How to Register a Trade Name in the UAE | A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025
The UAE is one of the most reliable and important countries for establishing a new company; however, the most important challenge is to select and register a trade name. Be it a new company in Dubai or a branch of an Abu Dhabi firm, in all instances, the business name is branding for the company, which will be used in all contracts, advertisements, and legal proceedings. The phase is easy, but special attention must be paid to the UAE trade name regulations to avoid any delays or refusals. In this article, I will provide all the detailed steps about trade name registration in the UAE, beginning with checking the name’s availability and concluding with the issuance of the trade name certificate to ensure company formation in Dubai and other emirates is easy and legal.
What Is a Trade Name and Why Does It Matter?
A trade name refers to the name by which the business operates and advertises itself, and is usually referred to as a “doing business as” (DBA) name. It is a business identity in the UAE and is used on business logos and websites as well as on legal documents. For instance, when I assisted a friend in setting up a café in Dubai, their trade name, “Brew Haven,” served as the brand name and was easily identifiable by customers.
As in most countries, a trade name is different from a legal name, which is the name recorded with the government, in this case, Brew Haven LLC. Trade names are usually registered with the DED in Dubai, which helps ensure that no other business uses the name, thus protecting a brand when setting up a business in the UAE.
Trade Name vs. Legal Name vs. Trademark
This is particularly relevant to any business that seeks to register in Dubai or other business locations.
- Legal Name: The official name registered with the government, as well as in contracts and official filings. Legal names usually include suffixes like LLC or PJSC.
- Trade Name: Operative names used for marketing, such as “Brew Haven” as opposed to “Brew Haven LLC.”
- Trademark: Symbol, logo, or phrase that is legally protected, for example, the “Brew Haven” logo would be trademarked. It is a separate registration with the Ministry of Economy to protect against misuse.
This distinction matters because a tradename is not protected by trademark. One has to check both the availability of the tradename and the trademark to avoid conflicts.
Why Your Trade Name Is Key to Business Success
Your tradename is more than just a name; it also serves as the base for your company formation in Dubai or other emirates. Here is why it is vital:
- Brand Identity: Distinctive names such as “High Sky” form the company image and register the name in customer perceptions.
- Legal Protection: Registration prevents infringement of a trademark by other businesses in the UAE, which results in brand confusion.
- Customer Trust: Discounted names as tradenames tend to confuse the customer. Clearer names put the customer at ease.
- Clarity of Operation: Necessary for a bank account, a trade licence, or even a UAE Golden Visa.
- Online Presence: Safeguarding the domain and social network names so your identity as a business is consistent with all clients.
UAE Trade Name Guidelines: Rules to Follow
Before starting the trade name registration process in the UAE, there are very specific rules you must observe in the naming process. These rules set by the Ministry of Economy and the DED are crafted in a Shari’ah-compliant and culturally sensitive manner.
General Trade Name Guidelines
Adjacent UAE naming conventions provide general rules that UAE trade names should not violate. These are,
- Reflect the business activity: It must be true that the trade name aligns with the business activity. For instance, “Al Madina Contracting” cannot be registered by a retail business.
- No duplication: Each trade name must be subject to a thorough validity check and thus registered under a different company. Use trade name search Dubai or any relevant portals from other Emirates.
- Cannot include restricted terms: Such as all religious expressions (e.g., “Allah”), names of states or other geographical terms, “Middle East”.
- No vulgar expressions: Trade names should not offend common decency or use foul language.
- Must include the business’s legal status: Add suffixes like “Brew Haven LLC”.
- Phonetic rendering and not literal: Arabic or English requires phonetic spelling, for instance: `Al Samaa Al Aalya` translates to `High Sky`.
Additional Trade Name Guidelines
Each Emirate has specific extra rules.
- Dubai: Avoid familial or tribal names unless the licensee falls under the name. Similar names to existing ones are subject to removal by the DED.
- Abu Dhabi: The owner’s first and last names may be used, but only transliterated, not translated.
- Sharjah: Needs a licensing application along with both investor statements for adherence to DED rules.
- Other Emirates: Restrictions like those in Ajman, including the stakeholder ID verification, are consistent across the other emirates.
How to Register a Trade Name in the UAE: Step-by-Step Process
Registering a trade name in the UAE is a straightforward process that takes 24 hours to 7-10 days, depending on the emirate. Based on my experience assisting a friend with starting a business in Dubai, this is how the process goes.
