Trading & Services · Commercial licence · Code 4741004
تجارة نظم وبرامج الحاسب الآلي وأجهزة الإتصال
How to set up a Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Trading business in Dubai: the approvals, premises and ownership rules for activity code 4741004, and each step to the trade licence.
Last updated · Licensing authority: Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with the authority before you pay.
ISIC classification: Retail sale of computers, peripheral units, software and telecommunications equipment in specialized stores (4741)
Typically requires Designated Zone status for VAT purposes
About this activity
Commercial trading, distribution, and licensing of packaged enterprise software, operating system licenses, security software, and packaged IT applications.
Regulatory requirements
Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Trading can be licensed on the mainland in 3 emirates, under a commercial licence. The government licence fee starts at AED 1,000 in Abu Dhabi; we haven't confirmed the fee in the other emirates yet. Office rent, visas and any external approvals are paid on top of the licence fee.
Across the 26 Trading & Services activities we hold fees for, starting fees run from AED 250 to AED 2,500 (median AED 600). This activity is above the median.
Confirm the activity and legal form
Apply under activity code 4741004 (Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Trading) on a commercial licence. Choose the legal form, most often a limited liability company (LLC) or a sole establishment, and list any other activities you plan to add.
Reserve a trade name and get initial approval
Apply to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to reserve the trade name and receive initial approval. Initial approval confirms the government has no objection to you starting the business.
Secure the right premises
The activity calls for virtual desk / commercial office. Sign a lease and register it with Ejari; the registered tenancy is part of the licence file.
Sign the founding documents
Sign the Memorandum of Association (or the sole-owner equivalent) setting out the owners and their shares.
Pay the fees and collect the trade licence
Pay the licence fee, which starts at AED 1,000 in Abu Dhabi, plus market and registration charges, and DET issues the trade licence.
After the licence
Get the establishment card, apply for residence visas, open a corporate bank account and register for Corporate Tax with the Federal Tax Authority. Register for VAT once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 a year.
See the documents you'll need and what to do after you incorporate.
The duties every new UAE company meets, whatever its activity. Each links to a short explainer series with the law behind it.
Beneficial owner register
Within 60 days of the company existing, keep a register of its beneficial owners and of its partners or shareholders, and file them with the registrar.
Corporate tax
Register for corporate tax within three months of incorporation, and file each return within nine months of the end of the tax period.
VAT
Register for VAT once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000, then issue tax invoices and file returns for each tax period.
Staff
Hiring people brings the federal labour law: the contract and probation, hours, leave and wages, the employee file, and ending employment properly.
Records
Keep accounting records that show the company's financial position for at least five years after the end of each financial year; tax records have their own periods.
Keeping the licence
In Dubai, renew the licence in the last month before it expires, and tell the Department of Economy and Tourism within ten working days when the facts behind it change.
A free zone licence gives full foreign ownership and trades inside the zone and abroad; selling to mainland customers usually needs a distributor or a mainland licence.
twofour54
Abu Dhabi
Packages from AED 3,539, year 1 · 3 visas per desk
UAQ FTZ
UAQ
Packages from AED 5,500, year 1 · 3 visas per desk
AFZ
Ajman
Packages from AED 5,555, year 1 · 3 visas per desk
SHAMS
Sharjah
Packages from AED 5,750, year 1 · 3 visas per desk
RAKEZ
RAK
Packages from AED 6,000, year 1 · 3 visas per desk
MCFZ
Abu Dhabi
Packages from AED 7,000, year 1 · 3 visas per desk
Free zones suited to trading & services businesses. Each zone keeps its own activity list, so confirm Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Trading is on it before you apply, or ask an adviser below.
Reserve a trade name and get initial approval from DET under activity code 4741004, register premises with Ejari, sign the Memorandum of Association and pay the licence fee. DET then issues the trade licence.
The government licence fee starts at AED 1,000 in Abu Dhabi. Office rent, visas, and any external approvals are paid on top of the licence fee.
Yes. Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Trading is open to 100% foreign ownership on a Dubai mainland licence, so you don't need a local partner.
No outside approval is listed for this activity. DET issues the licence directly once the name, premises and documents are in place.
The activity calls for virtual desk / commercial office, registered with Ejari.
We hold licensing data for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah. The lowest starting fee we hold is in Abu Dhabi.
Possibly. Free zones suited to trading & services businesses include twofour54, UAQ FTZ, AFZ, SHAMS. Each free zone keeps its own activity list, so confirm Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Trading is on it first. A free zone licence trades inside the zone and abroad; selling to mainland customers usually needs a distributor or a mainland licence.
Leave your details and a licensing adviser will call you back: approvals, premises, costs and the fastest route for this activity. There's no charge to ask.