How Many Visas Can You Get with a Dubai Trade License?

How Many Visas Can You Get with a Dubai Trade License?. Setting up a business in Dubai is an attractive option for many entrepreneurs. When you register under a trade licence in Dubai, one of the most frequently asked questions is: “How many visas can I get with a Dubai trade licence?” In this article we explore this question in depth, explain the factors, highlight best practices, and emphasise how Black Swan Business Setup Service can guide you. We also highlight keywords such as “Dubai trade licence”, “visa quota”, “free zone visa limit”, “mainland company visa”, and “office size visa quota”.

What is a Dubai Trade Licence?

A Dubai trade licence (also referred to as a “trade license in Dubai”) is the official permit issued by the relevant authority — either the Department of Economic Development – Dubai (DED) for mainland or the relevant Free-Zone Authority — which allows you to operate a business activity in Dubai.

Having the licence is the first step to business set up; but importantly, once you hold that licence you become eligible to apply for residence visas for yourself, your staff and sometimes your family. In essence, the licence unlocks your visa quota.

Why the Number of Visas Matters

Firstly, the visa quota (or number of visas you can issue) influences your hiring, operations and growth. If you plan to expand, you will need more visas. Secondly, potential investors and staff often ask how many visas are available under your company — this affects talent recruitment. Thirdly, the cost (office space, licence fees) often depends on how many visas you request. Because of these reasons, you must understand how many visas you can get with your licence, and what influences that quota.

Factors That Determine the Visa Quota

Multiple factors affect the number of visas your company can secure under a Dubai trade licence. Key determinants include:

1. Jurisdiction: Mainland vs Free Zone

If you set up on the mainland, the jurisdiction is the DED or relevant authority. Free zones operate under their own visa-quota rules. For example, for free zone companies, some authorities state visa quota depends on office size.

2. Office Size and Type

In many free zones, the visa quota is linked to physical office space. For instance, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) specifies:

Flexi-desk: up to 3 visas
Serviced office: 4-5 visas depending on size
Physical space: 1 visa per every 9 m² office space

Thus your available visa slots may increase if you upgrade from flexi-desk to a full physical office.

3. Licence Type and Activities

The type of trade licence (commercial, professional, industrial, general trading) may also influence the visa quota. Some business activities may require physical staff, others may not. While the licence type by itself does not always fix visa number, it is often tied to office/space and staffing needs.

4. Regulatory Approval and Quota Increase

If you need more visas than the standard quota, you may apply for a quota increase. Many free zone authorities allow this subject to meeting additional requirements (e.g., bigger office, audited accounts, employee numbers).

5. Mainland Companies and Labour Law

For mainland setups (under DED), visa quotas are governed by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) labour-quota regulations. The exact number depends on business activity, capital, and other labour requirements. While clear public tables aren’t always available, you must secure an “establishment card” and then apply for each visa.

Typical Visa Numbers: Free Zone Reference

To give you practical numbers, here are typical quotas for free-zone companies:

A flexi-desk licence often allows 2 to 3 visas (owner + 1–2 employees) under many free zones.
Upgrading to serviced office might allow 4-5 visas.
With a physical office of e.g. 90 m² (10 × 9 m rule) you might be eligible for around 10 visas under the “1 per 9 m²” rule. Essentially, bigger the office, more visas.
Note: These numbers vary by free zone and licence type, so you must check with the specific authority.

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How Black Swan Business Setup Service Helps You

At Black Swan Business Setup Service we guide you through every step, ensuring you maximise your visa quota while remaining compliant:

We advise on the optimal licence type and jurisdiction (mainland vs free zone) based on your business model.
We help you select the office size/type (flexi-desk, serviced, full physical) so you plan for the number of visas you need.
We handle the application for establishment card, visa quota, and where needed a quota increase.
We ensure you budget appropriately for visa costs, health insurance, Emirates ID, and other mandatory expenses.
We review the labour and immigration regulations so you stay within the legal quota and avoid penalties.

Practical Steps to Determine Your Visa Quota

Here’s a step-by-step approach you should follow:

Define your team size: Decide how many employees + yourself + family-members (if you will sponsor) you want.
Choose jurisdiction: Mainland or Free Zone. Free Zones often have clearer “office‐size → visa count” rules.
Select office type/size: Flexi-desk, serviced office, physical space. Bigger space = more visas.
Apply for trade licence: Register your business and secure the trade licence.
Apply for establishment card / quota: For mainland you get the establishment card; for free zone you apply for visa quota based on your chosen office.
Check for quota increase (if needed): If you later hire more staff, you may upgrade the office or apply for an increase.
Sponsor visas: Apply for your visas (employee visas, investor visa, dependent visas) up to your quota.
Maintain compliance: Use the visas properly; renew licence annually; ensure you meet labour and immigration rules.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Under-estimating staff needs: Starting with a flexi-desk is cheap, but if you plan to hire 10 people, you’ll hit the visa cap quickly.
Opening with minimal office and later migrating: While possible, migrating to a bigger office and applying for more visas may cost extra and cause delays.
Ignoring labour law quota for mainland set-ups: Mainland visa quota is tied to MOHRE rules and your business activity; ignoring it can lead to penalties.
Assuming unlimited visas: Even with a trade licence, you cannot issue unlimited visas — you must stay within the quota.
Delaying renewals: Visa quotas often get reset or reviewed upon licence renewal or office change; failing to renew on time can affect your visa eligibility.

Key Keywords to Highlight

Throughout your website content you should emphasise the following keywords for SEO:

Dubai trade licence
How many visas can you get with a Dubai trade licence
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Free zone visa limit Dubai
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Office size visa quota Dubai free zone
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These keywords will help your content rank for prospects searching exactly this topic.

Conclusion

In short: the number of visas you can get with a Dubai trade licence depends on the jurisdiction (mainland vs free zone), the type and size of your office, the licence activity and whether you apply for a quota increase. Free zones commonly link visa quotas to office size (for example, 1 visa per 9 m²). Mainland companies must follow MOHRE labour quotas. At Black Swan Business Setup Service, we assist you to plan your licence, office selection and visa quota from the start, so you don’t face road-blocks later.

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