Step 1: Choose a Trade Name
Select a name that best describes your business activity and complies with UAE naming regulations. As an example, my friend opened a café called “Brew Haven.” While it was unique, it also ensured it aligned with the food and beverage business. Avoid terms such as “International” or clan names unless connected to the owner.
Step 2: Trade Name Availability Check
Make sure to confirm trade name availability before attempting to reserve it.
- Go to the DED portal for trade name search in Dubai or to the TAMM platform for trade name reservation in Abu Dhabi.
- Insert the business name and search for conflicts with existing names and trademarks.
- Verify trademark status with the Ministry of Economics to confirm there are no legal conflicts.
This step is important for avoiding wasted efforts. Just like that, a Sharjah business that spent time applying for something that was already registered, you don’t want to make that mistake.
Section 3: How to Reserve Your Trade Name
Reserve your business name for trade once you have confirmed it.
- Online: via “Invest in Dubai” or “TAM” for other Emirates, or “sedd.ae” for Sharjah. Log in with your UAE PASS, select business activity, and submit your name.
- In Person: Go to Tasheel or other service centers in your Emirate.
- Pay for the reservation of the trade name, in Dubai it is AED 600, and in Abu Dhabi AED 50.
- The trade name reservation is valid for 6 months, which is enough time to secure a trade license.
Step 4: Submit the Relevant Documents and Payments
Based on the emirate you are part of the company, you will have a different set of documents to submit:
General documents:
- All partners/shareholders, Emirates ID or passport photocopies.
- LLC contracts (Ownership agreement) with relevant parties.
- Foreign shareholders: no-objection letter (if mandatory).
- Sharjah Licensing form, investor registration form, and a declaration form for multiple licenses.
- Abu Dhabi: Memorandum of Association and embassy-attested certificates for foreign entities.
- Ajman: Prove stakeholder identity.
- Fees: (estimate 2025)
- Dubai: AED 600 for trade name reservation, and AED 2000 for foreign and Gulf names.
- Abu Dhabi: AED 50 for reservation and AED 15 for initial approval.
- Sharjah: AED 250 for standard and AED 2250 for foreign names.
Banks such as Dubai Islamic Bank and the DED portals offer both online and offline payment methods.
Step 5: Receive Your Trade Name Certificate
- After Trade Name approvals are secured, the certificate can be documented either through online portals within 24 hours or in person within 7-10 business days. The certificate is the foundational prerequisite for progressing with the issuance of the UAE trade license and opening a business bank account.
Emirate-Specific Trade Name Registration Processes
Each Emirate has its own processes when it comes to registering trade names, which form the basis of the local policies and systems in place.
Trade Name Registration in Dubai
Dubai has become a center for new company formations, and the trade names are registered under the Dubai Emirate.
- Platform: Invest in Dubai or DED service centres.
- Documents: Emirates ID, Passport, and ownership agreement.
- Fees: Standard: AED 600, Foreign names: AED 2000.
- Time: Online- ~24 hours, Face to Face- 7-10 days.
- Tip: Use the Ejari portal for tenancy contracts after securing your trade names.
Trade Name Registration in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has a different approach and works with a trade name registration platform called TAMM.
- Documents: Memorandum of Association, certified by the embassy, and a no-objection branch letter.
- Fees: reservation: 50, and new business approval: 15.
- Time: ~24 hours.
- Age: 18 and above with the business scope listed by the local government.
Other Emirates: Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah
- Ajman: Register via DED website or app. Requires stakeholder ID proof, costs AED 350.
- Umm Al Quwain: Use DED portal, submit Emirates ID, passport, and no-objection letter. Fees start at AED 2,000 for foreign names.
- Ras Al Khaimah: Apply through DED, provide five proposed names and ownership agreement. Time: 7-10 days.
Trade Name Registration in Sharjah
Trade registration processes in Sharjah are conducted by the Department of Economic Development.
- Platform: sedd.AE, Tasheel centers, or a smart application.
- Documents: Licensing form, Emirates ID, investor registration form, declaration form.
- Fees: 250 and 2250AE for local and foreign names, respectively.
- Time: 10 minutes.
- Other Emirates: Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah
- Ajman: Register through either the DED website or the dedicated application. Stakeholder ID is mandatory, and the registration fee is 350 AED.
- Umm Al Quwain: Complete the application on the DED portal. Required documents include an Emirates ID, a passport, and a no-objection letter. Fees commence at AED 2000 for non-local names.
- Ras Al Khaimah: Applications are submitted through DED. Five proposed names must be submitted along with a name and ownership agreement. Duration: 7 to 10 days.
Trade Name vs. Trademark: What’s the Difference?
One of the most frequent inquiries is: “What’s the difference between a trade name and a trademark?” Let us break it down:
- Trade Name: A name of the business for operational and marketing purposes, which is registered with the DED. It does not protect logotypes and slogans. Example: “Brew Haven.”
- Trademark: A symbol, logotype, or phrase associated with a business, which can be legally protected and registered with the Ministry of Economy. Example: Brew Haven’s coffee cup logo.
- Key Difference: A trade name gives you exclusivity within the UAE, while a trademark protects business assets or brand name on a national level.
You can use it if the trademark applies to a different industry. For example, if “Tech” is trademarked for IT services, you might use it for a food business, but always verify with the Ministry of Economy.
How to Verify Trademark Registration of a Business Name in the UAE?
Evaluate if your company name is trademarked to sidestep legal challenges:
- Access the trademark database of the UAE Ministry of Economy.
- Look up your proposed trade name and any relevant variations.
- Seek advice from business setup consultants in Dubai or legal professionals for comprehensive searches.
- Check trade name availability with TAMM and Invest in Dubai for business name registration verification.
This process is essential to prevent business rejection or potential lawsuits. In one of my cases, a client avoided expensive name-changing and rebranding after a trademark dispute, thanks to my early intervention.
Costs of Trade Name Registration in 2025
Here’s the approximate fee breakdown for trade name registration:
| Emirate | Trade Name Type | Cost (AED) | Notes |
| Dubai | Standard | 600 | |
| Foreign/Gulf names | 2,000 | ||
| Additional Charges | +10 (Knowledge Dirham) +10 (Innovation Dirham) | ||
| Abu Dhabi | Reservation | 50 | |
| Initial Approval | 15 | ||
| Sharjah | Standard | 250 | |
| Foreign names | 2,250 | ||
| Translated names | 1,250 | ||
| Ajman | Standard | 350 | |
| Umm Al Quwain | Foreign names | 2,000 | |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Varies by name type | Typically 600–2,000 | Confirm with RAK DED for specific case |
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Registering a Trade Name
Be cautious of these errors during the registration of a trade name:
- Ignoring Guidelines: Restricted terms such as “Allah” or “International” will surely lead to rejection.
- Not Checking Availability: Perform a trade name search in Dubai or any of the other emirates to avoid name conflicts.
- Skipping Trademark Checks: Legal issues can arise with trademarked terms, so check with the Ministry of Economy database.
- Missing Deadlines: Trade name reservation expires after 6 months if a trade licence isn’t secured.
- Incorrect Transliteration: Names like “Al Samaa Al Aalya” must be phonetically correct.
As a rule of thumb, I always recommend double-checking everything, as I did for a client who had a name rejection for being too similar to an existing mark.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trade Name Registration
Q1: How to register a business name near Dubai?
Use the Invest in Dubai portal or visit DED service centres. Submit your Emirates ID and pay AED 600.
Q2: How to check if a business name is available for free?
Use DED or TAMM portals for a free trade name search. The Ministry of Economy offers a trademark database.
Q3: What happens if my trade name is rejected?
The DED will notify you of the reason (e.g., similarity to an existing name). Choose a new name and reapply.
Q4: Can I renew my trade name?
Yes, trade name certificates are renewable every 6 months or with your trade licence.
Q5: How to register a trade name online?
Use platforms like Invest in Dubai, TAMM, or sedd. Ae, log in with UAE PASS, and follow the steps above.
Conclusion: Secure Your Business Name Today
Registering a trade name in the UAE is a vital step in your UAE business setup, ensuring your business identity is protected and ready for growth. By following the trade name guidelines, checking availability, and using platforms like Invest in Dubai or TAMM, you can secure your business name in as little as 24 hours. Whether you’re starting a company formation in Dubai, exploring PRO services, or planning to open a bank account, a registered trade name sets the foundation.
Ready to get started? Check your trade name availability today and take the first step toward building your UAE business. If you need help, business setup consultants in Dubai can guide you through the process, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Your dream business is just a name away!
