Dubai Establishment Card for Companies: Application, Documents and Fees

After a Dubai company receives its trade licence, it may need an establishment card for immigration administration. The card records the establishment's details in the relevant system. It is a separate step from obtaining the licence and should be kept consistent with the company's current name, partners and authorised signatories.

This guide focuses on the GDRFA Dubai service for private-sector and free-zone establishments. The application route can differ by authority and free zone, so confirm the correct channel with your licensing authority before filing.

What is a Dubai establishment card?

GDRFA Dubai describes its private-sector and free-zone establishment-card service as issuing a card containing business information. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) describes an electronic establishment card as showing data such as the trade name, licence number, partners and activity type.

The card matters because immigration transactions refer to the establishment record. For example, GDRFA Dubai includes a copy of the establishment card among the documents for a work-visa quota request. A trade licence alone is not the same document.

When should a new company apply?

Plan for the establishment card once the company has the required licence and is preparing to use the relevant immigration services. The sequence depends on the licence type, issuing authority and whether the company is mainland or in a free zone. For some free-zone businesses, the free-zone authority coordinates or channels the request; ask that authority before submitting elsewhere.

If the company is still at the initial-approval stage, finish the necessary licensing steps first. Our Dubai mainland setup guide explains how the licence fits into the wider setup.

Documents to prepare

For the GDRFA Dubai private-sector/free-zone service, the published document list includes:

• a copy of the appendix listing the partners;
• passport copies of the authorised signatories; and
• a notarised authorisation for authorised persons when the application is handled by a manager.

Have the valid trade licence and current company details available as well, and follow any category-specific instruction shown during the application. Documents must match the licence and the people actually authorised to act for the company. Missing or inconsistent signatory details are a common reason to revisit a submission.

How to apply through GDRFA Dubai

1. Confirm the correct service category. Select the private-sector or free-zone establishment-card service appropriate to the company.
2. Use an available channel. GDRFA lists digital channels through its smart services system and in-person Customer Happiness or Amer centres.
3. Sign in and complete the form. The digital route uses UAE Pass or a username. Check the establishment details retrieved by the system before submitting.
4. Attach the requested records. Upload the partner and authorised-signatory evidence that applies to your case.
5. Pay and track the application. Keep the transaction number and review any request for correction.
6. Check the issued card. Compare the name, licence details, partners and authorised persons with your company records before starting dependent immigration work.

GDRFA lists an expected completion time of 48 hours for this service. Treat that as an official estimate, not a guarantee where documents or linked records need correction.

What does it cost?

As shown on the GDRFA service page when checked on 14 October 2026, the listed issuance fee is AED 200 plus 5% VAT. The page also lists AED 10 each for Knowledge and Innovation Dirham, an AED 50 service fee, an optional urgent fee, and an additional charge when using an Amer centre. It separately notes an issuance or renewal fee of AED 100 per year. The final payable amount can depend on the term and channel; check the current checkout or service-centre quote rather than adding these lines as a universal total.

Keep the card current after company changes

GDRFA Dubai has separate services to renew and amend establishment cards. Its amendment service covers changes such as a trade-name change or adding or removing a partner. That means a company should review the immigration record after its trade licence changes; the licence amendment and card amendment are different transactions. Our Dubai trade-licence amendment guide

Also diarise the card's renewal in your compliance calendar. When an establishment's information changes, check the applicable system promptly instead of waiting for the next renewal.

Establishment card versus employee visa

The establishment card is a company-level record. It does not itself grant an employee entry permit or residence visa, and it does not replace the employment approvals needed for a particular worker. Once the company's records are ready, plan each employee's process separately. Our first-employee guide

Common questions

Can a free-zone company use the same application route?

GDRFA's service page includes free-zone establishments, but free-zone authorities may coordinate the filing and other jurisdictions can use different systems. Confirm the route with your free-zone authority before applying.

Is the establishment card the same as the trade licence?

No. The licence authorises the specified business activities; the establishment card records the company for relevant immigration administration. Both should show consistent company information.

Do I need a new card after changing the trade name?

GDRFA provides an amendment service for establishment-card details, including trade name. Check whether your change requires an amendment to the existing card and submit it through the appropriate service.

If your company has its licence and is preparing for immigration or hiring steps, contact Al Shamil Zone to confirm the right establishment-card channel, document list and follow-on transactions.

Official sources checked 14 October 2026: GDRFA Dubai card-issuance service; GDRFA Dubai card-amendment service; ICP card description; GDRFA work-visa quota requirements.