Dubai / GDRFA
GDRFA Dubai publishes establishment-card issuance and renewal services, including routes for private-sector and free-zone establishments falling within its service framework.
View GDRFA issuance service →UAE establishment & immigration records
Establishment Card UAE Application & Renewal Support
First Elite Global supports UAE companies with establishment card issuance, renewal, amendments and cancellation. We first identify the correct authority route for your company, then help prepare the required records and coordinate the agreed application steps.
Authority requirements, government fees, service channels and processing times depend on the jurisdiction and individual file. Final decisions remain with the relevant UAE authority.
Issuance
New establishment-card applications.
Renewal
Renew an existing electronic establishment record.
Amendment
Update eligible registered company information.
Cancellation
Close the establishment record where the applicable conditions are met.
The short answer
What is an establishment card in the UAE?
An establishment card is an electronic company record maintained through the relevant UAE establishment and immigration system. ICP describes its electronic establishment card as showing registered company information such as the trade name, licence number, partners and type of activity.
It is not the same document as the company's trade licence. The licence establishes the licensed business and its activities, while the establishment card forms part of the company's separate establishment administration.
Information associated with the record
-
01
Trade name
The registered name of the establishment. -
02
Licence information
Details connected with the company's commercial licence. -
03
Partners
Registered partner information where applicable. -
04
Business activity
The activity information held against the establishment record.
Start with the authority
Who issues the establishment card?
There is no single identical application route for every UAE company. The correct channel depends on the emirate, company jurisdiction and the authority that manages the establishment record.
This distinction matters before you prepare documents or rely on a fee schedule. A Dubai company using GDRFA services, a company operating under federal ICP procedures and a company inside a specific free zone can follow different channels.
Federal / ICP
ICP provides electronic establishment-card issuance, renewal, amendment and cancellation services for eligible categories under its procedures.
View ICP issuance service →Free-zone companies
The application channel can depend on the particular free zone. ICP specifically states that companies operating under a Free Zone Authority should submit the relevant request through that authority.
Explore Dubai setup routes →Service scope
Establishment card services we can help coordinate
The correct request should be identified before documents are prepared. First Elite Global can support the administrative workflow for eligible issuance, renewal, amendment and cancellation requirements.
New establishment card
Confirm the company jurisdiction, responsible authority, application channel and supporting records needed for a new establishment-card request.
Establishment card renewal
Review the current company and licence status, renewal route and authority requirements before the existing establishment record expires.
Card amendments
Coordinate eligible changes to registered establishment information, such as company-data amendments that require updating with the authority.
Card cancellation
Identify the applicable preconditions and cancellation route when the establishment record needs to be formally closed.
Finding the reference
Where is the establishment card number?
If you need your establishment-card number for another government or company process, use the reference shown on your authority-issued establishment record rather than assuming it is the same as the trade licence number.
Document formats and field positions can vary by authority and service channel, so a generic online image should not be treated as a definitive template for every UAE establishment card.
If you are unsure which number an authority is requesting, send the document for review with unnecessary personal information redacted.
Illustrative layout
Card / establishment reference
Authority-issued reference
Trade name
Registered company name
Licence number
Commercial licence reference
Activity
Registered activity information
Example for explanation only. This is not an official GDRFA, ICP or free-zone card and does not reproduce an authority document.
Prepare the correct file
Establishment card requirements in the UAE
Requirements are authority- and company-specific. Do not use a Dubai checklist for an ICP or free-zone application without confirming that the same documents apply.
Dubai private-sector / relevant GDRFA route
- Partners' names appendix where required.
- Passport copies for authorised signatories.
- Notarised authorisation for an authorised manager where applicable.
- Any additional documents required for the establishment category.
Relevant ICP route
- Valid commercial or trade licence.
- Valid Emirates ID or Unified Number for an authorised signatory where required.
- Signature authorisation documentation where applicable.
- Memorandum of Association for partnership structures where required.
- Any local-government requirements for the emirate concerned.
Government charges
How much does an establishment card cost?
There is no single establishment-card price that applies to every UAE business. Government charges depend on the authority, company category, subscription requirements, requested validity and service channel.
Dubai / GDRFA published charges
The current GDRFA private-sector/free-zone service cards publish individual fee components rather than one universal total.
- AED 200 establishment-card issuance or renewal fee shown on the respective service card.
- 5% VAT listed in addition.
- AED 10 Knowledge Dirham.
- AED 10 Innovation Dirham.
- AED 50 service fee.
- AED 100 urgent fee where applicable.
- AED 100 additional fee where submission is made through Amer centres, where applicable.
GDRFA's service information also notes an issuance or renewal fee of AED100 per year. Check the live authority service card for the exact validity period and payable total for your transaction.
Check current GDRFA renewal charges →ICP published charges
ICP displays different fee components according to the establishment category selected in its service.
- Issuance service can list AED 100 application fees.
