E-commerce and Trading Free Zone License in Dubai
An E-commerce platform allows online business (buying and selling) from suppliers whose commodities are already registered in UAE, whereas trading, involves import and export of commodities in the country.
Differences between an E-commerce License and Trading free zone license in Dubai
The following flexibilities from the free zones make UAE a perfect business hub!
| E-Commerce in Free zone | Trading in Free zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Local Distributor | No local distributor or agent is required under this license. | A local distributor or an agent is required to trade your products in the local market of UAE, under this type of license. |
| Office Requirement | There is no requirement of office space, with this type of license commodities will be stored by the suppliers. Making it a cost-effective solution. | Here you might have to lease an office or warehouse for storing the commodities. |
| Business Operations | An agreement with suppliers is made for trading their products which are already available in the local market through an online website. | Under Trading License, you can sell your commodities in the local market through local distributor or agent. But you cannot sell products directly to customers in the mainland. |
| Payment Gateway | You will have an added advantage of payment gateway facility directly by the banks. | Under this license type payment gateway facility is not provided by the banks directly. |
| Custom Duty | You don’t have to pay 5% customs duty as it’s already paid by the supplier. | You are eligible to pay 5% customs duty for importing commodities if taken out of the free zone. |
| Product Registration | No Need to register products as it is already registered and traded in the local market. The supplier has to have product registration. | If imported, product/s need to be registered with the concerned municipality. |
For furthermore information contact us at +971 52 544 1248 today!
Zubair Sultan Mohammed
CEO - MSZ Corporate Services
Zubair Sultan Mohammed is a seasoned business consultant specializing in company formation and regulatory compliance in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. With over 15 years of experience, he has guided entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational firms through the complexities of regional business laws and market entry strategies. His deep understanding of local licensing, taxation, and free zone structures ensures clients make informed, strategic decisions. Zubair Sultan Mohammed regularly contributes insights on corporate setup, investment trends, and regional economic developments.
