Licensing

Dubai Mainland Company Formation

Trade anywhere in the UAE, with up to 100% foreign ownership.

Fixed price quoted up front
Mainland and every free zone
Licence, visas, banking, one team
Most licences in days, not weeks

A Dubai mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism and can trade directly anywhere in the UAE, with no distributor and no geographic restriction. For businesses that sell to UAE customers, hold government contracts or need staff on the ground, mainland is usually the structure that removes friction later.

Ownership reform changed the calculation. Most commercial and professional activities now allow full foreign ownership, so the old requirement for a 51% local partner no longer applies to the majority of businesses. A small number of strategic activities still require a UAE national partner or a local service agent, and that is confirmed against your specific activity before you pay anything.

The basics

A mainland company is registered onshore with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, rather than inside a free zone. The licence lets you contract directly with customers across all seven emirates, bid for federal and local government work, and open branches without needing a local partner to front the trade.

Mainland companies sit inside the standard UAE regulatory perimeter: corporate tax at 9% on taxable profit above the threshold, VAT registration once turnover requires it, and a physical office with a registered Ejari tenancy. In exchange you get an unrestricted trading footprint and a visa quota tied to your office space rather than a fixed package.

Why it works

Trade across the whole UAE

Invoice customers in any emirate directly, with no distributor, agent or free zone branch in the middle.

Up to 100% foreign ownership

Most commercial and professional activities allow full foreign ownership, so you keep complete control of the company.

Government contracts

Only mainland entities can tender for most federal and Dubai government work, which is a large and stable buyer base.

Visa quota that scales

Your visa allocation is tied to office space rather than a fixed package, so headcount can grow with the business.

Over 2,000 activities

The activity list covers trading, services, industry and tourism, and you can hold multiple related activities on one licence.

Straightforward banking

Banks are familiar with mainland structures and a Dubai trade licence with real substance is generally an easier compliance file.

Compare
FactorMainlandFree zone
Trading inside the UAE Direct, no restriction Needs a distributor or branch
Foreign ownership Up to 100% on most activities 100%
Office requirement Physical office with Ejari Flexi desk accepted by many zones
Government tenders Eligible Generally not eligible
Visa quota Scales with office size Fixed by package
Setup cost Higher entry point Lower entry point
Cost

Mainland setup costs are driven by four things: your activity, the licence type, your office and the number of visas. A simple professional licence with a small office and one visa sits near the lower end. A commercial licence with a larger office, multiple activities and a team costs more, mostly because of rent and visa fees rather than the licence itself.

What makes up the cost

  • Trade name reservation and initial approval
  • Department of Economy and Tourism licence fee
  • Office rent and Ejari registration
  • Establishment card and visa fees per person
  • Our professional fee, quoted as a fixed amount up front
Paperwork
  • Passport copies for every shareholder and the manager
  • Passport size photographs on a white background
  • Three proposed trade names in order of preference
  • A short description of the intended business activity
  • Emirates ID and visa copy if you are already a UAE resident
  • No objection certificate from your current sponsor where applicable
  • Attested degree certificate for certain professional activities
  • Tenancy contract and Ejari once the office is selected
The process
01

Confirm activity and structure

We match what you actually intend to do to the correct activity code and legal form, then confirm the ownership rules that apply to it.

02

Reserve the trade name

We check your preferred names against the register and reserve the one that clears, avoiding restricted words that trigger rejection.

03

Initial approval

The Department of Economy and Tourism issues initial approval confirming it has no objection to you starting the business.

04

Office and Ejari

We arrange office space that satisfies your activity and visa quota, then register the tenancy contract through Ejari.

05

Documents and MOA

We prepare and notarise the memorandum of association and any local service agent agreement, then submit the full file.

06

Licence issued

The trade licence is issued and your company is registered with the immigration and labour authorities.

07

Visas and banking

We process the establishment card, residence visas and Emirates ID, then prepare a bank ready application for account opening.

Why Layerz

We advise on the structure that fits your activity and customers rather than the package that is easiest to sell. You get a fixed quote with government fees itemised separately, a dedicated advisor from first call to licence, and the same team afterwards for visas, banking, accounting and renewals.

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Faq

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers on cost, ownership, documents and timelines.

Ask us anything Ask us anything
  • 1. How long does mainland company formation take in Dubai?
    A straightforward mainland licence is usually issued within 5 to 10 working days once your documents and trade name are approved. Activities that need external approvals, such as healthcare, education or financial services, take longer because a second regulator is involved.
  • 2. How much does it cost to set up a mainland company in Dubai?
    Costs typically start around AED 18,000 and rise with office size, number of visas and activity. We give you a fixed, itemised quote that separates our professional fee from government fees before you commit.
  • 3. Do I still need a local partner for a mainland company?
    For most commercial and professional activities, no. Full foreign ownership is now permitted. A limited list of strategic activities still requires a UAE national partner or a local service agent, and we confirm your specific activity before you pay.
  • 4. Do I need a physical office for a mainland licence?
    Yes. Mainland companies need a leased office with a registered Ejari tenancy contract. The size of that office also determines how many residence visas you can sponsor.
  • 5. Can a mainland company sponsor employee visas?
    Yes. Once your establishment card is issued you can sponsor staff, and your quota grows with your office space rather than being capped by a fixed package.
Keep reading

Dubai Free Zone Company Setup

Full ownership, fast setup and packaged costs across 30 plus free zones.

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General Trading License

Trade multiple unrelated product lines under a single licence.

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Commercial License

The standard licence for buying, selling and distributing goods.

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Enquire about your dubai mainland company formation

Tell us what you are planning and we will reply with the right structure and a fixed quote.