Company Formation 
To set up business in Dubai you follow the same core steps whether you go mainland or free zone: choose the activity and the jurisdiction, reserve the trade name, take the initial approval, secure premises, then get the licence, the visas and the bank account. The order rarely changes; the authority and the cost do.
Which jurisdiction should you choose first?
The jurisdiction decides almost everything else, so it comes first. A mainland licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism lets you trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government work, in exchange for a physical office. A free zone company gives 100% foreign ownership, a faster and often cheaper setup, and trades internationally, reaching the mainland through a distributor or a branch. Your customers decide it.
How do you pick the right activity?
Every licence is tied to a list of approved activities, and the licence only covers what you register. Picking too narrow a list blocks work you planned; picking the wrong category triggers an extra approval and a delay. We map your real revenue lines to the authority list before anything is paid, and flag any activity that needs a special approval from a health, media or financial regulator so it does not surprise you later.
What approvals and premises come next?
After the name is reserved, the authority issues an initial approval to proceed. Mainland companies register premises on Ejari; free zone companies take a flexi-desk, a shared desk or a full office, and the space chosen sets the visa allocation. Some activities need civil defence or municipality sign-off on the premises, which we run in parallel so the opening date holds rather than slipping a week at a time.
How long does the whole thing take?
A straightforward free zone licence can issue in a few working days once documents are ready, and a mainland licence usually within one to two weeks depending on approvals. Residence visas then take roughly a week each through the medical and Emirates ID. The corporate bank account is the slowest and least predictable step, which is why we prepare that file from the start rather than at the end.
What does Layerz handle for you?
We run the full sequence end to end: the jurisdiction, the activities, the name, the approvals, the premises, the licence, the visas and the bank introduction, with one advisor on your file and a fixed, itemised quote before you commit. Start with our cost calculator for an indicative range, or compare options on the free zones and trade licence pages. We only quote figures we can trace to the issuing authority, such as the UAE Government business guide, so what you plan on is real and current.
Frequently asked questions
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How do I set up a business in Dubai?
Choose the jurisdiction and activity, reserve the trade name, take the initial approval, secure premises, then get the licence, the visas and the corporate bank account. Mainland and free zone follow the same core order. -
Is it cheaper to set up in a free zone or on the mainland?
A free zone is usually cheaper to enter because it bundles a desk and visas, while a mainland licence can be better value if it removes a distributor between you and UAE customers. -
How long does it take to set up a business in Dubai?
A free zone licence can be issued in a few working days once documents are ready, and a mainland licence usually within one to two weeks. Visas take about a week each and the bank account is the slow step.