If you already hold a mainland Dubai licence, sooner or later you will need to change it: add an activity, remove one, bring in a new partner, appoint a new manager, rename the company or move office. Each change goes through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), often with an outside approval first, and each one triggers updates at other offices. Miss those follow-up updates and fines or blocked services can follow. This guide explains the process change by change.
Published: 11 October 2026
Quick Answer
To amend a Dubai mainland licence, submit an amendment request to DET through the Invest in Dubai digital window with the documents for your change type. Activity changes need any external approval first. Partner and manager changes need a shareholder resolution and an updated Memorandum of Association (MOA) or an annex to it. The licence must be valid, so renew first if it has expired. After DET approves, update your establishment card, MOHRE records, Ejari (if the address changed), bank, and the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) within the time limits.
Which portal and which authority?
Websites disagree on this, and that confuses owners. Here is the short version.
- Mainland Dubai licences are issued by DET. Dubai Decree No. 13 of 2024 set up a unified digital window called Invest in Dubai for issuing, renewing, amending and cancelling licences, permits and approvals. Older guides refer to the former DED channels or a separate DET service; the process now runs through that window and DET’s manual.
- Free-zone licences are amended by the free-zone authority that issued them, not by DET. Free-zone applications also appear in the digital window, but they follow the procedures and fees of the supervising authority.
If you are not sure which one you have, check the issuer printed on your licence before you start.
Before you start: five checks
- The licence must be valid. If it has expired, renew first. Our trade licence renewal guide shows what the renewal needs.
- The tenancy must be valid. DET checks the lease and Ejari. If your lease has lapsed, fix that first.
- No unpaid fines or blocks. Government fines on the company or the establishment card can stop an amendment.
- All owners available to sign. Changes to partners or the MOA need signatures from the right parties, in person or through a valid power of attorney (see our power of attorney guide).
- Combine changes where possible. If you plan several changes, ask whether they can be done in one application. Doing amendments at renewal can save a second trip.
Change type 1: Add, change or remove an activity
DET’s amendment service covers changing the business activity and adding or deleting an activity.
Steps
- Decide the exact activity wording from the DET activity list. A near match is not enough, and the wrong choice means a second amendment.
- Find out whether the activity needs external approval. Examples are Dubai Municipality for food activities, RTA for transport, Dubai Health Authority for health activities, and other regulators for activities they control. DET’s service page lists external approval as a requirement for an activity change.
- Submit the request in the Invest in Dubai digital window with the licence, the external approval and any other document DET asks for.
- Pay the government fee and collect the updated licence.
Do not start the new activity first. Operating an activity that is not on your licence can lead to a fine. We have seen a figure of AED 2,000 cited for changing or adding an activity without prior DET approval, but we could not confirm it on an official DET page, so verify the current penalty with DET before you rely on it.
Fees. DET’s service page for amending a trade licence lists a base amendment fee of AED 500, with extra fees where an annex to the incorporation contract or a change in capital is involved. Fees are updated from time to time, so confirm on the live DET service page before you pay.
Common rejection reasons
– Activity wording does not match the DET list.
– Missing external approval.
– Premises not suitable for the new activity (for example a food activity in a space with no approved layout).
– Lease type does not allow the activity.
Change type 2: Add, remove or change a partner or shareholder
This is a change to the ownership structure of the company, so it is documented in the company’s constitutional papers.
Documents usually needed
– The current trade licence.
– A shareholder resolution or a decision signed by the owners approving the change.
– An amended MOA or an annex to the MOA that records the new shares and the new partners. DET’s amendment service lists producing an annex to the Articles of Association among its services.
– Passports, visas and Emirates IDs of the new partner, with a no-objection letter from the exiting partner if required.
– For a sale of shares, a certified sale agreement.
– The tenancy contract.
Steps
1. Agree the new share structure in writing and sign the resolution.
2. Prepare the MOA or the annex. This step is done before a notary or an approved legal office where required for your company type.
3. Submit the request to DET through Invest in Dubai.
4. Pay the government fees. DET’s page lists additional fees for annexes and for capital changes, with the amount depending on the value involved. Confirm the exact figure on the live page.
5. Collect the updated licence and the signed MOA.
If the sale involves a non-UAE national taking shares in a company that previously had only local owners, the structure may need to change as well, for example the local service agent or the share percentages. Read our Dubai mainland company setup cost guide to understand how ownership and costs fit together before you make this change.
Change type 3: Appoint or change a manager
A new manager or a change in the licensed signatory is also an ownership-structure document change.
Documents usually needed
– A resolution of the owners appointing the manager and setting their powers.
– A power of attorney or a manager appointment document, depending on the company form.
– Passport, visa and Emirates ID of the new manager.
– The tenancy contract and the current licence.
Steps: sign the resolution, prepare or amend the MOA (or annex) to record the manager, submit the request to DET, pay the fee, and collect the updated licence.
Practical point. Banks read the licence and MOA together. If the manager changes but the bank mandate does not, the new manager cannot operate the account. Plan the bank update at the same time.
Change type 4: Change the trade name
A name change is more than a new line on the licence. The name appears on contracts, the bank account, tax records and your invoices.
Steps
1. Check the new name is available and complies with Dubai naming rules through the trade name service in the Invest in Dubai window.
