How to Check a UAE Company’s Trade License Online

A single verification check can stop a small error from becoming a major legal headache and financial loss. When you rely on fragmented data or slow manual processes, onboarding delays increase costs and expose your business to compliance risks. Many firms struggle to maintain accuracy while expanding partnerships across the Emirates, making it harder to know how to check a trade license online confidently. The UAE Ministry of Economy reported 1,063 AML compliance violations and fines exceeding AED 42 million in H1 2025. Understanding how to check trade license online safeguards your transactions, accelerates onboarding, and strengthens your company’s regulatory standing.

Key Takeaways

• Checking a UAE company’s trade license online confirms its legitimacy, registration status, and compliance with UAE commercial laws.
• The process requires key details like the trade license number, business name, and issuing authority to ensure accurate results.
• Official portals such as the National Economic Register, DED, TAMM, and free zone sites provide instant license verification.
• Spotting red flags like expired or mismatched licenses early prevents financial risks and helps maintain trustworthy business relationships.

Why a Trade License is Important for UAE Businesses?

A valid trade license is the foundation of operating legally and building credibility across the UAE’s business landscape.
It safeguards your operations, strengthens client trust, and ensures compliance with the UAE’s commercial regulations. Here are the key reasons that make a trade license essential for your business success:

• Holding a valid trade license proves legitimacy to clients and regulators, preventing disputes or mistrust during onboarding or partnerships.
• Maintaining an active license allows smoother access to banking, payment processing, and government services across all Emirates.
• Regularly verifying your trade license online helps avoid penalties, fines, or suspensions from expired or incomplete registrations.
• A valid license ensures your business meets AML and KYC obligations, protecting your operations from financial and legal risks.
• Keeping your trade license updated enhances investor confidence and simplifies cross-border expansion or renewal of existing contracts.

Before you begin checking a company’s trade license, certain details are required to make the process accurate and hassle-free.

Required Details Before Checking a Trade License

Preparing accurate company information helps you smoothly complete how to check trade license online and avoid unnecessary delays. Here are the essential details you should have ready:

• The appropriate economic authority in the UAE issues the business’s exact trade license number.
• The full legal trade name of the company, as registered in the license records (in English or Arabic).
• The Emirate or free-zone jurisdiction where the license was issued, since portals differ accordingly.
• The license type and business activity code are used to confirm what operations the company is authorized to perform.
• The date of issue and expiry (or renewal status) of the license to check whether it remains valid.
• The commercial registration or Economic Register number, if verification spans federal or multi-Emirate searches. (Based on the National Economic Register data showing users may search by license number, business name or activity.)
• A clear view of the issuing authority (for example, the relevant Emirate’s Department of Economic Development or free-zone authority), so you know which portal to use.

Once all these details are in place, it’s time to carry out the online verification through the official UAE portals.

Also read: How to Verify a Business in the UAE: Your Essential KYB Guide

How to Check a UAE Trade License Online?

A streamlined online check for a trade license removes uncertainty and supports your compliance efforts.
Here’s how to complete the trade license search process efficiently:

Step 1: Select the Correct Verification Portal

Choosing the right portal ensures the license search covers the correct jurisdiction and avoids incomplete data.

• Determine whether the business is registered on the mainland or in a free zone.
• Use the federal platform (e.g., Ministry of Economy / National Economic Register) for cross-Emirate checks.
• For Dubai mainland companies, use the portal at the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (“Search License Information”). For Abu Dhabi, use the TAMM / DED-Abu Dhabi license enquiry tool.
• For free-zone companies (DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, etc.), visit the specific free-zone authority’s portal.

Step 2: Gather and Enter the Required Information

Having the right license details ready speeds up the verification and reduces the risk of incorrect search inputs.

• Input the company’s trade license number exactly as issued.
• Alternatively, use the official business name (in English or Arabic) if the license number is not available.
• Provide the Emirates jurisdiction or free-zone name when required to narrow the search.
• Complete any security verification (CAPTCHA) or verification prompts before proceeding.

Step 3: Submit the Search and View Results

Completing the submission triggers the portal to fetch official license data so you can review legitimacy.

• Click the “Search”, “Verify”, or equivalent button once your details are entered.
• Wait for the portal to load the license record and display the main fields.
• Optionally click into the license number or company name link for full details.

Step 4: Interpret the license Information

Reading the result correctly lets you judge whether the business is active, compliant and legitimate.

• Check whether the status shows “Active”, “Expired”, “Suspended” or “Cancelled”.
• Confirm the business activities listed match what the company says it does.
• Verify issue and expiry dates to ensure the license remains valid.
• Check that the jurisdiction (mainland or free zone) aligns with your deal or partner.

Step 5: Act Based on Your Findings

Taking appropriate action after reviewing license data helps you avoid exposure to fraudulent or unlicensed firms.

• If the license is active and the details match, proceed with confidence in your onboarding or transaction.
• If you find mismatches, an expired license or missing data, pause your engagement and request additional documentation.
• Save a screenshot or record of the license check result for your compliance files.
• If dealing with a free-zone company, verify also with the relevant free-zone authority for full assurance.

