Look up a company by number

    Trade Licence number search (United Arab Emirates)

    Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.

    Search Company Records in United Arab Emirates

    3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.

    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamLast verified June 2026Primary source: DED / Free Zone Authorities

    How do I look up a company by its registration number in United Arab Emirates?

    Enter the Trade Licence to look up a United Arab Emirates company directly on DED / Free Zone Authorities. Unlike a name search, an Trade Licence returns exactly one entity, which is why it is the identifier to use for KYC, invoicing and contract checks.

    Step-by-step

    1. 1

      Find the Trade Licence on the paperwork

      The Trade Licence normally appears on invoices, contracts, the website footer or official correspondence. It is the number counterparties are required to quote.

    2. 2

      Search the Trade Licence

      Enter the number exactly as printed. Punctuation and spacing vary between documents — strip them if the search returns nothing.

    3. 3

      Confirm the returned entity

      Check the legal name on the returned record matches the name on your paperwork. A mismatch between quoted number and quoted name is a serious warning sign.

    4. 4

      Verify at DED / Free Zone Authorities

      For anything contractual, confirm the number against the primary source at https://www.dubaided.gov.ae.

      https://www.dubaided.gov.ae
    Open DED / Free Zone AuthoritiesAll United Arab Emirates records

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a Trade Licence in United Arab Emirates?

    It is the identifier DED / Free Zone Authorities assigns to a registered entity. It stays with the entity even if the trading name changes, which makes it the reliable way to track a company over time.

    Is a Trade Licence lookup free?

    Yes. Looking up a company by Trade Licence on DED / Free Zone Authorities is free and requires no account.

    What if the Trade Licence returns no result?

    Re-enter it without spaces or punctuation first. If it still returns nothing, the number may be mistyped, belong to a different country's register, or not exist — ask the counterparty to confirm it in writing.

    Should I use the Trade Licence or the company name?

    The Trade Licence. Names are duplicated across entities within a group; the number is unique to one entity.

    What is the difference between mainland and free zone?

    Mainland companies (registered with DED) can trade freely within the UAE and need a local sponsor/partner (51% ownership rule relaxed in 2021 for most sectors). Free zone companies have 100% foreign ownership, tax benefits, and simplified setup, but traditionally can only trade within the free zone or internationally.

    People also ask about look up a company by its registration number in United Arab Emirates

    The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.

    Is the United Arab Emirates company register free to search?

    Yes. Basic company lookups on the DED / Free Zone Authorities are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.

    What is the official United Arab Emirates business registry?

    The DED / Free Zone Authorities is the official public register of companies incorporated in United Arab Emirates. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.dubaided.gov.ae.

    Related guides and tools

    More United Arab Emirates guides

    United Arab Emirates data