apply for a new mainland or free zone license, then cancel the home license. Upgrade when you need staff, visas, a partner, an office or kitchen, or when your Intelaq food activity reaches the five-year limit. Aspira can manage the full move, from the new license and visas to bank account help and PRO services.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Selling online without a license: social media sales count.
- Choosing an activity that can’t run from home.
- Ignoring your landlord: get written approval first.
- Expecting a visa: the e-Trader license gives no residence visa.
- Missing the renewal date of your home business license in Dubai: late fines add up.
- Forgetting tax rules: track your turnover for VAT and corporate tax.
Why Choose Aspira for Your Home Business Setup?
- 12+ years of experience in UAE business setup
- 5,000+ companies formed for 4,500+ clients
- Honest advice on the right home business license in Dubai, freelance permit or company
- Company setup in all UAE free zones, Dubai mainland and offshore
- One team for your license, visas, PRO services, bank account help and tax registration
- Free zone packages from AED 5,565, mainland from AED 18,000 and offshore from AED 9,999
Related Organizations
- Department of Economy and Tourism (DET): issues Intelaq and e-Trader licenses
- Dubai SME: approves Intelaq applications
- Dubai Municipality: food safety approval
- Dubai Land Department (Ejari): tenancy contract registration
- GDRFA Dubai: establishment cards and visas
- Federal Tax Authority (FTA): VAT and corporate tax registration
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get a home business license in Dubai as an expat?
A: Yes. Expat residents can usually apply for the e-Trader license, mainly for service activities. Intelaq is only for UAE and GCC nationals.
Q: How much does a home business license in Dubai cost?
A: Intelaq costs about AED 1,070 a year. e-Trader costs about AED 1,370 in the first year, including Dubai Chamber membership, plus the trade name fee.
Q: Does a home business license give me a UAE visa?
A: No. You need your own residence visa.
Q: Do I need my landlord’s approval?
A: For Intelaq, a landlord no-objection letter is usually needed if you rent. For e-Trader, it is strongly advised.
Q: Do I need Ejari for a home business license in Dubai?
A: You need proof of your Dubai address, usually an Ejari tenancy contract, a title deed or a Makani number.
Q: Can I sell food from home in Dubai?
A: UAE and GCC nationals can run some food activities under Intelaq with Dubai Municipality approval. Food activities are limited for expats.
Q: Can I hire employees or have a partner?
A: Neither license allows partners. Intelaq holders can hire up to 3 employees; e-Trader holders can’t.
Q: Do I pay tax on a home business?
A: You register for VAT above AED 375,000 of taxable supplies. Corporate tax applies to individuals only when turnover is above AED 1 million a year, at 9% on profit above AED 375,000.
Q: Can I upgrade my home business license in Dubai later?
A: Yes. You apply for a new mainland or free zone license and cancel the home license.
Q: Is a home business license in Dubai better than a freelance permit?
A: It is cheaper, but it gives no visa. A freelance permit suits solo professionals who need their own residence visa.
Get Your Home Business License in Dubai With Aspira
Not sure which home business license in Dubai fits you? Contact Aspira for a free consultation and honest advice on the best route for your business.
Aspira Business Setup Services LLC
- Phone/WhatsApp: +971 56 406 6546
- Email: info@aspiradubai.com
- Website: aspiradubai.com
- Office: 1001, First Floor, Al Nasr Central, 10th Street, Oud Metha, Dubai
