How to Use Dubai’s New Instant Trade License for Pop-Ups and Seasonal Businesses

The Instant Trade License has become one of the most practical tools for anyone running pop-ups, seasonal stalls, or short-term business concepts in Dubai. It removes many of the usual barriers that slow entrepreneurs down, especially during busy seasons when timing is everything. Instead of spending weeks sorting out paperwork or searching for an office to rent, you can now set up a fully recognized mainland business through a streamlined online process. This changes the way many founders think. The question is no longer “How do I set everything up?” but “Where do I want to launch first?”

One of the biggest reasons this license matters is the no-office requirement in the first year. You can legally operate using a virtual site, giving you the freedom to direct your budget toward your actual concept—designing your kiosk, stocking your products, or preparing for an upcoming market. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can start a pop-up without committing to a full commercial lease, this license gives you that option.

Pop-ups, kiosks, winter markets, mall booths, and festival stands all require a base trade license before organizers issue location-specific permits. The Instant Trade License fills this role smoothly. It acts as your official business identity when dealing with malls, event hosts, and partners, allowing you to secure short-term spots across the city. Once the licence is active, you can apply for separate permits for each venue and run multiple pop-ups throughout the year with the same setup.

This approach also solves a practical challenge many seasonal businesses face: time. Opportunities such as Christmas markets, Ramadan bazaars, or weekend activations often come up quickly, and the window to participate is short. The instant setup process makes it possible to move faster—completing the entire licensing flow online and getting your business ready for whichever event comes next.

In this article, we’ll look at what the Instant Trade License actually includes in 2025 and how to use it effectively if you’re planning to launch a pop-up or seasonal business in Dubai.

What the Instant Trade License Actually Includes (2025 Update)

The Instant Trade License is a specific type of mainland licence issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Legally, it gives you what any standard trade license provides: a registered company under DET, a trade name linked to that company, and the right to conduct approved business activities in Dubai for one year. You receive an official trade licence number, and in most cases, the package also includes a Dubai Chamber membership and basic establishment details that you can use when dealing with malls, suppliers, and payment providers. In simple terms, once this licence is issued, your pop-up or seasonal project is no longer “an idea” but a registered business that can sign contracts and issue invoices.

In 2025, the Instant Trade License is available for several common legal forms: Limited Liability Company (LLC), one-person LLC (single owner), sole proprietorship, and civil company. This is important because it lets you choose a structure that matches how you actually work. Do you want to run it under your own name as a sole owner, or do you have partners and need an LLC? The instant model supports both, as long as the activity you choose fits within the approved list. The license is usually valid for one year and can be renewed, at which point more standard requirements, such as a physical office, may start to apply depending on your setup.

One of the key features that makes the current version attractive is the virtual site option in the first year. Instead of presenting a tenancy contract or Ejari, the system allows the licence to be issued with a virtual address for the initial period. This means you can complete your setup without renting an office or shop. For many pop-up and seasonal founders, this raises a very practical question: if the business is mainly operating through kiosks, markets, and temporary locations, does it make sense to commit to a full office from day one? With the instant licence, you have more room to test the concept before deciding.

When it comes to activities, the Instant Trade License covers a wide range of commercial and professional activities that do not require external approvals from other government bodies. This usually includes things like general trading for non-regulated goods, fashion and accessories, gifts, certain types of retail, marketing services, consultancy, and similar low-risk categories. If your pop-up sells candles, stationery, clothing, or non-regulated products, there is a good chance you can find a matching activity under this licence. The system typically allows you to select a small number of activities under one licence, so it helps to be clear about what you plan to sell or offer before you apply.

However, not every idea fits under the instant model. Activities that need approvals from other authorities, such as food preparation with cooking, medical services, clinics, some education activities, and heavily regulated products, are usually not available through the Instant Trade License. In those cases, you either adjust the activity to something lighter and more general or you go through a more detailed licensing route. For example, a packaged snack or bottled product might be easier to license than a full hot-food operation, because the latter often involves municipality and food safety approvals. This is where planning your concept and activity description carefully makes a real difference.

What has changed over the years is how complete and user-friendly the Instant Trade License has become. The current setup allows you to apply fully online through the Invest in Dubai platform, select from a broad activity list, issue an electronic Memorandum of Association (where needed), and receive your licence in a very short time. You do not have to submit a tenancy contract or a detailed MOA in the first year, and you work with a virtual site instead. For business owners planning pop-ups and seasonal concepts, this updated version is designed to reduce friction: you spend less time on structure and more time on execution.

Is Your Business Type Eligible? (Quick Fit Check)

The Instant Trade License works best for business activities that don’t require inspections, specialised approvals, or industry-specific regulators. To make it easier, here’s a quick fit check based on the three most common pop-up categories: trading, light F&B, and services.

1. Trading Pop-Ups (Most Eligible)

If you plan to sell physical products, the Instant Trade License is usually a good fit as long as the goods are non-regulated.
This includes:

Fashion accessories
Clothing and modest wear
Candles, home décor, souvenirs
Stationery and gifting items
Skincare or beauty goods that are already approved and registered in Dubai
Packaged items that do not require food preparation

Trading activities fall under general commercial categories, which DET allows under the instant model. If your pop-up is product-based and does not involve restricted goods, there’s a high chance you’re eligible.

