How to check if a Dubai or UAE company is real
By the Vanguard Verify desk · Published 2026-10-24 · Updated 2026-10-24
Short answer: ask for the company’s trade licence, note the licence number and the issuing authority (Dubai DET for mainland, or the specific free zone), then confirm the licence directly with that authority’s official online lookup or office. Check that the licensed activities cover the trade you are discussing.
Steps
- Licence: licence number, legal name, legal form, expiry date and issuing authority.
- Authority lookup: use the official portal of the mainland authority or the named free zone; never a link sent by the counterparty.
- Activities: a general trading or commodity activity should appear if they sell goods; a consultancy-only licence cannot sell cargo itself.
- People: confirm the manager or signatory named on the licence.
- Bank: the account should be in the licensed company’s exact name.
Red flags
- Expired licence or a different legal name on the bank account.
- Free-zone address that is only a shared desk with no staff for a multi-million cargo.
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FAQ
Can a free-zone company trade internationally?
Yes, within the activities on its licence; check the activities listed on the licence with the issuing free zone.
Vanguard Verify is run by Vanguard Trade Capital Goods Wholesalers DWC-LLC, Dubai South, Licence 14282. This answer is general information, not legal or financial advice.