- Issuance can list AED 100 per year.
- Smart-services fees can be AED 100.
- Relevant issuance categories can include an AED 2,000 establishment electronic-system subscription.
- Relevant renewal categories can include an AED 1,000 electronic-system subscription renewal.
The exact ICP total depends on the applicable establishment category and service selection.
Check current ICP renewal charges →Government charges can change. Any professional-service fee from First Elite Global should be shown separately from authority and third-party charges in the quotation for your case.
Dedicated renewal route
Establishment Card Renewal in the UAE
Renewal should begin by confirming which authority holds the establishment record and whether the underlying trade licence and company information are ready for the renewal application.
-
Confirm the authority and expiry position.
Identify whether the renewal sits with GDRFA Dubai, ICP or the relevant free-zone route. -
Check the trade licence.
A current licence is an important dependency under the official establishment-card renewal rules. -
Review outstanding record issues.
Check whether fines, company-data changes or other unresolved items need to be dealt with before renewal. -
Prepare the authority-specific documents.
Use the checklist for the actual company category rather than a generic UAE document list. -
Submit, pay and follow the application.
Complete the authorised service route and respond to any request for amendment or additional information.
Do not confuse the documents
Establishment Card vs Trade Licence
The two records are connected, but they have different functions. A company should not treat an establishment card as a replacement for its commercial licence.
| Point | Trade licence | Establishment card |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Records the licensed business and approved activity scope. | Registers establishment information in the relevant establishment system. |
| Normal sequence | Obtained during company licensing. | Typically follows the licensing stage where establishment registration is required. |
| Authority | Relevant mainland economic or free-zone licensing authority. | GDRFA Dubai, ICP or the relevant free-zone/establishment route depending on jurisdiction. |
| Ongoing administration | Licence renewal and amendments follow the licensing authority. | Issuance, renewal, amendments and cancellation are separate establishment services. |
How support works
A clearer route before anything is submitted
The aim is to identify the correct authority and request type first, then build the administrative work around the actual company record.
Identify
Confirm the company jurisdiction, authority and exact establishment-card task.
Review
Check the licence, company record, current card and any expiry or amendment issue.
Prepare
Build the document list that applies to the actual authority route.
Coordinate
Arrange the agreed application, document-clearing and authority-facing steps.
Follow up
Track the permitted request and respond to authority requests or next actions.
Connected services
What may come before or after the establishment card?
Establishment administration often sits between company licensing and subsequent visa or government-document processes.
Common questions
UAE Establishment Card FAQs
What is an establishment card in the UAE?
It is an electronic establishment record maintained through the relevant UAE authority. ICP describes its card as containing registered information such as the trade name, licence number, partners and activity.
Is an establishment card the same as a trade licence?
No. They are separate records. The trade licence relates to the licensed company and its activities, while the establishment card relates to the company's registration in the relevant establishment system.
Who issues an establishment card in Dubai?
The route depends on the company and jurisdiction. GDRFA Dubai provides establishment-card services for relevant Dubai categories, while individual free zones can have their own application channels.
Can a free-zone company get an establishment card?
Establishment registration can apply to free-zone companies. The channel must be confirmed for the actual zone. ICP states that companies operating under a Free Zone Authority should submit the relevant request through that authority.
What documents are required for an establishment card?
Requirements depend on the authority and company category. A valid trade licence is a central requirement under ICP procedures. GDRFA's relevant private-sector/free-zone service also lists authorised-signatory passport copies, a partners appendix and notarised authorisation in applicable manager cases.
How much does an establishment card cost in Dubai?
There is not one universal total. GDRFA publishes separate issuance or renewal charges plus VAT and other listed service fees. The final amount depends on the service, validity, category and submission channel, so the current GDRFA service card should be checked before payment.
How long does establishment card processing take?
Current official targets differ by authority. GDRFA Dubai displays an expected 48-hour completion time for its relevant establishment-card issuance and renewal services, while ICP displays two days. These are authority service targets rather than guaranteed completion times for every individual application.
How do I renew an establishment card in the UAE?
First identify the authority that manages the existing establishment record. Check the trade licence and company details, resolve any authority-specific outstanding requirements, prepare the renewal documents and submit through the correct GDRFA, ICP or free-zone channel.
Can an establishment card be amended?
Yes. Official amendment services exist. ICP identifies examples such as changing the trade name, transferring ownership and adding or removing a partner. GDRFA also provides a service for modifying establishment-card data.
Where can I find my establishment card number?
Check the authority-issued electronic establishment record rather than assuming the reference is the same as the trade licence number. The exact layout and field position can vary between authority document formats.
Get the route confirmed first
Need to issue, renew or update a UAE establishment card?
Tell us the company jurisdiction, licensing authority, current establishment status and the action you need to complete. First Elite Global can review the route and define the documents and administrative steps before the application moves forward.
