Dubai cuts delivery licensing from 12 steps to three
New postal and courier licence applications can go through Invest in Dubai. The system obtains five documents directly from the authorities.
What changed and when
On 12 November 2026, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the postal sector regulator had integrated their systems. Applicants can complete the requirements for a new licence through Invest in Dubai. The announcement gave no separate effective date.
The process now has three steps instead of 12 and the form has 12 fields instead of 40. The authorities exchange five documents that applicants previously had to upload. WAM reported that the online process time fell from 46 to 10 minutes. The announcement did not specify the total time to licence issuance.
Who is affected
The update covers applicants for a new licence in Dubai for postal, courier, express or parcel delivery services. Check the applicable procedure separately for renewals and free zone applications. The announcement also did not specify the process for online retailers that outsource delivery.
Example: an entrepreneur starts a courier service
Choose the business activity that matches courier services in Invest in Dubai. Before paying, check the fees, required information and any documents the service still asks for. Submit through the portal and track the application. Plan to begin operating once the licence has been issued.