Business verification in the United Arab Emirates
VBC certifies businesses registered in the United Arab Emirates. Verification starts from the official record: in UAE the company register is maintained by the Department of Economic Development in each emirate, or the relevant free zone authority, and the entity is identified by its trade licence number.
UAE businesses are licensed either on the mainland through an emirate's Department of Economic Development or inside one of the free zones, each of which maintains its own register. The two produce different licence documents, so the review takes account of which applies.
Where a business is registered for tax, the Tax Registration Number (TRN) where the business is VAT registered is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why UAE businesses certify
The UAE's economy runs heavily on re-export and intermediary trade, so a large share of businesses there deal daily with counterparties who have never met them. Free zone companies in particular often sell into markets where their licensing authority is unfamiliar, which is exactly the gap a checkable certificate closes.
What VBC verifies for a UAE business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a UAE business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Trade licence issued by the DED or free zone authority
- Memorandum of association or free zone establishment certificate
- Emirates ID and passport copy of the authorised signatory
- Ejari tenancy contract or free zone lease for the registered address
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a UAE business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
See businesses in UAE that already hold a VBC certificate.
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Questions from UAE businesses
Can a business registered in the United Arab Emirates get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in the United Arab Emirates. Verification is based on records from the Department of Economic Development in each emirate, or the relevant free zone authority, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a UAE business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a UAE business normally supplies: trade licence issued by the DED or free zone authority; memorandum of association or free zone establishment certificate; emirates ID and passport copy of the authorised signatory; ejari tenancy contract or free zone lease for the registered address. The Tax Registration Number (TRN) where the business is VAT registered is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the trade licence number used for in verification?
The trade licence number identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by the Department of Economic Development in each emirate, or the relevant free zone authority. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a UAE business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in the United Arab Emirates?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in the United Arab Emirates remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a UAE business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.