Licence expired while the owner was abroad
My licence expired a few months ago while I was in India. What should I do now?
The situation
An expired licence keeps building fines and can block visas and bank operations. You can either renew with fines or cancel the licence if the business is dormant.
The law
- Emirate licensing rules (DET Dubai): Annual renewal is required to keep the licence active
What it means for you
Market guides report Dubai mainland late fines of about AED 250 a month after the grace period, and an expired licence adds cost when you later cancel. Example: a licence expired for 5 months may carry around AED 1,250 in late fines plus the normal renewal fee, but confirm the figure on the DET voucher. If you still trade, renew; if not, cancel properly with VAT and Corporate Tax deregistration.
What to do
- Decide whether the business will continue.
- Renew the Ejari if continuing.
- Pay fines and renew through a manager or PRO under power of attorney.
- If not continuing, start the cancellation and tax deregistration.
We can do this for youTrade licence renewal for mainland and free zone companies: Ejari, UBO, audit and tax checks before renewal: AED 1,200