2. Reserve the name and get the approval.
3. Amend the MOA to carry the new name.
4. Submit the amendment request to DET with the reservation, resolution and amended MOA.
5. Collect the new licence.
After the new licence is issued, update the establishment card, bank, tax registrations, website, invoices, stamps and supplier contracts. Keep a copy of the old name for the period of overlap so that suppliers can match old invoices.
Change type 5: Move office or change address
A change of address means a new tenancy contract and a new Ejari registration. DET also checks that the new premises suit your activity. Our Ejari registration guide explains how to register the new lease. If your business has a food activity, a new location may need a fresh approval from Dubai Municipality because the old layout approval does not move with you.
What to update after DET approves
The licence change is only the first step. The following records must also change, or the next service will fail.
| Record | What to do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment card | Update the details with the immigration system | Needed for visa and quota services. See our establishment card guide |
| MOHRE file | Update the company details and the signatory | Needed for work permits and renewals |
| Ejari | New registration if the address changes | Needed by DET and banks |
| Bank accounts | Update KYC, mandate and signatories | See our corporate bank account guide |
| UBO register | Update beneficial owner details if ownership changes | The law sets a deadline for this. Verify it with your licensing authority |
| FTA records (VAT and corporate tax) | Submit an amendment request on EmaraTax | 20 business days from the change |
| UAE PASS and portal accounts | Check that the right person has access | See our UAE PASS guide |
The FTA deadline in detail
The Federal Tax Authority’s records amendment pages say you must submit an amendment application within 20 business days from the date of the change in circumstances. The listed changes include the business name, the principal business address and the primary activity. The same pages state that failing to inform the FTA may lead to a late amendment penalty of AED 5,000 for the first instance and AED 10,000 after that. The same 20-business-day rule is stated for corporate tax registration changes. Do not wait for the licence reprint to pass before you start this step.
Timelines
How long an amendment takes depends on the type of change, whether an external approval is needed, and whether your file is complete. A simple activity change with all documents is usually quicker than a partner change that needs a notarised MOA. We do not promise a number of days, because the authority controls the processing time. Ask DET or your PRO for the current service level on the day you submit.
Common mistakes
- Starting the new activity before approval.
- Letting the licence expire and then trying to amend it.
- Using an old MOA that no longer matches the owners.
- Skipping the bank update. The new manager is stuck at the counter.
- Forgetting the tax amendment and paying a late penalty.
- Following an old guide. Portals and names have changed; confirm against the live service page.
- Doing three changes in three trips when they could have been filed together.
If the activity you are adding is a food business, the licence is only half of the story, because VAT and corporate tax follow. Our sister site Qaspro Global covers the food permit steps and the tax rules in its guide to the restaurant and cafeteria licence in Dubai.
Related reading
- Restaurant and Cafeteria Licence in Dubai 2026 (Qaspro Global)
- Trade licence renewal in the UAE
- Dubai mainland company setup cost
- Establishment card and visa quota
- Power of attorney in the UAE
- Corporate bank account opening
- Ejari registration in Dubai
Frequently Asked Questions
Which authority amends a mainland Dubai licence?
DET, through the Invest in Dubai digital window. Free-zone licences are amended by the free-zone authority that issued them.
Can I amend a licence that has expired?
No, renew first. DET expects a valid licence and a valid tenancy before it accepts an amendment.
Do I need an external approval to add an activity?
Often yes. Some activities need approval from a regulator such as Dubai Municipality, RTA or the Dubai Health Authority before DET will add them. DET’s service page lists external approval for an activity change.
How much does an amendment cost?
DET’s service page lists a base amendment fee of AED 500, with extra fees for annexes and capital changes. Fees can change, so verify with DET on the day you apply.
Is there a fine for adding an activity without approval?
A fine can apply if you operate an activity that is not on your licence. A figure of AED 2,000 has been cited, but we could not confirm it officially, so verify with DET.
What documents do I need to add a partner?
The licence, a shareholder resolution, an amended MOA or annex, identity documents for the new partner, the tenancy contract, and a certified sale agreement if shares are sold.
Can a new manager be appointed without changing the MOA?
Usually the appointment is recorded in the MOA or an annex and in the owners’ resolution. Your PRO can confirm the exact route for your company form.
How do I change the company name?
Reserve the new name, amend the MOA, submit the request to DET, collect the new licence, then update bank, tax, establishment card and contracts.
How long do I have to tell the FTA about the change?
20 business days from the date of the change, as stated on the FTA’s records amendment pages. A late amendment penalty can apply.
Do I need to update the bank after a licence change?
Yes. Banks keep the licence, MOA and signatory records. Update them or the new signatory cannot act.
Can I do the amendment at renewal?
Often yes, and it can save a trip. Ask your PRO whether your change can be filed with the renewal.
Need help with an amendment?
If you need to add an activity, change partners or managers, or rename your company, our PRO team can check your documents, prepare the application and handle the follow-up updates. Message us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971525802100.
Sources: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (service page for amending a trade licence), Dubai Decree No. 13 of 2024 (Invest in Dubai unified digital window), Federal Tax Authority (tax records amendment and VAT records amendment pages), u.ae. Fees and penalties marked “verify” must be confirmed with the authority before you rely on them.