While online portals provide quick access, additional methods can help confirm details when digital results aren’t conclusive.

Also read: How to Spot a Fake UAE Company: Tips and Tools

Other Ways to Verify a UAE Trade License

Alternative verification channels add another layer of assurance when online results appear incomplete or outdated.
Here are the official methods available beyond portal searches:

• Contact the Issuing Authority Directly: Reaching out to the Department of Economic Development (DED) or Free Zone Authority allows confirmation of a company’s current license status directly from regulators.
• Request an Official license Copy: Asking the business for a scanned or PDF version of its trade license helps confirm registration details such as license number, issue date, and activity type.
• Use Government Hotlines or Support Services: Calling the respective Emirate’s business support line (for example, Dubai DED at 600 545 555 or Abu Dhabi TAMM at 800 555) provides manual verification by official representatives.
• Check Business Registration Certificates: Reviewing additional certificates such as the Chamber of Commerce or VAT registration helps verify the license’s authenticity and operational legitimacy.
• Verify Through Banking or Payment Partners: Banks and regulated payment processors often maintain approved-entity lists; confirming a partner’s name on these lists ensures ongoing compliance and reduces transactional risk.

Even after these checks, knowing how to recognize warning signs can help you avoid future compliance risks or fraudulent entities.

Red Flags and Recommended Actions

Identifying potential warning signs early prevents costly compliance errors and protects your business relationships from regulatory or financial setbacks.

Here are the key red flags to watch for and the actions to take immediately:

• Expired or Suspended License: An inactive status means the company is not legally permitted to operate. Contact the issuing authority or request renewal proof before proceeding.
• Mismatch in Business Activities: A listed activity different from the company’s claimed operations indicates potential misrepresentation. Verify the license type and request supporting business documentation.
• Incorrect License Number or Jurisdiction: An invalid or missing license number or a mismatch in the Emirate of registration may suggest falsified records. Pause engagement until official confirmation is obtained.
• No Search Results Found: If a business name or license number yields no record, the company may be unregistered or operating without authorization. Cross-check with the National Economic Register or contact the DED.
• Unclear Ownership or Missing Data: Licenses without clear ownership, trade name, or expiry details raise red flags for shell or inactive companies. Request updated copies or conduct further verification.

To make this process faster and more accurate, businesses often rely on advanced verification technology to consolidate these checks securely.

Also read: Dubai Trade License Check: Verify Business Legitimacy

How AiPrise Supports Trade License Verification?

AiPrise centralizes verification workflows to streamline license checks and reduce the manual effort required by compliance teams.
Below are practical ways AiPrise supports verification and complements official portal checks for UAE companies.

• AI-driven registry aggregation pulls federal, Emirate, and free-zone records so you can check trade license online efficiently.
• OCR document validation cross-references uploaded trade license PDFs against official records to detect tampering or mismatches automatically.
• Biometric and identity-linking ties authorized signatories to corporate licenses so you can confirm beneficial ownership quickly.
• Real-time sanction and PEP screening flags high-risk entities and informs whether additional documentation is required before proceeding.
• Continuous monitoring alerts on license expiry or status changes so you can maintain audit-ready compliance without manual rechecks.
• Seamless SDK integration connects with onboarding flows and case management so compliance teams can automate KYC and KYB checks.
• Comprehensive audit logs create an immutable trail of verification steps, helping demonstrate due diligence during regulatory reviews.

Wrapping Up

Verifying a UAE company’s trade license online ensures legal compliance, builds business trust, and reduces exposure to financial risks. Maintaining accurate license records also protects against regulatory penalties and strengthens operational credibility with partners and clients. Using the right portals and information guarantees faster verification, minimizing errors and helping your business stay compliant across jurisdictions.

AiPrise simplifies every stage of this verification process through AI-powered KYC, KYB, and AML automation tools.
Its intelligent platform checks licenses, validates ownership, and continuously monitors regulatory changes to ensure long-term compliance.

Enhance your due diligence framework, prevent fraud, and verify UAE trade licenses confidently—Book A Demo with AiPrise today.

FAQ

1. Which portal should I use to check a trade license online in the UAE?

You should use the federal platform or the relevant Emirate’s economic or free-zone portal, depending on where the business is registered.

2. What information do I need before performing the online trade license check?

You will need the company’s trade license number, legal business name, jurisdiction (Emirate or free-zone), and any required security verification.

3. What will the license search result show when you check a trade license online?

Search results typically display license status (active or expired), issue and expiry dates, business activities, and issuing authority details.

4. What should you do if the trade license status is expired or not found online?

Pause the business engagement, request an official license copy from the company, and verify with the issuing authority before proceeding.

5. Are free-zone company licenses included in the standard Emirate portals when you check a trade license online?

Free-zone licenses are often listed only in their respective free-zone authority directories and may not appear in mainland or federal portals.