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Brand registration

Trade name registration in Dubai

Your trade name is your company's official name on its Dubai license, reserved with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) during company setup and separate from any trademark registered with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism (MoET). We check your shortlist against DET's naming rules, reserve the name and carry it through to initial approval.

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Overview

What trade name reservation in Dubai involves

Every mainland company in Dubai trades under a registered name. The trade name step comes early in setup: you choose your business activity and legal form first, then register the name, then apply for initial approval, before moving on to the memorandum of association (MOA), premises and the license itself.

The name is registered by the emirate's economic department, which for Dubai mainland companies is DET. It must carry the legal form, so a limited liability company ends in LLC and an establishment in EST. DET checks it against its naming conditions and the names already registered before it can be reserved.

A trade name identifies the company. It does not give you exclusive rights to a brand on products, packaging or online; that is the job of a trademark. Many founders choose a name that can do both jobs and file the trademark soon after the trade name is reserved.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Founders forming a mainland company

    Anyone setting up a new Dubai mainland business who needs the name reserved before initial approval.

  • 02

    Branches of existing companies

    UAE or foreign companies opening a Dubai branch, where the branch name generally follows the parent company's name.

  • 03

    Businesses changing their name

    Existing companies that are rebranding and need the new name checked and registered before the license is amended.

  • 04

    Owners with a brand already in use

    If customers already know your brand online, aligning the trade name with it keeps your license, contracts and marketing consistent.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Checking your shortlist against DET's naming conditions
  • Looking for registered names that could block yours
  • Advising on the correct legal form suffix
  • Preparing the English and Arabic name details for the application
  • Submitting the reservation to DET and following up
  • Carrying the reserved name into your initial approval application
  • Flagging when the name should also be filed as a trademark

Not included

  • Trademark registration, which is a separate filing with MoET
  • Free zone company names, which follow each zone's own process within your free zone setup
  • Creating or designing a brand identity
  • Changing a DET decision on a rejected name; we help you choose an alternative instead
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • A shortlist of proposed names, in order of preference
  • The business activity and legal form you have chosen
  • Passport copies of all shareholders
  • Emirates ID and residence visa copies for shareholders who live in the UAE
  • For a branch: the parent company's registration documents

DET may ask for more depending on the activity and legal form, and documents issued abroad may need attestation first.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Trade name reservation fees are set by DET and paid at cost. We confirm the exact amount before you pay and list it separately from our service fee, which is quoted in writing before work starts.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Reservation is usually one of the faster steps in mainland setup when the name is clean. Names that break a rule or clash with an existing registration go back to the shortlist, which is why we screen them first. A reservation is held for a limited period, so we plan the next steps before you reserve.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Settle your activity and legal form

    You

    The name must suit both, so these come first. Then send us your shortlist.

  2. Step 2: We screen the shortlist

    Global Sky PRO

    We check each name against DET's conditions and look for existing registrations that would block it, then tell you which are realistic.

  3. Step 3: We submit the reservation

    Global Sky PRO

    We prepare the application with the correct legal form suffix and submit it to DET through its online channels.

  4. Step 4: DET reviews the name

    Authority

    DET checks the name against its rules and the register, then accepts or rejects it.

  5. Step 5: Move on to initial approval

    Global Sky PRO

    With the name reserved, we carry it into your initial approval application and the remaining setup steps.

  6. Step 6: Decide on a trademark

    You

    If the name is also your brand, consider filing it with MoET to protect it beyond the license.

Good to know

Details that save time

DET naming rules in plain English

DET applies a short list of conditions to every trade name. Most rejections come from a handful of them, and almost all can be avoided with a check before you apply. Your name should:

  • End with the right legal form, such as LLC or EST
  • Suit the business activity and the company's legal status
  • Respect public morals and public order
  • Contain no religious names and no names of a governing authority
  • Avoid the names or logos of external bodies
  • Not already be registered by another business

Trade name or trademark: which do you need?

You need a trade name to form a company; you do not need a trademark to trade. But only a trademark, registered federally by MoET, gives you exclusive rights to a brand for specific goods or services across the UAE. A trade name keeps another company from registering the same name in DET's records; it does not stop a competitor selling under a lookalike brand.

If your company name and your customer-facing brand are the same, consider filing the trademark soon after the name is reserved. If they differ, the brand is the one to protect.

Changing a trade name later

A trade name can be changed after formation, but it means amending the license and then updating bank records, contracts, signage and any trademark filings that use the old name. Choosing a name built to last costs far less than changing it.

FAQs

Trade name registration: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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How do I reserve a trade name in Dubai?

You apply to DET through its online channels once your business activity and legal form are settled. DET checks the name against its conditions and existing registrations, then reserves it so you can move on to initial approval. We screen your shortlist first, prepare the application with the right legal form suffix and submit it for you.

What names are not allowed?

DET will not accept a name that offends public morals or public order, includes religious names, or uses the name of a governing authority or the names or logos of external bodies. The name must also suit your activity and legal status, carry the legal form suffix and not already be registered. We check every name on your shortlist against these points.

Is a trade name the same as a trademark?

No. A trade name is your company's registered name, recorded by DET as part of licensing. A trademark is a brand registered federally by MoET, giving exclusive rights for specific goods or services across the UAE. Reserving a trade name does not stop someone filing a similar brand as a trademark, which is why many businesses register both.

Can I change my trade name after the company is set up?

Yes. The new name goes through the same DET checks as the original, and the license is then amended to show it. Expect to update bank records, contracts, signage and any trademark filings that carry the old name. We check the new name against the rules and prepare the change for DET, so the switch happens in one planned step.

Do free zone companies reserve trade names with DET?

No. A free zone company reserves its name with the free zone authority that licenses it, under that zone's own naming rules. DET handles trade names for Dubai mainland companies. If you are still choosing between mainland and a free zone, we can explain how naming works in each before you decide.

Can I use my own name as my trade name in Dubai?

Yes, under the UAE Commercial Transactions Law an individual trader's trade name is made up of their given name and surname, and it may add details about the type of trade or be an invented name. If your name is similar to one already in the commercial register, you must add details that distinguish it. A company's trade name must comply with the company laws in force. We then check it against the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) naming conditions before reserving it.

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022, Commercial Transactions Law

Can I sell or transfer a trade name on its own in Dubai?

No, under the UAE Commercial Transactions Law a trade name cannot be disposed of separately from the business it belongs to, unless another law allows it. The reverse also applies: selling the business does not pass on the trade name unless the agreement says so, expressly or by implication. If you are buying or selling a company, settle what happens to the name in the written agreement, then plan the license changes with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022, Commercial Transactions Law

Can I use a trade name that another company has cancelled?

Not straight away: under the UAE Commercial Transactions Law, a trader may not use another trader's trade name until one year has passed since that name expired or was removed. Once the year is up, you can apply for it, and the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) checks it against its naming conditions and existing registrations like any other name. If you cannot wait, we help you shortlist alternatives that are available now.

Source: UAE Legislation: Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022, Commercial Transactions Law

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Trademarks are examined and registered by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. We prepare and file your application; registration is decided by the Ministry. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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