If you run a company in Dubai, you have probably felt the friction of fragmented records and repeated checks across authorities. The Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) changes that. It gives every licensed company in Dubai a single, verified business identity that works across the mainland and all free zones, making verification faster, approvals simpler, and market access wider.
Launched by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism in partnership with the Dubai Free Zones Council, the DUL is central to the city’s push for a fully digital, pro-investor environment.
What is the Dubai Unified Licence?
The DUL is a unique identification number and QR code assigned to every licensed business in Dubai. It sits alongside the company’s existing trade licence and links to an official digital profile that authorities, banks, suppliers, and customers can check in seconds. Rollout began in December 2023 and covers both new and existing companies in phases. The DUL does not replace your trade licence. It is the single source of truth that confirms your company’s status across jurisdictions.
The initiative flows from Dubai Law No. 6 of 2023 and is run by the Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC) under the Department of Economy and Tourism. It was built with the Dubai Free Zones Council to ensure every zone is integrated.
Why Dubai introduced a unified system
Fragmented registries meant duplicated documents, slower approvals, and extra risk for banks and service providers. The DUL standardises data and access, improves compliance visibility, and supports Dubai’s D33 agenda for growth through smarter regulation and digital government. In plain terms, it makes doing business easier, faster, and more transparent for everyone involved.
How the DUL works
When you are issued or renew a licence, a DUL profile is created or updated. Your QR code can be displayed on premises, quotes, invoices, and your website. Anyone scanning it can confirm core details such as legal name, status, and activities through the Invest in Dubai portal. Existing companies are being invited in waves to validate their data and obtain their DUL credentials.
Key benefits for founders and SMEs
Faster verification and onboarding
Banks and utilities can verify company data directly from the source. Emirates NBD, the first bank integrated with the DUL, reports a 35% reduction in SME account opening time and automated updates for thousands of business records.
Streamlined approvals and fewer repeat submissions
Government entities pull validated data from one registry instead of asking you for the same documents repeatedly. This reduces the time to secure permits and NOCs, particularly for companies that engage multiple authorities.
Greater transparency and market trust
Customers and partners can self-verify that a business is active and properly licensed, lowering fraud risk and improving supplier due diligence.
Consistency across mainland and free zones
The DUL provides a common identity for companies regardless of licensing authority, which is especially valuable for groups with entities in different zones or for free zone firms engaging with onshore clients.
DUL and the new path to the mainland for free zone companies
In 2025, Dubai created a Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit that lets eligible free zone firms trade onshore without setting up a separate mainland entity. A valid DUL is a prerequisite for this permit, and applications run through the Invest in Dubai platform. Early guidance indicates a fully digital process, targeted at startups and SMEs that want to test or scale onshore sales, services, or projects.
Legal commentaries on Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2025 describe a structured regime with activity scope, renewals, and compliance controls that sit alongside federal corporate tax rules. This links policy ambition with practical enforcement by anchoring everything to the company’s unified identity.
Tax and Compliance With The DUL
Mainland revenues remain subject to the 9% UAE Corporate Tax, while qualifying free zone income can still benefit from a 0% rate if the business meets the relevant conditions. The DUL does not change tax rules. It clarifies who you are and where you operate so authorities and service providers can apply the correct treatment. Sources consistently highlight the DUL’s role in improving AML and KYC checks through verified data sharing.
What to expect next
Expect broader integrations with utilities, landlords, and public procurement portals as Dubai extends the use of the DUL for fast eligibility checks. Banks beyond Emirates NBD are joining, and legal advisers expect the mainland permit pathway to evolve as the policy matures. For founders, the trend is clear. Identity, compliance, and access are converging around a single record of truth.
Why the DUL gives DUQE founders an edge
DUQE clients get hands-on guidance through each step of the DUL journey, from data validation and QR deployment to opening bank accounts and securing the right approvals for cross-jurisdiction growth. Pair the DUL with the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit to test mainland demand quickly, then scale with confidence once the model is proven. Our team handles the moving parts so you can focus on customers.
Shaping One Connected Business Ecosystem
One city, one identity. The Dubai Unified Licence is more than a registry upgrade. It is the connective tissue that links free zones and the mainland, speeds up verification, and unlocks new routes to market. With banking integrations live and an onshore permit pathway open to free zone firms, the DUL is already reshaping how founders operate in Dubai. If you are building in the region, now is the moment to align your operations with the unified system and move faster than the market.
Ready to leverage the DUL for growth? Speak with DUQE’s specialists to validate your profile, integrate the QR code across your touchpoints, and plan your route into the mainland with the right approvals. Contact us today.
FAQs
Who issues the DUL in Dubai?
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issues and oversees the DUL through the Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC), in coordination with the Dubai Free Zones Council.
Does the DUL replace my trade licence?
No. Your DUL complements your trade licence. You must still renew your existing licence with your authority (mainland or free zone).
How can I check or download my DUL?
Log in to the Invest in Dubai portal using UAE Pass. New companies receive the DUL automatically, while existing businesses are invited in phases to validate their data and download their DUL QR code.
Is the DUL mandatory for all businesses in Dubai?
Yes. Every licensed company operating in Dubai will receive a DUL number as part of the rollout, regardless of size or sector.
Can free zone companies use the DUL to operate on the mainland?
Yes. Under the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit introduced in 2025, a valid DUL is required for free zone firms to legally trade onshore without creating a separate entity.
What information does the DUL QR code show?
The QR code displays verified company details such as legal name, licence status, business activity, and jurisdiction—helping banks, partners, and clients confirm authenticity instantly.
Is company data under the DUL public?
Only basic information is visible to the public. Sensitive data like ownership and financial details remain private and can be shared only with consent or by authorised bodies.
How does the DUL connect to the Dubai D33 economic agenda?
The DUL supports the D33 goal to double Dubai’s economy by 2033 by creating a unified, digital-first business environment that attracts investors and accelerates setup processes.