Dubai Trade License Amendment
Amend your Dubai trade license — add or remove activities, change trade name, update shareholders, transfer shares, change legal structure, or relocate. DET and free zone amendments handled end-to-end.
Description
A Dubai trade license amendment is required whenever the official details of your company change — adding or removing business activities, changing the trade name, adding or removing shareholders, transferring shares, changing managers, converting legal structure (e.g. Sole Establishment to LLC), or relocating to new premises. Operating outside your licensed details is a compliance violation that can trigger fines and complications with banks, visas, and contracts.
Amendment requirements vary by type. Activity changes require DET or free zone approval of the new activity (with regulator NOCs for regulated additions). Shareholder changes require updated MOA notarisation, share transfer documentation, and in some cases bank and immigration record updates. Trade name changes require fresh name reservation and updated documentation across Chamber of Commerce, banks, and contracts. Office relocation requires new Ejari and updated license records.
Octavon Global Advisory handles complete Dubai license amendments — amendment type assessment, document preparation, MOA addendum drafting and notarisation, regulator NOC coordination, DET or free zone submission, fee payment, and updated license delivery with guidance on downstream updates (bank records, immigration files, VAT registration). Standard amendments complete in 3 to 7 working days depending on type.
What's Included
- Amendment Type Assessment and Roadmap
- Activity Addition or Removal Processing
- Trade Name Change Processing
- Shareholder Addition / Removal / Share Transfer
- Manager Change Processing
- Legal Structure Conversion Support
- Office Relocation and Ejari Update
- MOA Addendum Drafting and Notarisation
- Regulator NOC Coordination (Regulated Activities)
- DET / Free Zone Submission and Fee Payment
- Updated Trade License Delivery
- Downstream Update Guidance (Bank, Immigration, VAT)
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Existing valid Dubai trade license
- No outstanding license fines (settle before amendment)
- Shareholder consent for ownership changes (all parties)
- New activity must be available under current license type
- Regulated activity additions require regulator NOC
- New Ejari for office relocation amendments
Required Documents
- Current Trade License Copy
- Passport Copies of All Shareholders
- Emirates ID Copies (UAE residents)
- Current MOA Copy
- Share Transfer Agreement (for ownership changes)
- Board / Shareholder Resolution (for corporate changes)
- New Ejari (for relocation)
- Regulator NOC (for regulated activity additions)
- No-Objection Letters from Partners (where applicable)
Our Process
- Amendment consultation and requirement assessment
- Document collection from all relevant parties
- Trade name reservation (for name changes)
- Regulator NOC application (regulated activity additions)
- MOA addendum drafting
- Notarisation of amendment documents
- DET or free zone amendment submission
- Amendment fee payment
- Updated trade license issuance
- Downstream record updates guidance (bank, immigration, VAT)
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 3,500
- Service Fee: AED 1,000
- VAT (5%): AED 225
- Total: AED 4,725
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes require a Dubai trade license amendment?
Adding or removing business activities, changing the trade name, adding or removing shareholders, transferring shares between partners, changing the registered manager, converting legal structure, and relocating to new premises all require formal amendment. Operating outside licensed details risks fines and bank complications.
How long does a license amendment take?
Simple amendments (activity addition, manager change) complete in 3 to 5 working days. Shareholder changes with MOA notarisation take 5 to 7 working days. Amendments requiring regulator NOCs (DHA, RERA, DTCM activities) extend by the regulator's review time, typically 1-3 weeks.
Can I add a regulated activity to my existing license?
Yes, if your license type supports it and the regulator approves. Adding activities like real estate brokerage (RERA), healthcare (DHA), or tourism (DTCM) requires the regulator NOC before DET processes the amendment. We coordinate the full NOC pathway.
How does a share transfer between partners work?
Share transfers require a share transfer agreement signed by all parties, an updated MOA addendum notarised at Dubai Courts or a registered notary, and DET registration of the new shareholding. Banks and immigration files are updated afterwards. Both buyer and seller must provide passport copies and sign before the notary (or via POA).
Do I need all shareholders present for an amendment?
Not necessarily. Shareholders outside the UAE can execute amendments through a notarised and attested Power of Attorney. UAE-resident shareholders typically sign before the notary in person or digitally through UAE Pass where supported.
Will my bank account and visas be affected by an amendment?
The license amendment itself doesn't disrupt operations, but banks require updated trade license and MOA copies after ownership or name changes, and immigration files need updating after manager changes. We provide a downstream checklist so nothing is missed.
Can I amend and renew my license at the same time?
Yes, and it is usually cheaper — bundling amendment with renewal avoids duplicate processing fees and saves a round of document handling. If your renewal is within 60 days, we recommend combining both.