WhatsApp quoteIn our experience, getting Import / Export Code right at the start avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and tedious to appeal. On the ground, import / Export Code is a customs client code that lets your company clear goods through UAE ports and airports, and it applies to any company that physically imports or exports goods, whether mainland or free zone. Typical examples of this activity include Shopify store, Amazon FBA seller, Noon marketplace seller and dropshipping, which can usually sit together on one Import / Export Code licence. Day to day, external approvals for e-commerce are: payment gateway onboarding needs a UAE bank account and the trade licence.
Why Import / Export Code
On the ground, penalties for late Import / Export Code or late filing start at fixed amounts and grow with delay, which is why GoldenKey diarises every deadline for its clients. GoldenKey prepares the EmaraTax application for Import / Export Code, uploads the paperwork and follows up with the FTA until the certificate is issued. Day to day, import / Export Code is a sensible home for e-commerce because selling physical or digital products online through your own store or marketplaces such as Amazon.ae and Noon is a well-understood activity there and the approvals are routine.
How Import / Export Code works with GoldenKey
Step 1Assessment
We confirm whether Import / Export Code is mandatory, voluntary or not yet required for your business, and set the right timing.
Step 2EmaraTax setup
GoldenKey opens or accesses your EmaraTax account and links the licence, signatory and bank details needed for Import / Export Code. Your portal shows the status of this step for import / export code for an e-commerce business in real time.
Step 3Application
We complete the Import / Export Code application with turnover, activity and import details and upload the supporting documents.
Step 4Certificate and compliance calendar
Put simply, once the FTA approves, we diarise your return and payment deadlines so nothing is missed. For import / export code for an e-commerce business, GoldenKey completes this stage with you on WhatsApp or by email.
Documents required
Here is what you will need for import / export code for an e-commerce business; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
- Customs code and import records where applicable
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
Pricing
Pricing for import / export code for an e-commerce business depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. The figures below for import / export code for an e-commerce business are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
| GoldenKey service fee | AED 2,000 |
|---|
Dubai Customs or respective emirate customs code for trade activity
Request this servicePrices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-05.
Why the UAE
From day one, english is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies import / export code for an e-commerce business for international founders. The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, and for that reason so many founders choose it as a base for import / export code for an e-commerce business.
Why GoldenKey
As we tell every client, we speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for import / export code for an e-commerce business. From day one, we will tell you plainly if Import / Export Code is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. Every Import / Export Code package we quote already includes the licence, registration, the establishment card where applicable and our full assistance, with no hidden add-ons at the end.
In our experience, prefer to visit? Our Ajman office welcomes walk-ins during working hours, and we can also meet you in Dubai or Sharjah by appointment to discuss import / export code for an e-commerce business.
Frequently asked questions
Is Import / Export Code mandatory for a free zone company?
Yes, it can. Free zone traders need a customs code to move goods in and out of the zone, and a separate mainland importer code if they sell into the UAE market.
What happens if I miss the Import / Export Code deadline?
Late registration attracts a fixed penalty, and late filings add further penalties. If you are already late, GoldenKey can register you and advise on penalty reconsideration where grounds exist.
Can GoldenKey act as my tax agent?
Yes, it can. GoldenKey can prepare and submit filings on your behalf and handle FTA correspondence, so you have one point of contact for licence, visa and tax matters.
Is e-commerce allowed in Import / Export Code?
As we tell every client, import / Export Code applies to an e-commerce business businesses on the same basis as any other UAE company: any company that physically imports or exports goods, whether mainland or free zone.
What approvals does e-commerce need?
In practice, payment gateway onboarding needs a UAE bank account and the trade licence. GoldenKey obtains these as part of the setup.
