Business licences
Trade licence amendment in Dubai: activities, name, partners, address
A licence amendment updates the details on an existing trade licence when the business changes. You can add or remove activities, change the trade name, bring in or release partners, replace the manager, change the legal form or move to a new address. On the Dubai mainland amendments are filed with the Department of Economy and Tourism. Caliph prepares and files them.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Filed with
- Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) for Dubai mainland companies
- What can change
- Activities, trade name, partners and shares, manager, legal form, address
- May also need
- An amended Memorandum of Association, a new tenancy or an external approval
- Update afterwards
- Establishment card, labour and tax records, bank and contracts
- Free zones
- Amendments go through the zone authority under its own procedure
Overview
Your licence is a snapshot of the company on the day it was issued. Businesses move on. You start selling something new, a partner joins, the manager leaves, the office gets too small. Each of these has to be reflected on the licence, because the authorities, your bank and your customers rely on what it says. Working outside the licence, for example on an activity that is not listed, can lead to fines.
Amendments are not all alike. Adding an activity in the same group can be simple. Adding one that is regulated brings in the authority for that sector, and an activity from a different licence type may not fit on the same licence at all. Changes to partners, shares, the manager or the legal form usually mean amending the Memorandum of Association, signed by the partners before a notary.
An address change follows the tenancy. The new lease is registered and the old Ejari is cancelled before the licence is updated. After any amendment, the company's other records need to catch up: the establishment card, the labour file, the tax registration and the bank. Your Caliph consultant confirms what your particular change involves and handles the follow-up.
Why founders let Caliph file amendments
The right route for each change
We tell you whether your change is a simple edit, needs an amended Memorandum of Association or calls for approval from another authority.
New activities checked before you commit
Before you sign a contract for a new line of business, we confirm it can be added to your licence type and what it requires.
Partner changes documented properly
Share transfers, new partners and exits are drafted and signed correctly, so the licence and the company documents say the same thing.
Everything else updated too
After the licence changes, we update the establishment card, labour records and tenancy, and tell you what to send to the bank and the tax authority.
Combined with renewal where it helps
If the renewal date is close, we file both together and save you a second round of paperwork.
What to have ready for an amendment
- The current trade licence and Memorandum of Association
- Passport, visa and Emirates ID copies of the existing partners and manager
- Passport copies of any incoming partner or new manager
- A partners' resolution or signed request setting out the change
- The new tenancy contract and Ejari, for a change of address
- Two or three name options, for a change of trade name
- The approval of the authority concerned, for a regulated activity
Not every amendment needs every item. Your consultant sends a short list for your specific change.
How a licence amendment works
Tell us what is changing
You describe the change and your consultant confirms whether it is allowed on your licence and what it involves.
Documents prepared
Caliph drafts the request, the partners' resolution and, where needed, the amendment to the Memorandum of Association.
Signatures
The partners and any incoming or outgoing party sign, before the notary where the change requires it.
Approvals and tenancy
Any external approval is obtained, and for a move the new tenancy is registered.
Amendment filed
The request is submitted to DET and the fees are paid.
Amended licence issued
You receive the updated licence showing the new details.
Other records updated
We update the establishment card and the labour file, and guide you on the bank and tax updates.
Good to know
- A new trade name has to be reserved and approved like the original one, and your signboard, stamp, invoices and bank account should follow.
- The Federal Tax Authority should be told about changes to the company's registered details. Your consultant reminds you what to update.
- Some changes are large enough that a new licence or a branch is the cleaner option. We tell you when that is the case.
Questions people ask
How do I add a new activity to my trade licence in Dubai?
You apply for an amendment with the Department of Economy and Tourism. If the new activity belongs to the same licence type and group, it can usually be added to the existing licence. Regulated activities need the approval of their authority first. Caliph checks this and files the request.
Can I change my company's trade name?
Yes. The new name is checked and reserved under the same rules as the original, then the licence is amended. Afterwards the company documents, the establishment card, the bank account and your signboard should be updated to match the new name.
How do I add or remove a partner?
A change of partners or shares is made by amending the Memorandum of Association, signed by the existing and incoming partners before a notary, and then updating the licence. The ownership conditions for the activity still have to be met after the change.
Can I change the manager named on the licence?
Yes. The partners decide on the new manager and the licence and company documents are amended. The establishment card, labour records and bank signatories are then updated so the new manager can act for the company.
What do I need to change my licence address?
A tenancy contract for the new premises, registered in Ejari, and the cancellation of the old registration. The premises must suit your activity. Once the licence shows the new address, the establishment card and other records are updated.
Can I change from a professional to a commercial licence?
The licence type follows the activities, so changing type means changing the activities and often the legal form as well. In some cases the existing company can be converted through an amendment. In others a new licence is simpler. Your consultant compares both for you.
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
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