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Business setup

Trakhees company formation in Dubai

Trakhees is the regulatory and licensing arm of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), separate from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and it licenses businesses in areas such as International City, Dragon Mart and Dubai Maritime City. We help you confirm whether your location falls under Trakhees, then prepare and submit your application and follow it up until Trakhees decides.

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Overview

What Trakhees is and why location matters

In most of Dubai, a mainland business is licensed by DET. Some areas work differently. In the special development areas under PCFC, commercial licensing and related services are handled by Trakhees instead, so the body that issues your license depends on where your premises are, not only on what you do.

Areas under Trakhees include International City, Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Dubai Maritime City, Al Jaddaf, Jebel Ali Village, Dragon Mart and Palm Deira. Because the licensing authority follows the location, we confirm which body covers your exact unit before you sign a lease.

Beyond licensing, Trakhees handles related transactions for businesses in its areas, such as establishment cards, employment visa transactions, no-objection certificates and occupational health cards. Applications go through the PCFC website and smart app or its customer service centre, and we prepare and submit them for you.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Traders in International City and Dragon Mart

    Wholesale and retail businesses taking units in these trading hubs.

  • 02

    Businesses in Trakhees communities

    Shops, services and offices in areas such as Jumeirah Village Circle, Palm Jumeirah or Al Jaddaf.

  • 03

    Maritime and waterfront businesses

    Companies based in Dubai Maritime City, Jebel Ali Village or the islands under PCFC.

  • 04

    Anyone unsure of their licensing authority

    If a landlord or broker says your unit is licensed by Trakhees, we check before you commit.

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

  • Confirmation of whether your premises fall under Trakhees, DET or a free zone
  • Activity and trade name checks before you apply
  • Application preparation, typing and submission through PCFC's channels
  • Coordination of any approvals your activity needs
  • Follow-up with Trakhees until it makes a decision
  • Next steps for your establishment card and employment visa transactions

Not included

  • We don't issue Trakhees licenses or approvals; Trakhees decides.
  • We don't quote license categories or fees until Trakhees confirms them for your activity.
  • We can't change which authority covers a location; that follows the area's jurisdiction.
  • We don't give legal advice on leases or disputes.
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • Passport copies for all owners and the manager
  • Emirates ID and residence visa copies for UAE residents
  • Tenancy contract or unit details for premises in a Trakhees area
  • Your chosen activities and trade name options
  • For corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents and a board resolution, attested for UAE use
  • Any qualifications or approvals your activity needs

Trakhees sets the final document list for each activity; we confirm it before you apply.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Set by Trakhees and paid at cost; we confirm the exact amount for your activity before you pay.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

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

  • Timing

    Timing depends on your activity, premises and any approvals Trakhees or other bodies require. We give you a realistic plan once Trakhees confirms the requirements for your activity.

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: Share your location and activity

    You

    Send us the unit address or tenancy draft and tell us what the business will do.

  2. Step 2: Confirm the licensing authority

    Global Sky PRO

    We check whether the premises fall under Trakhees, DET or a free zone, so you apply to the right body from the start.

  3. Step 3: Check activity and prepare the file

    Global Sky PRO

    We check your activity and trade name, type the application and gather the supporting documents.

  4. Step 4: Sign and approve

    You

    You review and sign the forms, approve our written service quote and pay government fees at cost when Trakhees issues the voucher.

  5. Step 5: Trakhees review

    Authority

    Trakhees reviews the application, may request more information or approvals from other bodies, and decides whether to issue the license.

  6. Step 6: License and next steps

    Global Sky PRO

    Once licensed, we guide you through your establishment card, employment visa transactions and tax registration.

Good to know

Details that save time

Trakhees, DET or free zone: how to tell

The address alone isn't always enough, because communities can sit close to areas covered by other authorities. These checks settle it before you spend money on a lease.

  • Ask the landlord or master developer which authority licenses businesses in the building
  • Check whether the area appears among PCFC's special development areas
  • Look at the licenses of existing tenants in the same building
  • Send us the unit details and we confirm the authority before you sign

Common reasons Trakhees applications are delayed

Most delays trace back to the premises or the paperwork, and both can be checked in advance.

  • A lease signed for a unit that falls under a different authority
  • An activity that doesn't suit the unit or the area
  • Approvals from other bodies that weren't planned for
  • Names or passport details that differ between documents
  • Corporate shareholder documents not attested for UAE use
FAQs

Trakhees company formation: 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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What is Trakhees?

Trakhees is the regulatory arm of PCFC, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. It handles commercial licensing and related services in Dubai's special development areas, such as International City and Dubai Maritime City. It is separate from DET, which licenses most of the Dubai mainland, so your location decides which body issues your license.

Which areas does Trakhees license?

Trakhees licenses businesses in PCFC's special development areas, including International City, Palm Jumeirah, the World Islands, Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Maritime City, Al Jaddaf, Jebel Ali Village, Dragon Mart and Palm Deira. The list is not exhaustive and boundaries matter, so we confirm the licensing authority for your specific unit before you sign anything.

Is a Trakhees license a mainland or free zone license?

It is neither a DET mainland license nor a license from a free zone authority. Trakhees issues its own license for businesses located in PCFC's special development areas. What the license allows depends on the area and your activity, so we confirm its scope with Trakhees before you apply rather than rely on general labels.

Which documents do I need for a Trakhees license?

Usually passport copies for owners and the manager, Emirates ID and visa copies if you live in the UAE, your tenancy contract or unit details, your activity and trade name choices, and attested company documents for corporate shareholders. Some activities need extra approvals or qualifications. Trakhees sets the final list, and we confirm it for your activity.

Can Trakhees handle visas for my staff?

Trakhees processes employment visa transactions and establishment cards for businesses in its areas, along with services such as no-objection certificates and occupational health cards. Residence decisions rest with the immigration authorities. We prepare and submit the applications through PCFC's channels and follow them up until a decision is made.

How do I apply for a Trakhees license?

You apply to Trakhees through the PCFC website or smart app, or at the Customer Service Centre at its headquarters. First confirm that your unit sits in one of PCFC's special development areas, then settle your activity and trade name and gather owner documents and the tenancy contract. Trakhees reviews the file and decides; we prepare, type and submit it and follow it up for you.

Source: Dubai Media Office: Trakhees transactions in H1 2026

How can I tell if my premises fall under Trakhees or DET?

Check the area first: Trakhees covers PCFC's special development areas, such as International City or Jumeirah Village Circle, while DET licenses most of the Dubai mainland. Boundaries can be close, so also ask the landlord or master developer which authority licenses the building, and look at existing tenants' licenses. Send us the unit details and we confirm the licensing authority before you sign a lease.

Source: Dubai Media Office: Trakhees transactions in H1 2026

Why might a Trakhees application be delayed?

A Trakhees file usually slows down when the premises and the paperwork don't line up. Watch for a tenancy contract on a unit covered by a different authority, an activity the unit or area can't host, a regulator's approval nobody planned for, spellings that differ from the passport, and corporate shareholder documents not attested for the UAE. We check each of these before submission, and Trakhees makes the final decision.

Source: Dubai Media Office: Trakhees transactions in H1 2026

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Licenses are issued by the relevant authority (DET for Dubai mainland, or the chosen free zone authority). Global Sky PRO prepares and submits your application. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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