What D-U-N-S is
A D-U-N-S number is a 9-digit ID issued by Dun & Bradstreet that uniquely identifies your business. It's the world's most-used business credit identifier. Apple and Google use it to verify that the legal entity enrolling as a developer is a real, registered business.
It is free. Do not pay anyone for a D-U-N-S number. Third-party services will try to charge you $200+ for expedited processing, that's a convenience fee, not a requirement.
How to request one (free path)
Go to developer.apple.com/enroll/duns-lookup. Search your business name in the D-U-N-S lookup tool. If you already have one, you'll see it here, many UAE businesses do through prior credit checks.
If you don't, click Start new D-U-N-S number request. You'll fill in your legal business name, trade license number, physical address, and a primary contact. Submit.
Dun & Bradstreet will email within 5-7 business days with your number. That's it.
Why it sometimes takes longer
Address mismatches: if your trade license shows one address and your website shows another, D&B asks for clarification. Resolve by providing utility bills or bank statements matching the trade license address.
Trade name vs legal name: many UAE businesses operate under a trade name different from the legal entity. Use the legal entity in the request; you can add the trade name as a 'doing business as' later.
Multiple entities: if your brand is one of several under a holding group, request D-U-N-S for the entity that will hold the Apple/Google accounts. Usually the operating entity, not the parent.
Why this is on the first-week checklist
If everything else on your launch takes four weeks and this takes two, you still need to start it on day one to stay on schedule. It is the slowest external dependency in the entire launch sequence.