2. Light F&B Pop-Ups (Eligible With Conditions)

Light F&B is where many founders get confused. The Instant Trade License can be used for certain food-related concepts, but only if your activity fits the “non-preparation / trading only” category.

Eligible examples:

Selling pre-packaged snacks or sweets
Bottled drinks or sealed items
Packaged specialty food (tea blends, coffee bags, confectionery that requires no handling)

Not eligible under instant:

Any cooking or food preparation
Hot food or items requiring a kitchen
Juices, smoothies, live counters, or made-on-site products

Why?
These activities require Dubai Municipality Food Safety inspections, layout approvals, and additional food control processes, which the instant model does not include.

If your F&B idea includes cooking, heating, mixing, assembling, or handling food, you must go through the standard licensing route or partner with a venue that already holds those approvals.

3. Service-Based Pop-Ups (Mostly Eligible)

Many seasonal concepts are actually service-based, and most of these fall comfortably under the Instant Trade License.

Eligible services include:

Marketing and branding activations
Event organising or coordination
Photography and videography
Art, crafts, design, and creative services
Consultancy services across various fields
Entertainment or media-related services (non-regulated)

These activities do not require external approvals and therefore match the instant model perfectly.

When Your Concept Is Not Eligible

The Instant Trade License is not suitable for activities requiring external approvals or technical inspection. This includes categories regulated by bodies such as:

Dubai Municipality (food preparation, beauty salons, tattooing, pet grooming)
Dubai Health Authority (wellness, clinics, medical services)
KHDA / Education authorities (training institutes, coaching centres requiring certification)
Civil Defense (workshops or activities involving equipment or fabrication)
Telecom and security regulators (IT infrastructure, surveillance systems)

Examples that cannot use Instant Trade License:

Cafés, restaurants, food trucks, or any fresh-food pop-up
Salons, spas, beauty services, nail bars
Medical or wellness clinics, physiotherapy, and diet clinics
Repair workshops, gyms, fitness centres
Selling regulated goods like vape products, supplements that need approval, medical devices, or pharmaceuticals

In these cases, the business must follow a standard licensing process with inspections and approvals, or operate under a parent venue that already has those approvals in place.

Simple Rule of Thumb

If your pop-up sells non-regulated products or offers services that don’t need inspection, the Instant Trade License usually works.
If your concept involves food preparation, health, beauty, or regulated goods, it does not.

What to Prepare Before You Start

Before you sit down at your screen, make sure you have the following in order:

Valid Emirates ID and passport copy (if you’re a resident) or passport and visa copy (if you are applying under a specific status).
Decide your legal form (LLC, sole establishment, etc, we’ll cover that next).
Choose your business activity (must match an eligible activity for instant licence) and have a short description of what the pop-up will do.
Three trade-name options are ready (you’ll need to enter one of them into the system).
Email address and UAE mobile number (for updates/licence download).
Plan for payment (online via portal) and any digital documents scanned and ready to upload.
If you’re doing a pop-up, know your model enough to pick whether it’s retail/trading or light services.
Understand that, for year one, you do not need a physical office lease under this licence (which is a win for pop-ups).
Prepare for next-year realities: renewal may require a tenancy contract or more formal setup.

The Actual Steps on the DET Portal

Here’s how the online flow works (via Invest in Dubai / DET portal):

Visit the official portal (e.g., “Request to issue trade licence” on Invest in Dubai).
Log in / create account via UAE Pass or SmartPass.
Select “New Licence” → choose Instant Trade Licence option (where applicable).
Choose your business activity from the list (ensure it’s eligible for instant type).
Choose your legal structure (LLC, Sole Establishment, etc).
Reserve / enter your trade name (enter up to three options).
Review terms & conditions, upload required documents (IDs, passports, any NOC if needed).
Pay the licence fee online.
Receive your licence electronically. For eligible applicants, the processing time may be minutes or hours.
Once the licence is issued, you can proceed with opening a bank account, signing contracts, etc.

Choosing the Right Activity and Legal Form

Legal form:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC) – useful if you might seek partners.
- Sole Establishment / Sole Owner – simpler if you are a single founder.
- Civil Company – for professional services in some cases.
  Choose the one that aligns with your ownership, liability, and business model.
Activity selection:
- Make sure your chosen activity falls under the “no external approvals” list (trading of non-regulated goods, general services, marketing, e-commerce, etc).
- Avoid selecting an activity that triggers other regulators (food preparation, medical, education, etc) because that will invalidate the instant licence eligibility.
- Be specific but not overly narrow; a pop-up trading “seasonal gifts and home décor” might work under a general retail/trading activity.
- Check whether you might later add more activities (keep your licence flexible if you plan multiple pop-ups).

