DET, MOHRE, ICP, GDRFA, FTA, Tasheel, Amer, Tawjeeh, DLD and free zones — see how Rubab Consultants liaises with UAE authorities for your business.
On this page
- Why Knowing the Authorities Matters
- DET – Department of Economy and Tourism
- MOHRE – Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- ICP – Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
- GDRFA – General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs
- FTA – Federal Tax Authority
- Tasheel, Amer and Tawjeeh Service Centres
- Dubai Land Department and Ejari
- Dubai Municipality, RTA and Dubai Courts
- Free Zone Authorities
- Coverage Across All UAE Emirates
- How We Work With Authorities on Your Behalf
- Common Authority Problems and How We Solve Them
- What You Should Prepare Before Contacting Us
- Need Help With a Specific Authority?
Why Knowing the Authorities Matters
Anyone who has set up a company in the UAE knows how many organisations are involved. A single new employee can touch the licensing authority, the labour ministry, the immigration department, the identity authority, a health centre and a bank. A delay with one slows everything else, and the cause is often a small mismatch, such as a name spelled differently in two documents.
Rubab Consultants deals with these bodies every day, so your application is prepared the way each desk expects it. Below is a plain-English guide to the main authorities we work with, what they handle and how we help. For an overview of how we manage the process end to end, see our PRO and government liaison services.
DET – Department of Economy and Tourism
DET, formerly known as DED, is Dubai’s economic licensing authority. It issues commercial, professional and industrial licences for mainland companies, approves business names and activities, registers amendments and handles renewals. If you run a mainland company in Dubai, DET is the authority behind your trade licence. We prepare new applications, renewals, activity changes and shareholder or manager amendments, and we resolve fines and blocked files when a licence has expired. Our guide to the Dubai trade licence renewal process explains the steps in detail.
MOHRE – Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
MOHRE regulates the labour market for most private-sector employers. It handles work permits, labour contracts, labour cards, WPS payroll compliance, labour disputes and Emiratisation requirements. Employers use MOHRE to open an establishment file, add a quota, process an employment visa and cancel a contract. We manage employment visas and permits and keep your file free of blocks, and our guide to hiring in the UAE and complying with labour laws explains the practical obligations.
ICP – Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
ICP is the federal authority behind Emirates ID and a range of residency and entry processes. It issues and renews Emirates IDs, manages identity records and works with local immigration departments on visa approvals. For most clients the interaction is the Emirates ID application and renewal after the medical test. We handle biometrics booking, typing and renewals through our Emirates ID and medical processing service.
GDRFA – General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs
GDRFA oversees residence visas, entry permits, status changes, visa cancellations and visa renewals in Dubai. Family sponsorship, investor visas and Golden Visa applications all involve GDRFA. We prepare each file, submit it and track it through approvals and visa stamping. See our pages on family visa and residency services and Golden Visa services.
FTA – Federal Tax Authority
The Federal Tax Authority administers VAT and corporate tax in the UAE. Companies register for corporate tax and, when they meet the threshold, for VAT. They also file returns and keep records. Missing a registration deadline can attract penalties, so we help you register on time and put reminders in place. Read our guide to UAE corporate tax registration deadlines and our VAT registration guide, or speak to our advisory team.
Tasheel, Amer and Tawjeeh Service Centres
Several transactions are delivered through authorised service centres rather than directly by the authority:
- Tasheel processes MOHRE labour transactions such as work permits and contract submissions.
- Amer processes GDRFA immigration transactions such as residence visas and entry permits.
- Tawjeeh provides labour-related guidance and contract-related services.
Our PRO team knows which centre a transaction belongs to and what documents it needs, so your application does not bounce between desks.
Dubai Land Department and Ejari
The Dubai Land Department (DLD) and its Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) regulate property transactions, real estate licensing and tenancy registration. Ejari is the system used to register tenancy contracts, and a registered contract is required to issue or renew a mainland licence and to process many visas. We handle new registrations and renewals through our office and Ejari registration service, and our commercial Ejari guide lists the documents you will need.
Dubai Municipality, RTA and Dubai Courts
Depending on your activity you may also need approvals from other bodies. Dubai Municipality issues commercial permits and health and safety approvals. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) covers vehicle registration, trade plates and transport licensing. Dubai Courts handles legal documentation, attestation and notarisation. Our team identifies these requirements at the start so that your licence is not blocked by a missing approval later.
Free Zone Authorities
Free zones act as their own licensing authorities. We work with IFZA, DMCC, Shams, RAKEZ and Meydan, as well as many other free zones. Our comparison of IFZA, DMCC, RAKEZ, Shams and Meydan explains the key differences, and our UAE company formation team can recommend the best fit.
Coverage Across All UAE Emirates
Although many transactions happen in Dubai, we support clients in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Federal processes such as Emirates ID, labour permits and tax registration are consistent across emirates, while licensing and tenancy are local. We know which rules are federal and which are local, so you receive the right advice for the right emirate. If you are considering Abu Dhabi, read our business setup in Abu Dhabi guide.
How We Work With Authorities on Your Behalf
- Pre-check. We confirm the latest requirements and prepare a checklist before any submission.
- Preparation. We prepare forms, translations and attestations so the file is complete.
- Submission. We submit through the right portal or service centre.
- Follow-up. We track the application, answer queries and correct problems.
- Delivery. We send you the approved document and update your compliance calendar.
Because we work with these bodies daily, we can often anticipate questions an officer will ask and put the answer in the file at the start.
Common Authority Problems and How We Solve Them
A blocked MOHRE file. An expired licence, unpaid fine or missing contract can block an establishment file and prevent new visas. We identify the cause, clear the fine or update the record, and restore the file so transactions can resume.
A rejected visa application. Rejections often come from mismatched names, unclear photographs, missing attestations or an incorrect visa category. We review the rejection reason, correct the file and resubmit under the right category.
A licence that cannot be renewed. The most frequent cause is an expired or unregistered tenancy contract. We renew the Ejari first and then renew the licence. Our guide on the grace period and fines for late renewals explains what to expect if you have already missed the date.
An Emirates ID that has not arrived. Delays usually stem from unfinished biometrics, a pending visa status or address problems. We track the application and resolve the blockage. See our Emirates ID VIP medical test guide.
Conflicting information from different sources. Online forums often repeat outdated rules. We verify requirements directly with the authority or its current published guidance and give you the answer that applies today.
What You Should Prepare Before Contacting Us
You can speed up any authority-related request by having a few items ready: a clear copy of your passport and, if you are in the UAE, your residence visa and Emirates ID; your trade licence and establishment card if you have a company; the notice or message from the authority if you have received one; and a short note on what you want to achieve.
Need Help With a Specific Authority?
If you are facing a blocked file, an expired licence, a visa rejection or a request for additional documents, message us on WhatsApp with a photo of the notice. We will tell you which authority is involved, what it needs and what the options are. For routine matters, our services page lists everything we handle, and our questions and answers page answers common questions about these authorities.
