Cancel Your Trade License in Dubai
Close your Dubai business properly through a single online service — works for E-Trader, Intelaq, Sole Establishment, Civil Company, LLC and Branch licenses.
Upload your license, pick the right type, attach the required documents, and pay securely. Our team handles DET submission and follow-up.
Canceling a trade license in Dubai depends on the legal structure of your company. Each license type has its own document checklist, fee structure, and timeline. Use the quick links below to jump to the section that matches your license.
E-Trader & Intelaq License Cancellation
E-Trader and Intelaq licenses are issued to UAE/GCC nationals for home-based and online businesses. Cancellation is the simplest of all license types and can be completed fully online.
Required Documents
- Copy of the valid Emirates ID of the license owner
- Copy of the active E-Trader or Intelaq trade license
If the license owner has employees, all employee visas and labor cards must be cancelled before submitting the license cancellation.
Fees
Sole Establishment License Cancellation
A Sole Establishment is owned by a single individual. Cancellation requires settlement of all visas and pending dues before the license can be closed.
Required Documents
- Copy of the active trade license
- Copy of the owner's Emirates ID and passport
- Immigration cancellation card (all sponsored visas closed)
- Labor cancellation card (if employees were registered)
- No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from any partner government entity (if applicable)
- Clearance from Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation
Fees
Non-renewal fines are waived during cancellation. Other outstanding fines (if any) must be cleared before processing.
Civil Company License Cancellation
A Civil Company is a professional partnership between two or more individuals. All partners must approve the cancellation in writing.
Required Documents
- Copy of the active trade license
- Emirates ID and passport copies of all partners
- Signed partner resolution approving cancellation
- Local Service Agent NOC (if a foreign partner is involved)
- Immigration and labor cancellation cards
- Clearance from Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation
Fees
Non-renewal fines are waived during cancellation. Other outstanding fines (if any) must be cleared before processing.
Branch of UAE Company — Cancellation
A branch of a UAE-based parent company can be closed without the lengthy LLC liquidation procedure, but the parent company must issue a formal resolution.
Required Documents
- Copy of the active branch trade license
- Board resolution from the UAE parent company approving the branch closure (attested)
- Copy of the parent company's trade license
- Emirates ID and passport of the branch manager
- Immigration and labor cancellation cards for all branch employees
Fees
Outstanding fines must be cleared before cancellation.
Branch of Foreign Company — Cancellation
A branch of a foreign parent company requires attested board resolutions from the home country in addition to the standard cancellation paperwork.
Required Documents
- Copy of the active branch trade license
- Board resolution from the foreign parent company approving the closure — notarised, attested by the UAE Embassy in the home country, and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Legal translation of the resolution into Arabic
- Copy of the parent company's certificate of incorporation
- Emirates ID and passport of the branch manager
- Immigration and labor cancellation cards
Fees
Outstanding fines must be cleared before cancellation.
Limited Liability Company (LLC) Cancellation
LLC cancellation is a two-stage process governed by UAE Commercial Companies Law. A liquidator must be appointed, and a 45-day creditor notice period is mandatory between the two stages.
First Stage — Dissolution & Liquidator Appointment
Required Documents
- Copy of the active trade license
- Emirates ID and passport copies of all shareholders
- Notarised shareholder resolution to dissolve the company and appoint a liquidator
- Letter of acceptance from the appointed liquidator (licensed audit firm)
- Copy of the liquidator's trade license
Fees
Subject to legal advisor approval.
Newspaper Publication Required
After Stage 1, the dissolution notice must be published in two local Arabic newspapers. A 45-day creditor notice period starts from the publication date before Stage 2 can be filed.
Final Stage — License Cancellation
Filed after the 45-day creditor notice period has expired, with no objections from creditors.
Required Documents
- Liquidator's final report (no liabilities outstanding)
- Original newspaper publications
- Clearance letters from DEWA, Etisalat/du, Customs, and Ministry of Human Resources
- Immigration and labor cancellation cards for all employees
- Shareholder resolution to close the company
- Original trade license
Fees
Important Notes
- All employee visas and labor cards must be cancelled before the license can be cancelled (except for E-Trader/Intelaq with no employees).
- Outstanding utility bills (DEWA, Etisalat/du) and customs accounts must be cleared.
- The corporate bank account is closed separately with your bank — usually after you receive the cancellation certificate.
- LLC cancellation cannot be expedited — the 45-day creditor notice period is set by UAE law.
- Once a license is cancelled it cannot be reinstated; a new license must be applied for if you wish to resume trading.
AED Fee Comparison by License Type
| License Type | Cancellation Fee | DET Transaction | Total (excl. fines) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-Trader / Intelaq | Free | AED 115.50 | AED 115.50 |
| Sole Establishment | AED 1,070 | AED 115.50 | AED 1,185.50 |
| Civil Company | AED 1,070 | AED 115.50 | AED 1,185.50 |
| Branch of UAE Company | AED 1,070 | AED 115.50 | AED 1,185.50 |
| Branch of Foreign Company | AED 1,070 | AED 115.50 | AED 1,185.50 |
| LLC — Stage 1 (Dissolution) | AED 570 | AED 115.50 | AED 685.50 |
| LLC — Stage 2 (Final) | AED 1,570 | AED 115.50 | AED 1,685.50 |
All fees above exclude the AED 21 Afaaq (online service) fee, which is added to every Dubai Economy online transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to cancel a trade license in Dubai?+
Most Dubai trade license cancellations (E-Trader, Intelaq, Sole Establishment, Civil Company, Branch) take 3–5 working days. LLC cancellation takes 60–90 days overall due to the mandatory 45-day creditor notice period.
Do I need to cancel employee visas before canceling my license?+
Yes. All employee labor cards and immigration (residence visas or entry permits) must be cancelled before you can proceed with license cancellation. This applies to all license types except E-Trader/Intelaq (unless the UAE national owner has employees).
Are non-renewal fines added during cancellation?+
No. Non-renewal fines are waived during license cancellation. However, any other pending fines (late payment, violation fines) must be cleared before cancellation can be processed.
Can I cancel my license online?+
E-Trader and Intelaq cancellations can be initiated entirely online. For other license types, supporting documents are submitted through DET or a service center after you complete this online application.
What is the Afaaq Fee?+
Afaaq Fee (AED 21) is the standard online service / processing fee charged on every Dubai Economy online transaction.
What happens to my bank account after cancellation?+
Your corporate bank account is closed separately with your bank. The bank will normally request a copy of the cancellation certificate.
Need help with cancellation?
Our team can handle the entire cancellation process — from document preparation to DET submission.
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