Sharjah

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Trade Licence Required

Yes, mainland. A commercial trade licence covering household goods moving or a related goods-transport activity, issued by SEDD, with the activities selected from SEDD’s published activity list.

Business Premises Required

Yes. Mainland businesses need a physical address and a rental agreement for the premises; available sources indicate that in Sharjah commercial tenancy contracts are attested by Sharjah Municipality. A warehouse is needed only where the mover offers storage.

SRTA Truck Permit

Yes

Where applicable. SRTA issues truck permits through its Toll Plaza Department to companies or individuals, on daily, weekly, monthly or yearly terms. An application includes a valid commercial licence, the licence of each vehicle covered and the contracts for the areas where the trucks will work. Movers that operate their own trucks should confirm with SRTA whether those trucks need a permit for the areas and times they will operate. Where the mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own permits and vehicle documents cover that transport.

Truck Road-Timing Restrictions

Operational, not a licensing gate. SRTA, with Sharjah Police, sets time-of-day and road-specific restrictions on truck movement and changes them from time to time (for example, restrictions on three main roads were lifted in March 2026). This affects scheduling and dispatch planning.

Drivers

Yes, for drivers of the mover’s own vehicles. Drivers must hold a valid UAE driving licence for the category of vehicle they drive (for example, light vehicle or heavy vehicle). No single licence covers every truck, and a vehicle owner must not let someone drive without the correct licence.

Vehicle Insurance Required

Yes, for every vehicle the mover operates. Every vehicle must be insured with a UAE-licensed insurer covering civil liability for death, injury and property damage it causes, as a condition of licensing the vehicle under federal traffic law. This protects third parties, not the customer’s goods.

Protection for Customers’ Goods

No law requiring household movers to insure your goods was identified. Ask the mover what protection it offers for your goods, its limits, and whether it is insurance or the mover’s own liability.

Consumer Contract Rules

Yes. Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection (amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2023) and its Executive Regulations apply to the service contract with the consumer. Among other things, the provider must issue a detailed invoice in Arabic showing the price and details of the service, contracts with consumers must be in Arabic (other languages may be added), and a defective service must be re-performed or refunded. The federal Ministry of Economy and Tourism supervises the law nationally, with Sharjah’s own consumer protection function handling local complaints.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Sharjah does not issue a single moving-industry licence. As in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, mainland licensing through SEDD is the practical path for a household goods mover, with the trade licence listing the approved activities and supported by registered business premises. On the vehicle side, for movers that operate their own trucks, SRTA’s truck permits, issued through its Toll Plaza Department on flexible terms, work differently from Dubai’s annual RTA activity permit and Abu Dhabi’s company, vehicle and driver permits. SRTA also sets time-of-day and road restrictions on truck movement that affect scheduling. Where the mover subcontracts transport, the carrier’s own permits cover that transport. Finally, the consumer side of the contract is governed by the same federal consumer protection law that applies across the UAE.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers must:

Company licensing

1. Hold a mainland trade licence through SEDD, with the appropriate activity or activities selected from SEDD’s approved list.
2. Maintain business premises with a tenancy contract registered or attested as Sharjah requires. A warehouse is needed only where the mover offers storage.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

3. Obtain SRTA truck permits where required for the areas and times the mover’s trucks will operate, choosing the permit term that fits the operation.
4. Observe SRTA’s truck road-timing restrictions when planning dispatch.
5. Ensure every driver holds a valid UAE driving licence for the category of vehicle driven.
6. Register, license and insure every vehicle with a UAE-licensed insurer.

Subcontracted transport

7. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

8. Provide contracts, estimates and invoices that comply with Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection (as amended) and its Executive Regulations, including a detailed Arabic invoice.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Mainland trade licence held via SEDD, with the correct activitiesVerified by DocumentRequired
• Business premises with registered or attested tenancy (warehouse lease only if storage is offered)Verified by DocumentRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• SRTA truck permit held for the areas and times operatedWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks in areas and at times that require an SRTA permit)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Truck movements observe SRTA road-timing restrictionsWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks in Sharjah)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Drivers hold the correct UAE driving licence category for the vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Vehicles registered, licensed and insuredWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Contract, estimate and Arabic invoice compliant with Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 (as amended) and its Executive RegulationsVerified by AffirmationRequired