TFZ

19th Floor, Conrad Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

+971 58 544 8108
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Dubai Business Setup

Dubai Mainland Company Formation

Set up a Dubai mainland company and trade across the UAE without restriction.

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DET Licensed

Built for UAE-Wide Business

From activity selection and licensing to office, visas and banking, TFZ handles the complete setup.

Dubai Mainland

Your Gateway to the UAE Market

A Dubai mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) and can trade anywhere in the UAE and abroad without restriction. It is the right choice if you want to sell to customers across the UAE, open shops or restaurants, bid for government contracts, or work with mainland clients without an intermediary.

Since 2021, foreign investors can own 100% of a mainland company in most commercial and industrial activities. No local sponsor is needed. TFZ handles the full set-up, from activity selection and name approval to office, licence, visas and bank account.

Why Choose Dubai Mainland

Built for the UAE Market

Dubai mainland provides broad market access, flexible premises and strong business credibility.

01
100% Ownership

100% foreign ownership for most activities; no local partner required.

02
UAE-Wide Trade

Freedom to trade across all seven emirates and internationally.

03
Government Contracts

Eligible to bid for UAE government and semi-government contracts.

04
Flexible Premises

Rent an office, shop, warehouse or clinic anywhere in Dubai.

05
Visa Capacity

No fixed visa limit, subject to office size.

06
2,000+ Activities

Wide choice across trading, services, industrial and professional categories.

07
Flexible Locations

Offices, shops, warehouses and clinics can be located throughout Dubai.

08
Banking Acceptance

Strong banking acceptance and business credibility.

Licence Options

Types of Dubai Mainland Licences

01

Commercial Licence

Trading, import and export, general trading, e-commerce and contracting.

Common Legal Form

LLC

02

Professional Licence

Consultancy, IT services, marketing, design, engineering, legal and accounting.

Common Legal Form

Sole Establishment, Civil Company or LLC

03

Industrial Licence

Manufacturing, processing and assembly.

Common Legal Form

LLC

04

Tourism Licence

Travel agencies, tour operators and hotels.

Common Legal Form

LLC

05

Instant Licence

Selected activities, issued in minutes without an office for the first year.

Common Legal Form

LLC or Sole Establishment

Legal Structures

Choose the Right Legal Form

Legal Form Best For Key Points
Limited Liability Company (LLC) Most businesses 1 to 50 shareholders, 100% foreign ownership in most activities, liability limited to shares
Sole Establishment Individual professionals One owner, unlimited liability, professional activities
Civil Company Partnerships of professionals Two or more professional partners
Branch of a Foreign Company International companies Same name and activities as parent, parent is liable
Branch of a Free Zone Company Free zone companies expanding to mainland Allows mainland trading
Public / Private Joint Stock Company Large capital projects Minimum capital and board requirements
Formation Process

Step-by-Step Dubai Mainland Company Setup

01
Choose Activities and Legal Form

Choose the business activities and legal form with TFZ.

02
Reserve Trade Name

Reserve the trade name with DET.

03
Initial Approval

Obtain Initial Approval from DET.

04
MOA

Draft and notarise the Memorandum of Association for LLCs.

05
Office and Ejari

Secure office space and register the Ejari tenancy contract.

06
External Approvals

Obtain external approvals where required.

07
Trade Licence

Pay licence fees and receive the trade licence.

08
Dubai Chamber

Register with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

09
Establishment Card

Apply for the Establishment Card and open a labour file with MOHRE.

10
Investor and Employee Visas

Apply for investor and employee visas.

11
Tax and Banking

Register for corporate tax and VAT where applicable and open a bank account.

Documentation

Documents Required

TFZ helps you prepare and coordinate the required documentation throughout the setup.

✓ Passport copies of all shareholders and managers
✓ UAE visa and Emirates ID copies or entry stamp
✓ Passport-size photographs
✓ Proposed trade names and list of activities
✓ No Objection Certificate from current sponsor where applicable
✓ Ejari tenancy contract
✓ Corporate documents of corporate shareholders
✓ External authority approvals where applicable
Formation Timeline

How Long Does It Take?

