Sell directly to any UAE customer
No local distributor in the middle. Reach any customer in any emirate.
The headline advantageMainland setup · 2026
Dubai Mainland Company Setup
Set up a company licensed by DET and trade anywhere in the UAE, with 100% ownership and no local sponsor.
Mainland is all we do, since 2009.
Filed across 50+ industries in Dubai.
2026 updateWhat it is
What is a Dubai mainland company?
A company licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism, free to trade direct across all seven emirates with no distributor in between.
DETLicensing authority, formerly DED
100%Foreign ownership, most activities
7Emirates, trade direct
The fit check
Is mainland the right setup for your business?
Mainland is the right answer for a specific kind of business and the wrong one for another. Two minutes here saves a costly restructure later.
Recommended
Recommended5 signs
Mainland fits if
- You sell to the UAE marketDirectly, with no distributor in between.
- You need several employee visasQuota scales with your office size.
- You want a shop, office, or warehouseA physical, customer-facing presence.
- You want government contractsOnly mainland companies can bid for them.
- You expect to add activitiesRoom to grow without restructuring.
Maybe not5 signs
A free zone may fit better if
- You only serve clients abroadNo UAE market access is needed at all.
- You want the lowest start-up costFree zones can be cheaper to launch.
- You need no local presenceNo office, no on-the-ground trade.
- You need one or two visas onlyA package tier covers that without a mainland office.
- You are testing before you commitValidate first, then move onshore when you sell locally.
Choose your route
Which licence type do you need?
Your license type sets your activity, your ownership route, and your approvals. Pick it before anything else.
Compare all license types
Commercial License
For buying, selling, retail, and general trading.
- Best for
- Trading companies, retail, import and export.
- Key consideration
- Usually an LLC; a physical office with Ejari is required.
Professional License
For consultancy, IT, marketing, and skilled services.
- Best for
- Consultants, agencies, and specialist service firms.
- Key consideration
- 100% owned as sole establishment or civil; expats appoint an LSA.
Industrial License
For manufacturing, assembly, and production.
- Best for
- Factories, assembly, and processing units.
- Key consideration
- Extra approvals such as Civil Defence; larger premises and budget.
- Activity-based selection
- External approvals may apply
- Ownership route varies by license
- Cost depends on activity and office
Not sure which license fits?
Tell us your activity and we confirm the exact license and ownership route, with a fixed quote.
Three routes
Mainland, free zone or offshore
Three legal bases, one decision. Mainland gives you the UAE market. A free zone is often cheaper, but no direct local trade.
| Factor | Direct UAE tradeMainlandDET license | Free ZoneZone authority license | OffshoreNon-resident vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct UAE market access | |||
| Government contracts | |||
| 100% foreign ownership | |||
| Physical office | |||
| Corporate tax | 9% above 375k | 0% qualifying income | Not applicable |
| Best for | Selling to the UAE | Export and services | Holding assets |
Best for UAE-facing business
Mainland
The only route that sells direct to the local market and bids on government work.
Best for export-only
Free Zone
Lower cost and possible 0% on qualifying income, but reaches the UAE only via an agent.
Best for holding and IP
Offshore
A lean vehicle for assets, with no UAE trading rights at all.
YesVia agentNo
Why mainland
Why set up on the mainland, not a free zone?
It comes down to one question: where are your customers? If they are in the UAE, mainland removes the barriers a free zone keeps.
02
Bid for government contracts
Public sector and semi-government tenders require a mainland license. Free zone entities are shut out of most of them.
03
100% foreign ownership
Own your company outright on most activities since the 2021 reform, with no local partner in the majority of cases.
04
Almost any activity on one license
Add related activities to a single commercial license, with room to amend as the business changes.
05
Visas that scale with your office
Quota is tied to your Ejari office size rather than a fixed package cap, so headroom grows as you do.
06
A stronger banking position
A mainland license opens the widest set of UAE banks, often more readily than many free zones.
Worth the cost?
See a full mainland cost breakdown in two minutes.
Run the numbersWho it fits
Who needs a mainland company in Dubai
Mainland suits any business that sells to the UAE market, bids for government work, or needs a physical presence customers can walk into. These are the clearest fits.
Retail and E-commerce
Shops, showrooms, and online stores
ScenarioYou sell to UAE customers, in store or online.Why it fitsSell direct, with no free zone distributor in the middle.Risk noteSome product categories need Municipality or sector approval.
Restaurants and F&B
Cafes, restaurants, and catering
ScenarioYou run a public-facing outlet serving the city.Why it fitsRuns on a mainland license, with no free zone route available.Risk noteRequires Dubai Municipality food approval before opening.
