Business setup
Mainland company formation in Dubai, free to trade anywhere in the UAE.
A mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economy in its emirate and can sell to any customer in the UAE, including government. We handle the name, approvals, memorandum, office, licence and visas.
- Foreign ownership for most activities
- 100%
- Trade with any customer, including government
- UAE-wide
- Typical time to licence
- 1 to 3 weeks
Overview
The licence for businesses whose customers are in the UAE.
If you plan to open a shop, run a restaurant, take contracting work, bid for government tenders or provide services to local companies, a mainland licence is usually the right choice. There is no restriction on where in the UAE you operate, and no need for a distributor between you and your customers.
Since 2021, most commercial and industrial activities can be fully owned by foreign investors without a local partner. Professional licences for consultants and service providers may still need a local service agent, who holds no shares and has no say in the business.
- Licensed by the Department of Economy
- Commercial, professional and industrial licences
- No limit on visas beyond office size
- Eligible for government contracts
Benefits
Why founders choose the mainland.
The extra steps buy you the widest market access.
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No market limits
Sell directly to consumers, companies and government anywhere in the country.
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Any office location
Rent wherever suits the business, from a serviced office to a warehouse or a retail unit.
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Wide choice of activities
Thousands of licensed activities, and several can be combined on one licence.
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Visas scale with space
The visa quota grows with your office size, so the company can grow without restructuring.
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Easier banking
Banks are familiar with mainland companies and their documents.
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Branches anywhere
Open branches in other emirates under the same parent company.
Good to know
Points to weigh before you apply.
We go through each of these on the first call.
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Corporate tax
Taxable income above AED 375,000 is taxed at 9%. There is no free zone 0% rate on the mainland.
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Physical office
A registered tenancy contract is required, which adds cost compared with a free zone flexi-desk.
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External approvals
Activities such as food, healthcare, education and transport need approval from their own regulator.
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Annual audit
LLCs must appoint a licensed auditor each year, and banks will ask for the audited accounts.
The process
Mainland setup in four steps.
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Activity and legal form
We match your business to licensed activities and choose between an LLC, a sole establishment, a civil company or a branch.
Day 1 -
Name and initial approval
Trade name reservation and initial approval from the Department of Economy, with any external approvals.
Week 1 -
Memorandum and office
Memorandum of association signed, tenancy contract registered.
Week 1 to 2 -
Licence and visas
Licence issued, then establishment card, labour file, visas and the bank account.
Week 2 to 3
Getting started
Documents for a mainland licence.
The Department of Economy may ask for more, depending on the activity.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- UAE visa page and Emirates ID, if resident
- No-objection letter from a current UAE sponsor, where required
- Three proposed trade names
- Tenancy contract for the office, registered with Ejari or its equivalent
- For corporate shareholders: attested incorporation documents and a board resolution
Mainland company FAQ
Questions about a mainland company.
Have a question about your own company? An advisor replies the same working day.
Ask on WhatsApp
Do I need a local sponsor for a mainland company?
For most commercial and industrial activities, no. Foreign investors can own 100% of the shares. Some professional licences need a local service agent, who has no ownership or management rights, and a short list of strategic activities still has ownership conditions.
How long does mainland company formation take?
Usually one to three weeks from the first application to the licence, depending on the activity and whether external approvals are needed. Visas and the bank account follow.
Can a mainland company do business in free zones and abroad?
Yes. A mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE and internationally.
Does a mainland company pay corporate tax?
Yes. Taxable income up to AED 375,000 is taxed at 0% and the excess at 9%. Small businesses with revenue of AED 3 million or less may elect for small business relief, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2026.
Free consultation
Tell us about the business. We will suggest the right structure.
Send a few details and an advisor will call you back within one working day with next steps and a fixed quote. No obligation.
- Call+971 52 202 3984
- WhatsAppChat with an advisor
- Emailadvisor@ashfordmc.com
- OfficeAl Shafar Investment Building 121, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, Dubai
- HoursSaturday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM