How to verify a UAE company or trade license online

An important step for any business in the UAE is to verify a company and its trade license. This should be carried out before entering into any business agreement, making a payment, or working with a service provider. The same principle applies to any business in the UAE, whether it operates on the mainland or in a free zone.

The UAE authorities offer several official online channels for checking company and trade license information, including the National Economic Registry and the economic development authorities in individual emirates. By searching for a company’s registered name or license number, you can review the available records and check key details, such as its license status and authorized business activities.

Nevertheless, checking the trade license is only one part of assessing a company’s credibility. Another vital step is to ensure that the details on the license match those of the company you are actually dealing with. It is also advisable to carry out additional checks before making any financial commitments.

Details to Collect from the Company

Prior to any financial or business commitment with any company in the UAE, you should have the following information about this company to verify its registration and trade license:

Registered company name: The full legal name as recorded by the relevant licensing authority.

Trade license number: The license number or other official registration reference used for online verification.

Issuing authority: The government department or free-zone authority that issued the license.

Copy of the trade license: A copy of the current license to compare against the information available through official channels.

License expiry date: The expiry date to confirm whether the license is still valid.

Registered business activities: The activities listed on the license to ensure they cover the products or services the company claims to provide.

National Economic Registry Checks

The UAE’s National Economic Registry, Growth, allows users to check company registration details and economic license information. You can do that by searching using the registered name of the company, or the details of the license. That way, you would be able to check their recorded information, legal status, and authorized business activities, where available.

If you cannot find the company, you should contact the relevant emirate’s economic department or free-zone authority. This is quite crucial before making any payments or commitments. The registry check is an initial verification step and does not guarantee a company’s financial standing or credibility.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Lookup Routes

Businesses registered in Dubai and Abu Dhabi can be checked through the official online platforms of the relevant licensing authorities.

In Dubai: Use the Invest in Dubai license search to look up a business by its trade license number, Dubai Unified License (DUL) number, or registered English or Arabic business name. Review the available records to confirm that the details match the company’s documents.

In Abu Dhabi: Use the TAHAQAQ economic license enquiry service to check the registration and license details of businesses registered in the emirate. This official service provides access to basic license information for verification purposes.

In both emirates, compare the search results with the information supplied by the company, paying particular attention to its registered name, license details, and authorized business activities. 

How to use the Growth portal

1. Visit the official Growth portal.
2. Follow the portal’s instructions to enquire about an economic license, using the company details requested.
3. Compare the available license information with the company’s documents.

How to use TAHAQAQ

1. Visit the TAHAQAQ economic license enquiry service on TAMM.
2. Enter the reference details requested and follow the instructions to view the available information.
3. Compare the available license information with the company’s documents.

Free-Zone Verification Limitations

Unlike mainland businesses, free-zone companies are licensed and registered by their respective free-zone authorities. As a result, verification options may vary depending on the company’s location and the authority that issued its license. A single search through a general UAE business registry may not provide all the details needed to verify every free-zone company. 

To verify a free-zone business, users should identify the relevant authority and use its official license verification service, where available. For example, Ajman Free Zone allows users to search by company name or license number. 

If a company’s details cannot be found online, users should contact the relevant free-zone authority to confirm its registration and license status. They should also check whether the license covers the activities the company claims to provide, as additional licenses or approvals may be required for certain activities outside the free zone. 

Red Flags and When to Contact the Issuing Authority

When verifying a UAE company or trade license, watch for discrepancies that could indicate inaccurate information or potential fraud. Common red flags include an expired or unverifiable license, differences between the registered company name and the name on its documents, business activities that do not match the services offered, and refusal to provide a copy of the license. Requests for payment to an unrelated individual or unexplained third party should also prompt further checks.

If you suspect fraud, avoid making payments or sharing sensitive information until the discrepancies have been clarified. Preserve relevant documents and communications, and report suspected scams to the appropriate authorities, such as the local police.