General trading licence in Dubai
A general trading licence lets a company trade a wide range of unrelated goods under one licence.
What it covers
Import, export, distribution and resale of many categories of goods, such as electronics, textiles, furniture, machinery parts and consumer products, without listing each product group separately.
Restricted goods
Some goods need approval from the relevant authority even with a general trading licence, including food, medicines and medical devices, cosmetics, chemicals, alcohol and tobacco, precious metals, and weapons or security equipment.
Mainland or free zone
A mainland general trading licence from DET allows selling to UAE customers directly. Free zone general trading licences are common for international trade and re-export. See Mainland vs free zone vs offshore.
Customs
To import or export, the company registers with customs and obtains an importer or exporter code. See Import and export licence.
Common questions
What is the difference between general trading and trading?
A trading licence covers specific related product groups. General trading covers many unrelated groups and usually costs more. See Trading company.
Do banks treat general trading companies differently?
Banks look for specific products, suppliers and customers. A vague "general trading" description is a common reason for delay. See Why accounts get rejected.
Official sources
We check our guidance against these official sources. Always confirm current fees and rules before acting.