Plug2UAE
Express licence
Fast trade licence in Dubai: your licence in 24 hours
Want to set up a company in Dubai in 24 hours? The trade licence is the part we deliver that fast: issued fully online, within 24 hours, from AED 15,000.
Timeline: trade licence issued online within 24 hours. The period runs from validation of a complete application from an eligible applicant.
What you get within 24 hours
Four things, delivered online with no visit to Dubai, no office and no paid-up share capital.
- Trade licenceOver 1,800 activities, with up to three activity groups combined on one licence.
- Lease agreementNo physical office is required to qualify.
- Digital applicationFiled and processed online, start to finish.
- Portal accessYour portal access with the free zone to manage the company afterwards.
Ownership can be 100% foreign. After issuance you get one free amendment in the first year; after that it becomes a standard licence.
Who this works for
Three conditions decide whether the express route fits you. We check them with you before you pay anything.
1. A solo founder
One shareholder, and that same person is the manager, the director and the ultimate beneficial owner. With a business partner, we apply for a standard licence instead.
2. An approved nationality
Applicants must be on the authority’s predefined nationality list for the express route. The authority sets the list and can change it. We check it before you commit.
3. An Emirates ID to file
The filing must be made by someone holding an Emirates ID: either you, or a person who applies on your behalf.
Tick what applies and we will tell you where you stand
Have a business partner? Leave the first box empty and we will show you what works instead.
This unlocks once you confirm you will be the only shareholder.
Passed the check? Start your application
Five short steps, about two minutes. We only ask for what we need to file. No payment, and no documents to upload.
Not eligible? A standard licence, or another free zone, still gets you a UAE company. It just takes longer.
Filing without an Emirates ID
An Emirates ID is issued to UAE residents. A founder in Paris, Lagos or Toronto who is not yet resident does not hold one and cannot file the express application personally.
The process allows a workaround: someone who does hold an Emirates ID applies on your behalf. In practice that means a licensed agent or channel partner filing as your representative. The authority decides who may act for an applicant and on which documents.
Filing as your agent is part of what we do. We confirm the express route is open to your case before you pay.
After the licence: what comes next
The licence is the fast part. The steps that follow run on the timetables of the authorities and the bank.
| Residence visa | Separate add-on. Typically 2 to 6 weeks. |
|---|---|
| Corporate bank account | Separate, decided by the bank. Typically 4 to 12 weeks, and not guaranteed. |
| Medical tests and Emirates ID | Separate add-ons, not in the base package. |
The full position is in our terms.
Another same-day option: SPC Free Zone
Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone in Sharjah also issues licences the same day, with an indicative starting price around AED 9,500, to be confirmed in a written quote. It is an alternative to Meydan: its eligibility rules differ, so we confirm them for your case. Banking from Sharjah is also harder than from a Dubai zone. Read the SPC review.
Price
From AED 15,000
Starting price for the express licence. Visas, medicals and Emirates ID are extra, and our calculator itemises every line.
There is no handling fee on top. You pay the price shown, from AED 15,000, and nothing more. Filing has to be done by someone holding an Emirates ID, so we do it for you as your agent, and that handling is included in the price.
Questions
Is it really 24 hours?
The licence, yes. It is issued online within 24 hours. That assumes a complete application from an eligible applicant, and it covers the trade licence only: not visas, not the medical, not the Emirates ID and not a bank account.
I have a business partner. Is the express route open to us?
No. The express route is for a single shareholder who is also the manager, director and ultimate beneficial owner. With two or more partners we apply for a standard licence, which takes longer, and we tell you which free zone suits you best.
I live abroad and have no Emirates ID. Can I still get one?
Yes, but you cannot file it yourself. Filing requires an Emirates ID, so someone who holds one has to apply on your behalf. The authority decides who may act for you and on what documents. Filing as your agent is part of what we do.
Does the 24 hours include my visa and bank account?
No. The licence is the fast part. Residence visas typically take 2 to 6 weeks and a corporate bank account 4 to 12 weeks. See the section above for the detail.
My nationality may not be on the approved list. What then?
The authority sets and changes that list, and we cannot override it. We check it for you before you pay anything. If you are not on it, we apply for a standard licence and tell you which free zone suits you.
Find out in one exchange whether the express route fits you
Tell us your nationality and whether you are a solo founder. We will say yes or no before you pay anything, and point you to the right route if it is no. No handling fee is added to the price shown.