How to Get Trade License Copy in Dubai, and When It Must Be Certified

How to Get Trade License Copy Online: Downloading It

Most licensing authorities let the license holder log in to their own account and print or download the license. The exact screens and names change, so use the portal of the authority that issued your license. If you cannot log in, contact that authority or your business setup agent.

Keep these points in mind:

• Only the license holder or an authorized person can use the account.
• Download the file as a PDF and keep the original file unchanged.
• Check that the company name and activities are all readable.
• Print on clean white paper, one side only.

Mainland and Free Zone Licenses

A mainland company and a free zone company use different authorities, so how to get trade license copy depends on your license type.

For a free zone license, see our page on a certified true copy of a free zone trade license.

Printed Copy, E-License and Certified True Copy

These three are not the same thing, and mixing them up is the most common reason a file is turned away.

1. Printed copy: a plain print of your license. Anyone can make one, so it proves little on its own.
2. E-license: the electronic license the authority issues. Some receiving bodies accept it as it is, others do not.
3. Certified true copy: a copy that a lawyer has checked against your original and certified. We check your original and certify the copy.

When a Bank or Tender Asks for a Certified Copy

Banks, tender committees and foreign offices often want a certified business license copy instead of a plain print. Each one sets its own rule, so ask the receiving body what it accepts before you book.

We have pages for the most common cases:

• Trade license copy for a bank account
• Trade license copy for a tender
• Trade license copy for expansion abroad

If the receiving body asks for notarization by a notary public, or for MOFAIC attestation, that is a separate step from our certification. MOFAIC attestation needs the original in Arabic or English, or with a legally certified translation, and the document must not be laminated, as the MOFAIC attestation page explains.

If your license was issued by Dubai Development Authority, DDA also offers true copy attestation for documents it issued itself. The fee is AED 100 per document, plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham per transaction, so AED 120 for one document in one transaction. See the DDA true copy attestation page.

Expired Licenses

An expired license is a different case. Some receiving bodies want the current license, others only want proof of the past one. Read our page on a certified true copy of an expired trade license before you book.

How to Get Your Trade License Certified With Us

1. Learn how to get trade license copy from your authority, then keep the original.
2. Message us on WhatsApp and tell us where the copy will be used.
3. We book your appointment: in person at our office, online or on a home visit.
4. Bring the original license and your ID.
5. We check your original and certify the copy.

Our fee depends on the document and the number of copies, and we confirm it when you book. Timing depends on the document and on appointment availability. For an urgent request, call or WhatsApp us. You can also read how a certified true copy compares with notarization and attestation, or see our page on a certified true copy of a trade license in Dubai.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Certifying a copy before the receiving body says what it accepts.
• Bringing a laminated license when attestation will follow.
• Sending a cropped or blurry print.
• Asking for notarization when the body only needs a certified copy.