01
Trade Name & Approval
1–3 working days
02
MOA Notarisation
1–2 working days
03
Office & Ejari
2–5 working days
04
External Approvals
1–4 weeks
05
Trade Licence
1–3 working days
06
Establishment & Labour File
3–5 working days
07
Investor Visa & Emirates ID
2–3 weeks
08
Bank Account
2–4 weeks
09
Typical Total
2–4 weeks for licence

5–8 weeks fully operational

Investment

Cost of Dubai Mainland Company Formation

Indicative costs in AED. Final pricing depends on activity, legal form, number of visas and office size.

Cost Item Indicative Amount (AED) Frequency
Trade name reservation 620 to 2,000 One-time
Initial approval 120 to 500 One-time
MOA notarisation 1,200 to 2,500 One-time
DET trade licence fee 10,000 to 15,000 Annual
Market fee Varies Annual
Dubai Chamber membership 1,200 to 2,000 Annual
External approvals 500 to 10,000 As required
Office rent 15,000 to 50,000+ Annual
Establishment card 600 to 2,000 Every 1–2 years
Investor visa, medical, Emirates ID 4,000 to 6,000 Every 2 years
Employee visa per person 5,000 to 7,500 Every 2 years
TFZ professional fees Quoted on request One-time
Typical all-in first-year package 25,000 to 45,000 First year
Stay Compliant

Compliance Requirements

Renew with DET, including valid Ejari and Chamber membership. Frequency: Annual.

9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000; register with FTA and file a return. Frequency: Annual, within 9 months of year end.

5% VAT; mandatory registration once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000. Frequency: Quarterly or monthly returns.

Maintain accounts; audit required for many activities and for corporate tax purposes. Frequency: Annual.

Notification and report for relevant activities. Frequency: Annual.

Declare beneficial owners with DET. Frequency: On registration and on change.

Pay staff salaries through the WPS. Frequency: Monthly.

Companies with 50+ employees: 2% Emiratis per year in skilled roles; smaller companies in selected sectors: 1 Emirati.

Employment contracts, end-of-service and medical insurance for all staff. Frequency: Ongoing.

Register on goAML for DNFBP activities such as real estate, gold and corporate services. Frequency: Ongoing.

Renew investor and staff visas. Frequency: Every 2 years.
Compare

Dubai Mainland vs Free Zone

Dubai Mainland

Trade within UAE Unrestricted
Government Contracts Eligible
Office Physical office required
Visa Quota Based on office size
Corporate Tax 9% above AED 375,000
Best For Retail, F&B, contracting, local services, government work

Free Zone

Trade within UAE Restricted; distributor or mainland branch may be needed
Government Contracts Generally not eligible
Office Flexi-desk often enough
Visa Quota Fixed by package
Corporate Tax 0% on qualifying income if conditions met
Best For Export, consultancy, tech, holding
Our Support

How TFZ Helps

From initial planning to ongoing compliance, TFZ manages the complete company formation journey.

01
Activity & Structure

Free activity and structure consultation.

02
DET Registration

DET registration, MOA drafting and notarisation.

03
Office Solutions

Flexi-desks to full offices with Ejari.

04
External Approvals

External approvals with Dubai authorities.

05
Visa Processing

Visa processing for investors and employees.

06
Ongoing Compliance

Bank account introductions, accounting, VAT and corporate tax compliance.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about setting up a Dubai mainland company.

No. Since 2021, most commercial and industrial activities allow 100% foreign ownership. A few strategic activities still require Emirati participation, which TFZ will confirm for your activity.

Government fees for a standard commercial or professional licence are around AED 10,000 to 15,000 per year. Including office, visa and professional fees, a typical first-year budget is AED 25,000 to 45,000.

A registered office with Ejari is required. Flexi-desk and shared office solutions are accepted for many activities and keep the cost low. The Instant Licence allows the first year without an office for selected activities.

Mainland visa quotas depend on office size (roughly one visa per 9 square metres). There is no fixed cap.

Yes. Mainland companies pay 9% corporate tax on taxable profits above AED 375,000. Small businesses may qualify for Small Business Relief up to AED 3 million revenue.
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A Dubai mainland licence gives you the widest reach in the UAE market. TFZ | UAE Business Structuring and Corporate Advisory makes the process simple, transparent and fast.

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Contact TFZ today for a free consultation and a written quotation for Dubai mainland company formation.