Dubai Customs Code (Import / Export Code)
You cannot clear goods through Dubai Customs without a customs client code. It is cheap and fast — around AED 100 to 120 and often issued within a working day — which surprises people who have been quoted far more. It is tied to your trade licence and renewed annually alongside it.
What it costs
Published figures differ slightly because some sources quote the application fee alone and others include the knowledge and innovation fee charged on most Dubai government transactions. Both are small.
| Item | Indicative fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New customs code application | AED 100 | Dubai Customs application fee |
| Knowledge and innovation fee | AED 20 | Charged on most Dubai government transactions |
| Typical total, new code | AED 120 | Why some sources say 100 and others 120 |
| Annual renewal | approx. AED 25 | Follows your trade licence renewal |
| Agent or PRO handling | AED 150 - 500 | Optional; this is where larger quotes come from |
If a service provider quotes you several hundred dirhams for this, the difference is their handling fee, not a government charge. Ask for the two to be itemised separately.
The "valid for 60 days" claim
You will find pages stating that a Dubai customs code is valid for 60 days. That sits directly against the annual renewal every other source describes, and it is the single most confusing thing written about this topic.
The reconciliation is that the code itself is tied to your trade licence and renewed yearly. Short validity windows people encounter relate to a provisional or temporary registration state, not the issued code. Treat your customs code as an annual obligation that follows your licence renewal, and verify the status on the Dubai Trade portal rather than trusting any published figure, including this one.
How to apply
- Log in to the Dubai Trade portal
- Open the Dubai Customs section and choose New Business Registration
- Upload the documents below and submit
- Pay the application and knowledge fees online
- Wait for review — commonly one to two working days with clean documents
- Check the code under Business Code Inquiry once issued
Documents
- Valid trade licence copy
- Passport copy of the authorised signatory, and of each partner where there are several
- Undertaking letter on company letterhead
- Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Emirates Post licence, if you want documents couriered
- Chamber of Commerce certificate — listed by some sources, so have it ready
Mainland or free zone?
Another point sources disagree on. Some state you need a free zone trading licence; others say mainland or free zone is fine. What matters is that your licence permits trading activity — importing and exporting goods. A professional or services licence will not qualify regardless of jurisdiction, which is the actual reason applications get refused and probably the origin of the confusion.
Renewal
Renewal is annual and costs around AED 25. The order matters: renew the trade licence first, because the customs code renewal validates against it and will not process against an expired licence. You generally do not need passport copies again, only current copies of the trade licence and Emirates Post licence where applicable.
Dubai Customs Code — FAQs
How much does a Dubai customs code cost?
Around AED 120 for a new code: an application fee of about AED 100 plus a knowledge and innovation fee of about AED 20. Renewal is roughly AED 25 a year. Sources quoting AED 100 are giving the application fee alone. If you have been quoted several hundred dirhams, the balance is a service provider handling fee rather than a government charge.
Is a Dubai customs code valid for 60 days or a year?
Treat it as annual. The code is tied to your trade licence and renewed yearly alongside it. The widely repeated "60 days" figure conflicts with how renewal actually works and appears to describe a provisional registration state rather than an issued code. Check the live status under Business Code Inquiry on the Dubai Trade portal rather than relying on any published figure.
How long does it take to get an import code in Dubai?
Commonly one to two working days once the application and documents are submitted on the Dubai Trade portal. Some providers advertise same-day issuance where everything is clean. Delays are almost always a document problem, most often an expired trade licence or a missing undertaking letter.
Can a mainland company get a Dubai customs code?
Yes. Sources disagree on this but the real requirement is that your licence permits trading activity, meaning importing and exporting goods. Both mainland and free zone trading licences qualify. A professional or services licence does not, regardless of jurisdiction, and that is the usual reason an application is refused.
How do I check my Dubai customs code?
Log in to the Dubai Trade portal and open Business Code Inquiry. That shows the current code and its status, which is more reliable than any third-party page including this one.
What documents do I need for a customs code?
A valid trade licence copy, passport copy of the authorised signatory and of each partner, an undertaking letter on company letterhead, and the signatory Emirates ID. Add an Emirates Post licence if you want documents couriered. Some sources also list a Chamber of Commerce certificate, so have one available.
Related
General information, not legal or tax advice. Customs fees and document requirements are set by Dubai Customs and change. Confirm current amounts on the Dubai Trade portal before applying.
Last updated: October 2026 · Maintained by the My Business Setup editorial team
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