Step-by-Step Trade Name Reservation for UAE Online Shops

Step-by-step trade name reservation for UAE online shops establishes legal brand identity required for eTrader, mainland, or free zone licenses in 2026, preventing competitors from stealing "DeiraFashion" or "PhoneFixUAE" domains.

This DED-mandated first step—valid 6 months—costs AED 130-620 via dedtrader.ae and unlocks WhatsApp Business catalogs, .ae domains, and Noon seller accounts instantly.

Trade Name Legal Requirements
Must: Reflect business activity ("Online Clothing Retail" not "Global Investments"), use English/Arabic, personal names allowed ("Fatima's Abayas").

Cannot: Government names ("Emirates"), religious references, offensive/abusive terms, existing trademarks.

Step-by-Step Reservation Process
Step 1: Check Availability (2 mins)
dedtrader.ae → "Trade Name Search" → Enter 3 variations: "DeiraTailors", "DeiraTailorShop", "FatimaDeiraTailoring".

Step 2: Login/Register (3 mins)
UAE Pass → Individual account → Applicant details (Emirates ID, passport, mobile).

Step 3: Select Business Activity (5 mins)
Choose from 2,000+ activities: "Online Retail," "E-commerce Services," "Apparel Trading." Primary + 3 secondary allowed.

Step 4: Submit Names + Pay (2 mins)
Upload passport/Emirates ID → AED 130 standard fee (AED 620 premium names like "International").

Step 5: Instant Certificate Download
Approval in 5-30 minutes → PDF reservation certificate (valid 180 days for license application).

Document Checklist
Emirates ID/Passport (color scan)

UAE residency visa (expats)

Makani home address (eTrader)

Business activity selection

Cost Structure Table
Name Type Fee (AED) Approval Time Examples
Standard 130 Instant DeiraTailors
Commercial 310 5 mins DeiraTailorsTrading
Professional 620 30 mins DeiraTailorsLLC
Urgent +200 Priority All types
Common Rejection Reasons + Fixes
❌ "Generic": "Online Shop" → "DeiraFashionOnlineShop"
❌ "Government-like": "Emirates Trading" → "EmiratiTradingCo"
❌ "Existing": Check MOE trademark first