Professional Services
Consulting, marketing, accounting, agencies
ScenarioYou serve clients across the UAE and abroad.Why it fitsA professional license covers advisory work UAE-wide.Risk noteA Local Service Agent still applies to some activities.Government Contractors
Public tenders and infrastructure
ScenarioYou bid for public tenders or infrastructure work.Why it fitsOnly mainland companies can sign these contracts.Risk noteCertain works need contractor classification and approvals.
General Trading
Import, storage, and distribution
ScenarioYou import and distribute goods to UAE buyers.Why it fitsFull access to the local supply chain and retailers.Risk noteUnrelated categories may need a general trading license.
Healthcare and Clinics
Clinics, pharmacies, wellness centres
ScenarioYou treat walk-in patients on UAE premises.Why it fitsA mainland license lets you operate patient-facing premises.Risk noteDHA licensing of staff and the facility is mandatory.Logistics and Distribution
Courier, freight, and fleet operators
ScenarioYou move goods and run a fleet across the emirates.Why it fitsSupports onshore fleet registration and nationwide delivery.Risk noteRTA and permit requirements scale with fleet size.
The process
How to set up a mainland company
Six stages, from choosing the activity and structure to the establishment card, visas and bank account. Some run in parallel.
6 stages10 to 20 working days1 dedicated manager
- 1
Activity and structure
Day 1The decision that shapes everything. Your activity sets the license type, the visa quota, and which approvals you need. Getting it right here avoids amendment fees later.
Activity confirmedStructure chosen - 2
Trade name reservation
Day 1–2Three name choices go to DET. No religious or political terms, no abbreviations. Reserving early secures your brand for filing.
Name approvedReservation slip - 3
Initial DET approval
Day 2–4DET gives the green light to proceed with your activity, name, and partners. Do not sign an office lease before it lands.
Initial approval - 4
MOA and Ejari
Day 3–8The Memorandum of Association is drafted and notarised, and your tenancy is registered on Ejari. Both precede the license.
MOA notarisedEjari registered - 5
License issuance
Day 7–12All documents go to DET. On approval, your trade license is issued and regulated activities clear sector approvals in parallel.
License issued - 6
Card, visas, and bank
Day 10–30The establishment card opens your immigration file, then investor and staff visas run through GDRFA, alongside your corporate bank account.
Establishment cardVisas and account - 10 to 20 working days, standard setup
Licensed and operating
Trade license issued, account live, residence visas stamped.
Transparent pricing
What a mainland company costs in year one
A mainland company costs about AED 18,000 to 35,000 in year one for a standard setup. Every line is itemized below, with the market fee that cheap packages leave out.
AED 22,090
Standard commercial · 1–2 visas · small office
Annual renewal
AED 15,000
Liability
Limited
You receive a fully itemized quote before you pay a single dirham.
Itemized breakdownAmount
Trade name reservation
Standard name (add ~2,000 non-Arabic)
Initial approval
DET confirmation to proceed
DET trade license
Core fee, by activity group
MOA notarisation
For LLCs, by shareholder count
Ejari registration
Register your tenancy
Establishment card
Open your immigration file
Investor visa
Per person, all in
AED 22,090
Government fee · at costDMCS service · fixed
The market fee is real
5% of your annual rent is added to the DET license and paid every year. Most cheap packages omit it.
Budget for renewal
Government fees, rent, and visas repeat annually. The second year is not free.
One fixed quote
We give you an itemized, fixed quote for your exact business before you commit a dirham.
Real 2026 costs
What each setup route costs
Lightest way in
Solo professional
Professional license, flexi-desk Ejari, one owner.
Professional license
Flexi-desk Ejari
No or one visa
Most common
Standard LLC
Commercial license, small office, one investor visa.
Commercial license
Small office
One investor visa
Trading or team
Trading or team
Larger office, general trading, several visas.
Larger office
General trading
Several visas
Want your exact itemised figure?
Three things move the price: the government stack (initial approval, trade name, MOA notarisation, DET license fee), office and Ejari (a flexi-desk starts low; a private office is the biggest single variable), and visas (each residence visa adds cost, with quota set by office size). DMCS gives you a personalised itemised quote before you commit.
Do mainland companies pay tax?
Yes, but only on profit above a threshold. A mainland company pays 9% corporate tax on profit over AED 375,000; the first AED 375,000 is taxed at 0%. In 2026 this is the number that decides how you structure.
| Authority | What they do | When you meet them | Key output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9% rate | Introduced under Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022. | On annual profit | Standard corporate tax |
| SBR relief | The window is set to close on 31 December 2029. Check eligibility now. | At corporate tax filing | Small Business Relief |
| No FZ 0% | What you get instead is direct access to the UAE market. | Structuring decision | 9% domestic rate |
| Must register | Miss the deadline and you face an AED 10,000 penalty. | After license issuance | FTA registration (TRN) |
- 9% rateApplies to taxable profit above AED 375,000. Earn less, and you pay nothing.You meet them:On annual profit
- SBR reliefRevenue under AED 3M can elect Small Business Relief: treated as no taxable profit.You meet them:At corporate tax filing
- No FZ 0%A mainland company does not get the free zone 0% rate on qualifying income.You meet them:Structuring decision
- Must registerEvery mainland company registers for corporate tax with the FTA, even owing nothing.You meet them:After license issuance
What you'll need
Documents required
Most mainland applications need the same core paperwork. Foreign documents must be attested first, which takes weeks, so start that early.
Per shareholder
Identity and personal
Passport copy
Clear colour scan, valid 6+ months, every shareholder.
Passport-size photo
Recent, white background.
UAE visa / entry stamp
Current residence visa or visit-entry stamp.
NOC from current sponsor
If you hold a UAE employment visa.
About the company
Business details
Three trade-name options
In order of preference, following DET rules.
Business activity list
The activities you intend to license.
Shareholder structure
Names and share split between partners.
Memorandum of Association
Drafted and notarised to your structure.
Ejari tenancy contract
Registered lease for your workspace.
External approvals
Regulated activities need DHA, Municipality, etc.
Foreign documents need attestation
Documents issued abroad, such as degrees, marriage certificates, and parent-company papers, must be attested by the UAE embassy in the country of origin and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs before DET will accept them. It runs several weeks, so a missing attestation is a common cause of delay. Begin it the day you decide to set up.
Start attestation early. It runs weeks and sits on your critical path if you leave it late.
Check validity first. A passport with under six months left must be renewed before you file.
Keep clear digital copies. Legible scans speed up portal submission and reduce back-and-forth.
What you can register
Business activities you can register
DET lists thousands of activities across three license types. Find your work on the left, the license is on the right.
If you areBuying, selling, importing, or distributing goodsRecommendedCommercial licenseIf you areConsulting, marketing, IT, design, or other servicesRecommendedProfessional licenseIf you areManufacturing, assembly, or processingRecommendedIndustrial licenseIf you areTravel, hospitality, or tourism servicesRecommendedTourism licenseIf you areTrading across several unrelated categoriesRecommendedGeneral trading license
Extra approvals by activity
Which activities need extra approvals?
Several activities carry a second layer of government approval on top of the standard DET license.
Healthcare
Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
HIGH RISK
Food & Restaurant
Dubai Municipality (FOOD)
MEDIUM RISK
Construction
Dubai Municipality (BUILD)
MEDIUM RISK
Education / Training
KHDA
HIGH RISK
Financial services
Central Bank / SCA
HIGH RISK
Workspace & tenancy
What office space a mainland company needs
A registered Ejari tenancy is the legal basis for your visa quota. The workspace you choose directly determines how many people you can hire.
A few visas
Startup phase
Flexi-desk
AED 15–25k/ year · shared space
Annual cost
AED 15,000 – 25,000 per year
Footprint
Shared desk environment
Visa capacity
A small number of visas
Best for: Founders and early teams starting with minimal overhead.
Scales with sqm
Scaling teams
Dedicated office
AED 50k+/ year · private space
Annual cost
From AED 50,000 per year
Footprint
Private, dedicated workspace
Visa capacity
About 1 visa per 9 sqm
Best for: Growing teams whose headcount has outgrown a shared desk.
The quota rule
~1visa per 9 sqm
DET grants roughly one employment visa for every nine square metres of dedicated, Ejari-registered space, subject to activity and MOHRE approval.
Ejari is mandatory. A registered tenancy is a legal requirement for every mainland license.
Plan ahead. Leasing a flexi-desk then hiring fast forces a costly mid-year upgrade.
Negotiate terms. On a dedicated lease, ask for a free-rent period or a fit-out contribution.
Visas
How many visas your office supports
Free zoneCAPFixed package cap
Shared / flexi-desk
1 to 2visas, indicative
Suitable for a solo founder or a pair. The lowest-cost entry, but the tightest ceiling on hiring.
Small private office
~1 / 9 sqmof Ejari office area
Room for a small team from day one. The point where the mainland visa advantage starts to compound.
Larger office
No fixed capMOHRE and GDRFA approve
Quota grows with the square metres you lease. The ceiling moves up as you do, with no package to renegotiate.
Bank opening
Opening a UAE business bank account
A mainland license improves your odds with UAE banks, but it does not guarantee approval. A resident applicant usually clears in 2 to 4 weeks, a non-resident in 6 to 12.
01
Match the bank to your business
We match your profile to the bank most likely to say yes, rather than applying everywhere at once.
02
Prepare the full file
Shareholder documents, business plan, and source-of-funds evidence, ready before you apply.
03
Submit and manage to approval
The bank runs its KYC checks and we manage the application through to activation. A clean file moves faster.
Banks DMCS has a track record opening accounts with
You don't apply and hope. You apply with a structure built to clear review.
What compliance keeps a mainland company active
A mainland license does not run itself. These duties keep your company active, your visas valid, and your bank account open after setup.
- 01
License renewal
Renew your DET trade license every 12 months. Late renewal brings fines, then suspension.
- 02
Corporate tax filing
Register with the FTA and file each year, even if profit sits below AED 375,000 and you owe nothing.
- 03
VAT returns
If turnover passed AED 375,000 and you registered, file on your schedule, usually quarterly.
- 04
Ejari and quota
Renew Ejari yearly; an expired one blocks renewal. Visa count is tied to office size.
- 05
UBO and records
Keep ultimate beneficial owner details current and retain accounting records as required.
Avoid these
Six mistakes that delay a mainland setup
The errors we see most, and what to do instead, so your file clears DET first time.
Activity
The wrong activity code
A code that does not match what you actually sell triggers amendment fees and bank rejections.
Do this instead: map the code to real revenue before filing.
Name
A non-compliant trade name
Religious or political terms and abbreviations get names rejected at DET.
Do this instead: screen names against DET rules first.
Office
Leasing before approval
Signing an Ejari before initial approval risks paying for space you cannot use.
Do this instead: wait for DET initial approval.
Attestation
Late document attestation
Foreign documents take weeks to attest and sit on the critical path.
Do this instead: start attestation on day one.
Tax
Skipping FTA registration
Registration is mandatory even at zero tax; missing it brings an AED 10,000 penalty.
Do this instead: register for corporate tax on time.
Budget
Forgetting the market fee
The 5% market fee on rent and annual renewals get left out of cheap package quotes.
Do this instead: budget for renewal, not just setup.
Why choose us
Priced, processed and bank-ready
100% transparent pricing
We separate mandatory government costs from our professional fees with a line-item budget before you sign. The market fee and renewals are on the quote, not hidden.
End-to-end processing
From activity classification and trade name reservation to office sourcing and all DET, municipality, and GDRFA portal management, handled by one team.
Bank-ready from day one
We structure your setup, review your business plan, prepare full KYC, and introduce you to the banks most likely to approve your profile.
Tax and compliance guardians
FTA-registered experts keep you compliant with 9% corporate tax, VAT, and UBO obligations from day one, shielding you from avoidable fines.
10K+
Companies formed
15 yrs
In business since 2009
50+
Industries served
4.8★
Google · 163 reviews
98%
Client satisfaction
No obligation, no sales pressureTransparent pricing, zero hidden feesOne team from first call to compliance
Real results from our clients
What our clients say about working with us
Real Google reviews from founders we have set up and kept compliant on the Dubai mainland.
A
Abdul Sami3 months ago
Thank you to the team for supporting us with our company setup. Our case was not straightforward, especially the bank account opening, but they stayed committed and got it done.
P
Paolo Chua8 months ago
I had a great experience opening a corporate bank account. The process was smooth and efficient. The staff were friendly, professional, and explained everything clearly.
A
Amy Elliott Dunne4 months ago
The accounting and bookkeeping service has been exceptional. Attention to detail is impressive, and communication is always clear. Tasks are handled promptly.
R
Rashed Al Falasi5 months ago
They confirmed our activity grouping before filing and flagged an issue the bank would have raised. Licensed in under two weeks with no surprises on the invoice.
M
Marwa Khalil2 months ago
We came for a mainland LLC and stayed for renewals and PRO work. The same team answers the phone after the license is issued, which is rare here.
Straight answers
Dubai mainland setup: FAQs
Turn your plan into a fixed quote.
Send us your intended activity and we return an itemized quote with every DET and government line confirmed, the market fee and renewals included. We will even tell you if a free zone fits you better. No obligation.
No obligationTransparent pricing, zero hidden fees100% privacy guaranteed