Approximate Fees & Timelines

Timelines: For an Instant Trade Licence (eligible activity, correct docs) you can get your licence in a matter of minutes or hours online. Many service providers report issuance within 5–10 minutes when all details are correct.
Fees: The cost varies depending on activity, structure, number of partners, and add-ons (virtual address, chamber membership, visas). Typical first-year cost for a relevant instant licence in 2025 is AED 5,000 to AED 18,000.
Additional costs to be aware of: trade-name reservation, virtual site/virtual address (if you choose), future office lease for renewal, visa costs (if you want staff or investor visa).
Renewal: After the initial year, you may be required to present a physical lease or meet more standard office/tenancy requirements; budget for that if you plan to continue.

What Pop-Up Owners Must Know After Getting the License

Once your Instant Trade License is active, you’re officially ready to operate—but this is the stage where many pop-up owners get confused. The licence gives you the legal foundation, but there are still a few important steps you should know before setting up in any mall, market, or seasonal event.

Mall and Event Requirements: The Licence Alone Isn’t Enough

Every mall and organised event in Dubai follows a similar process.
They will ask for:

Your valid mainland trade licence, and
A separate kiosk or event permit for the specific location.

Even after showing your licence, malls will still review your kiosk design, product list, and setup details. Outdoor markets and seasonal events follow the same pattern—your licence allows you to participate, but the organiser issues the final approval for the space, layout, and operating rules.

Think of the Instant Trade License as the “business identity” you need to enter the conversation. The actual permission to operate comes from the venue.

F&B Pop-Ups: Extra Rules Apply

If your pop-up involves food or drinks, expect additional steps. Dubai Municipality regulates food safety, even at the kiosk level. Depending on your concept, you may need:

Food safety registration,
Approval for your kiosk layout,
And in some cases, an inspection is required before opening.

If you’re selling pre-packaged items, the process is simple.
If you're preparing food on-site—like blending juices, heating items, or cooking—you’ll have a much stricter approval path. Many small brands start with packaged goods first because the setup is easier, faster, and more affordable.

Opening a Bank Account: Be Prepared

Your licence is approved, but banks still carry out their own checks.
They typically want to see:

A clear business model,
Valid identification and KYC documents,
Expected revenue and transaction volume,
And sometimes, a plan for a physical office in the future.

It helps to prepare a short one-page overview explaining what your pop-up sells, where it will operate, and how much activity you expect. This speeds up the bank’s evaluation and reduces back-and-forth.

Corporate Tax and VAT: Don’t Ignore Compliance

Corporate tax registration is now a mandatory step for most new companies. You’re required to register within a specific time frame after your licence is issued, and delaying this can lead to penalties.

VAT works differently.

You must register if your annual turnover exceeds the mandatory threshold.
You can register voluntarily at a lower threshold if it benefits your business.

Even if your pop-up is small, track your sales from day one so you know when you are approaching those levels.

Renewal Realities: The Office Requirement May Return

One of the biggest advantages of the Instant Trade License is that you do not need a physical office in the first year. You can operate using a virtual site, which makes the licence ideal for testing ideas and running seasonal concepts.

However, at renewal, many businesses will need to present a tenancy contract or move to a more traditional setup. This is the stage where you decide whether your pop-up is becoming a long-term business or staying seasonal.

You can think of the first year as a test period:
Launch the pop-up, experiment with different locations, understand your cash flow, and then decide if you want to invest in a full space for year two.

How to Use the License Across Different Pop-Ups

Once your Instant Trade License is active, you can use it to participate in multiple pop-ups throughout the year. The licence stays the same; what changes is the permit you get from each location. Think of the licence as your main foundation, and every mall, market, or festival as a separate approval on top of it.

Using One Licence for Many Locations

Your Instant Trade License allows you to join any mall activation, outdoor market, or seasonal event as long as your activity matches what you’re licensed for. You don’t need a new licence for each pop-up—just the organiser’s approval for the specific space. This means you can move between winter markets, weekend festivals, and mall kiosks freely within the same year.

Permits You Need at Each Venue

Even with the licence, every location will still ask for:

A valid trade licence (your Instant License covers this)
A kiosk or booth approval
A design layout if you’re setting up a stand
Additional permissions if you’re selling food or beauty products

Malls usually review your product list and kiosk design. Outdoor markets check safety, electrical needs, and placement. Seasonal events have their own internal approval process.

Short-Term Staffing Options

You have three practical choices:

Use staff under your own company visa
Hire temporary promoters through a licensed staffing agency
Work with event agencies that supply short-term sales teams

Most pop-up brands choose agency staff for flexibility, especially when activations run for only a few days or weeks.

The Instant Trade License gives pop-up and seasonal businesses a practical way to enter the market quickly, operate legally, and stay flexible throughout the year. Once the licence is in place, you can move between malls, markets, and festivals with ease, adding only the location-specific permits each venue requires.

It simplifies setup, reduces upfront costs, and lets you test ideas before committing to a long-term space. By understanding your activity, planning your permits, and choosing the right support for staffing and operations, you can use this licence to build a presence across Dubai’s busiest seasons with confidence.