WhatsApp quoteIn short, getting Import / Export Code right at the start avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and tedious to appeal. Put simply, the Federal Tax Authority's EmaraTax portal makes Import / Export Code a digital process, but the questions it asks are precise and the supporting documents must match your licence exactly. The most common businesses Germans open through GoldenKey are in engineering, industrial machinery, automotive and renewable energy, although Import / Export Code supports almost any activity. Germans are a well-organised business community with a German Emirati Joint Council and hundreds of Mittelstand subsidiaries, so the Import / Export Code authority, the banks and the immigration officers see German applications every day and process them without hesitation.
Why Import / Export Code
Just as important, the steps for Import / Export Code are: apply on the Dubai Trade or relevant customs portal, upload licence and authorised signatory papers, pay the registration fee and then link the code to your freight forwarder. Crucially, 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 has prepared Import / Export Code files for German clients in engineering, industrial machinery, automotive and renewable energy, which means we know which Germany paperwork need attestation and which can be submitted as plain copies.
Documents required
Here is what you will need for import / export code for German-owned companies; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.
- Trade licence and certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum of association showing shareholders
- Turnover evidence such as invoices, contracts or financial statements
- Customs code and import records where applicable
- Passport and Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Bank account letter or IBAN certificate
Pricing
To be clear, use the table below to compare packages for import / export code for German-owned companies; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. To be clear, the figures below for import / export code for German-owned companies 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
As we tell every client, the UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many founders choose it as a base for import / export code for German-owned companies. In practice, there are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from import / export code for German-owned companies can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely.
Why GoldenKey
Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for import / export code for German-owned companies happen the same day they are ready. In our experience, 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 German-owned companies. In practice, our quotations for import / export code for German-owned companies list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before you pay anything.
Book a call with GoldenKey and we will confirm your eligibility, your costs and your next steps for import / export code for German-owned companies in a single conversation.
Frequently asked questions
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.
How long does Import / Export Code take with the FTA?
The FTA typically responds within 20 business days, and simple applications are often approved faster. GoldenKey submits a complete file to avoid information requests.
Can a German citizen own 100% of a company in Import / Export Code?
Yes, it can. Germans can own the full share capital of a Import / Export Code company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
Is there a double taxation agreement between Germany and the UAE?
Importantly, the UAE has double taxation agreements with more than 130 countries. Whether Germany is covered and how it applies to you depends on the current treaty position, which GoldenKey checks with a tax adviser before you rely on it.
