Renew your licence on or before the expiry date on it. Each authority sets its own fees and penalties, and most publish only some of them. RAKEZ publishes a late renewal penalty of AED 50 per day. Ask for a written renewal invoice, then pay before the date.
By Imran Mirza, Founder & CEO, Xillion Group UAE. Born and raised in the UAE, with 18+ years of professional working experience, including nearly seven years at Barclays and ADCB and 12 years in UAE business setup. Last reviewed 29 October 2026.
A lapsed licence does not close the company, and penalties can keep building. Free zones renew through their own portals, and the zone pages we read give few fee amounts: RAKEZ publishes AED 50 per day for late renewal, and Meydan, IFZA and DMCC say charges apply without giving amounts. DMCC licence terms run 1, 2, 3 or 5 years for eligible licences. Mainland licences renew with the licensing department, such as Dubai DET, and we have not published a mainland fee table.
Xillion Group UAE is a consultancy. It is not a licensing authority, a bank or a law firm, and approvals are decided by the authority. This page is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice, and nothing here is a guarantee.
Your case may need more or less. We confirm the exact list with the authority or partner before you spend time on it.
| Zone | Late renewal as published | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ | AED 50 per day from expiry, per the renewal checklist (issued 22 Jan 2025) | Renewal by zone |
| Meydan Free Zone | Late charges may apply, no amount given | Same page |
| IFZA | Fines and possible suspension, no amount given | Same page |
| DMCC | Sanction and penalties, amounts in DMCC's schedule of charges, none on the renewal page | Same page |
| SHAMS | Licence can be suspended or cancelled for unpaid fees. A fine of AED 1,000 may be imposed for a breach of the regulations | Same page |
| Mainland (for example Dubai DET) | Not covered in our sources | Quote on request |
Penalties and restrictions can apply and the date does not move. RAKEZ publishes AED 50 per day. Other zones publish no amounts on the pages we read. See expired trade licence.
Meydan says invoicing, new contracts and client onboarding on an expired licence carry risk. DMCC says a company must not operate without a valid licence.
No. The company stays on record. To close it, see cancelling a free zone company.
DMCC lists processing time as 2 business days on its renewal guideline. Confirm with DMCC.
Compare both costs in writing. Our expired licence page explains how to decide.
Quote on request. Authority fees are separate.
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Zone details were checked on 29 October 2026 on each zone's own pages. Zones change fees and rules, so confirm before you pay. Xillion is not a licensing authority.
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