Get your company registered with Dubai Customs so it can clear goods in its own name. PROXPAT prepares the Dubai Trade registration, matches the business type to your licence and keeps the code renewed.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Dubai Customs Code Registration for Importers and Exporters
A trade licence allows a company to trade, but it cannot clear goods through Dubai Customs until the business is registered and holds a Dubai Customs business code, often called an importer or exporter code. Registration runs online through the Dubai Trade portal.
This page follows the Dubai Customs Customer Guide (version 3.03) and Dubai Trade's registration help. It covers who can register, which business type to choose, the documents, the charges, and the guarantees and penalties that matter once goods start moving.
PROXPAT prepares the registration, checks the business type against your licence activities, arranges representative cards and keeps the code aligned with your licence renewals.
What the Business Code Is
- Who can register. Any business licensed by a competent authority in the UAE or a GCC state can register with Dubai Customs through Dubai Trade.
- What you receive. On completion, Dubai Customs issues a unique identification code, the business code.
- Business type. The business type you register must match the activities on your licence, and Dubai Customs determines it from those activities.
- Validity. The business code's validity follows the validity of the licence, and it can only be renewed after the licence has been renewed.
Business Types Dubai Customs Registers
| Business type | Typically used by |
|---|---|
| Trading (Importer/Exporter) | Companies importing or exporting goods in their own name |
| Non-Trading | Professional, service, government and charity entities |
| Free Zone | Free zone licensed companies |
| Customs Brokers | Firms clearing goods for others |
| Clearing and Forwarding | Freight forwarders and clearing companies |
| Shipping / Airline | Shipping lines and airlines or their agents |
| Customs Warehouses | Private and public bonded warehouses |
| Courier | Courier companies |
| Cargo Handlers | Cargo handling operators |
Dubai Customs classifies the licences behind these registrations as commercial, industrial, professional, Intelaq, free zone or government notification.
Documents for Registration
| Document | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Copy of the valid trade licence | All registrations |
| Undertaking letter | Professional companies only |
| Passport copy of the authorised person | New registrations only |
The registration also asks for the business address, activities, facilities, users and business group, so have those details ready before you start.
Registration and Renewal Charges
| Registration | New registration | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Importer | AED 100 | AED 25 |
| Free zone company | AED 100 | AED 25 |
| Clearing agent | AED 100 | AED 25 |
| ATA agent | AED 100 | AED 25 |
| Shipping agent | AED 500 | AED 25 |
Dubai Customs also collects an Innovation Fee of AED 10 on every customs transaction or service with a fee of more than AED 50.
How to Register on Dubai Trade
Step 1: Go to Dubai Trade and open the Service Centre.
Step 2: Select Dubai Customs, then Request Business Registration, then New.
Step 3: Complete the mandatory fields: licence, address, activities, facilities, users and business group.
Step 4: Upload the required documents and submit the request for approval.
Step 5: Follow updates, which are sent to your preferred email address.
Step 6: Receive the business code, then arrange representative cards and broker authorisations.
After Registration: Representatives, Brokers and Accreditation
| Service | What Dubai Customs says |
|---|---|
| Customs Representative ID card | Staff representing the business before customs must hold one; cards are issued, amended and renewed online for prescribed fees |
| Business association | Importers, exporters, warehouses and free zone licensees can authorise a customs broker electronically, choose which declaration types it may submit, set the validity, and let it use the company's credit facility |
| Client Accreditation Program | For registered importers, exporters, free zone companies and brokers with a good compliance record, high trade volume and proper controls. Benefits include credit facilities, reduced customs intervention and an account manager; accreditation is generally granted for one year |
Guarantees and Accounts
| Facility | Minimum guarantee | Other charges |
|---|---|---|
| Credit account for duty and fees | AED 10,000 bank guarantee or cash deposit | None listed |
| Standing guarantee account (instead of per-shipment deposits) | AED 25,000 | None listed |
| Private customs warehouse licence | Not less than AED 50,000 | Licence fee AED 2,000 |
| Public customs warehouse licence | Not less than AED 1.5 million | New or renewal fee AED 150,000 |
Guarantee amounts can rise with the value of goods deposited in a warehouse. For most traders, a credit account or standing guarantee is what keeps shipments moving without a deposit on every declaration.
Fees and Penalties to Watch
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Customs declaration amendment | AED 25 |
| Customs declaration cancellation | AED 25 |
| Inspection charge | AED 150 |
| Late submission of original documents | After a 14-day grace period, AED 50 for each day of delay, up to 90 days |
| Customs audit at the client's request | AED 3,000 |
| e-Archive copy of declarations | AED 5 |
Late document fees are the ones that quietly add up on busy accounts. We track declaration document deadlines as part of ongoing PRO support.
Your Licence Comes First
Because the business type follows your licence activities, the licence must cover import or export before you register. Some goods also need product approvals before they can be cleared.
- Check or amend licence activities: see trade licence services.
- Plan an import and export business: see our import and export licence guide.
- Register regulated products: see product registration.
- Selling online: see the e-commerce licence guide.
How PROXPAT Helps
Business type check against your licence
Dubai Trade registration and document upload
Customs representative ID cards
Customs broker authorisation set-up
Credit account and guarantee planning
Code renewal after licence renewal
Declaration document deadline tracking
Licence amendments for new trade activities
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep your goods moving through Dubai.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
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Register Your Company With Dubai Customs
PROXPAT prepares the Dubai Trade registration, sets up representatives and brokers, and keeps your customs code renewed with your licence.