Your UAE company license number is one of those details you do not think about until you urgently need it, for a bank request, a visa file, a tax registration, a portal login, or a compliance renewal. The good news is that it is usually easy to find once you know which document or portal to check (and which “numbers” not to confuse it with).
What is a UAE company license number (and why it matters)
A company license number (often printed on your trade license) is the identifier issued by the authority that licensed your business. Depending on where you are licensed, that authority could be:
- A mainland Department of Economy and Tourism or Department of Economic Development (names vary by emirate)
- A free zone authority
- An offshore registry (typically through a registered agent)
You will be asked for the license number in common situations such as:
- Bank account opening and ongoing bank compliance checks
- Visa processing and immigration-related filings
- VAT and corporate tax administration tasks (alongside other identifiers)
- Contracting with suppliers, marketplaces, and government portals
- License renewal and amendments (activities, shareholders, address, etc.)
The fastest place to find it: your trade license document
In most cases, the quickest answer is simply: open your trade license PDF (or the printed license) and look near the top section, where the authority lists core company details.
Your license number is commonly shown alongside details like:
- Legal name (English and sometimes Arabic)
- Legal form (LLC, FZ-LLC, branch, etc.)
- Licensed activities
- Issue date and expiry date
- Address
If you only have a scanned copy
If the license is a scan or photo, zoom in around:
- The header area (under the authority logo)
- The “License Details” or “Company Information” block
- Any QR code area (some licenses encode the license number in the QR)
Where to find your company license number by setup type
The right “place to look” depends on whether you are mainland, free zone, or offshore.
| Company type | Where the license number is usually displayed | If you cannot access it quickly |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland company | Trade license certificate and the emirate’s economic department portal record | Contact the licensing authority support with company name and owner details |
| Free zone company | Free zone license certificate and the free zone’s online portal or company dashboard | Contact the free zone authority or your corporate services provider |
| Offshore company | Certificate of incorporation or registry extract (often via registered agent) | Ask your registered agent for the latest corporate documents |
Mainland (onshore) companies
If your company is licensed on the mainland, your license number will be on the trade license issued by the relevant authority in your emirate.
If you do not have the PDF handy, the second-fastest route is usually the authority’s online portal, where your company profile and license details can be searched or viewed (access rules vary).
Practical places to check:
- Your original trade license email from the authority or formation agent
- Any renewal invoice or renewal confirmation email attached to the license
- Your internal compliance folder (many companies store “signed corporate documents” in one place)
Free zone companies
Free zones typically provide:
- A license certificate (PDF)
- A portal account where you can view your company profile, renewals, and downloadable documents
If you have multiple documents (for example, a license plus a certificate of incorporation), rely on the license certificate first, since it is the document most counterparties expect when they ask for the “license number.”
Offshore companies
Offshore structures often do not operate with the same “trade license” format as mainland and free zone entities. Many offshore companies rely on:
- A certificate of incorporation
- A registry extract or company search document
In these cases, the “license number” request may actually be a request for your registration number or incorporation number. If a bank, vendor, or authority asks for a license number and you are offshore, clarify what they accept and provide the registry document that shows the official identifier.
Other documents where your license number may appear
If the trade license PDF is not available, you can often find the license number repeated on supporting documents.
Common documents that may show the license number
- Establishment Card (immigration file document for the company)
- Visa or immigration application paperwork that references the sponsoring company
- Bank KYC forms or bank onboarding checklists (banks sometimes request and store the license number)
- Tenancy-related documents used for licensing or renewals (where applicable)
- Invoices from the licensing authority (renewal or amendment invoices often reference the license)
Important: document names and formats vary across emirates and authorities. If you see multiple identifiers on a document, do not assume they are interchangeable.
Do not mix these up: license number vs other UAE company numbers
It is normal to see several “official numbers” across your company paperwork. Here are the most commonly confused ones.
- Company license number (trade license number): The identifier tied to the license issued by the licensing authority.
- Commercial registration number (CR number): A registration identifier that may appear separately from the license number, depending on the authority and company type.
- Establishment card number: Used for immigration and labor-related administration.
- Tax Registration Number (TRN): Issued by the Federal Tax Authority after VAT registration (not the same as a license number).
When a third party asks for a “license number,” the safest workflow is:
- Provide the number exactly as shown on the trade license.
- Attach the trade license PDF as evidence, if allowed.
- If they reject it, ask whether they actually need the CR number, TRN, or establishment card.
How to retrieve your license number if you lost the trade license
If you cannot find the license document in email, portal, or internal storage, retrieval is usually straightforward, but you must go through the correct channel.
What to prepare before contacting the authority
Have these details ready (as many as possible):
- Company legal name (English and Arabic, if available)
- Emirate and licensing authority (mainland or free zone)
- License issue or expiry month (approximate is often fine)
- Owner or manager name(s)
- Registered phone number and email used during setup
Who to contact
- Mainland: the economic department portal support or service center for your emirate
- Free zone: your free zone’s customer support or portal helpdesk
- Offshore: your registered agent
If you are in the middle of setting up and want to avoid delays caused by missing documents, it can help to work with a specialist. For example, if you are comparing providers for formation and licensing assistance, you can review options like Dubai business setup support and then choose the team that best matches your structure and compliance needs.
How to verify your license number is correct
Before you submit a license number to a bank or counterparty, do a quick consistency check:
- Confirm the number on the license matches any renewal invoice references.
- Verify the company name spelling matches the license.
- Check the issue and expiry dates to ensure you are sharing an active (or the correct historical) license.
- If your license includes a QR code, scan it to confirm it points to the same entity details.
For general guidance on UAE eGovernment services and official channels, you can also refer to the UAE government portal at u.ae.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the company license number on a UAE trade license? It is typically near the top of the trade license document, often labeled “License No.” alongside the company name, legal form, issue date, and expiry date.
Is the license number the same as the commercial registration (CR) number? Not always. Some authorities display both a license number and a CR number. If a form specifically asks for “license number,” use the number shown on the trade license.
Can I find my company license number online? Often yes. Mainland authorities and most free zones provide online portals where you can view or download license documents. Access depends on the authority and your registered login details.
What if I have an offshore company and no trade license? Offshore entities may be identified by an incorporation or registration number instead of a trade license number. Ask the requesting party what identifier they accept and provide the relevant registry document.
Why does a bank ask for my license number if I already gave my trade license copy? Banks often capture the license number as a structured data field for KYC and ongoing compliance. They may ask for it separately even if they already have the PDF.
Need help finding (or fixing) the right company identifiers?
If you are unsure which number a bank or authority is asking for, or you want your corporate documents and compliance records organized properly, Alldren can help you establish and manage your UAE company structure with transparent, expert-led support. Learn more at alldren.com.
