Mainland company setup
Mainland company setup, for businesses that trade locally.
The right base for physical premises, local service delivery and regulated UAE operations. We settle the activity, legal form, approvals and premises before anything is filed.
What it covers
Every approval, in the order the authorities need it.
Mainland setup can be straightforward, but cost and time move with the activity, the legal form, the premises and the approvals. We map all four first.
01
Activity mapping
Your activity checked against the authority's code register. It decides the licence type, legal form, approvals, premises and fee band.
02
Legal form and ownership
Most activities allow full foreign ownership. Where a form would need a Local Service Agent, we look first for one that does not.
03
Trade name and approvals
Trade name reservation, initial approval and any external regulator approvals, run in parallel where possible.
04
Premises and Ejari
A tenancy that matches the licence application exactly, registered through Ejari in Dubai or the equivalent in other emirates.
05
Establishment and visas
Immigration establishment card, labour file, visa quota and individual visas, in the order the authorities require.
06
Twelve months of coordination
From licence issuance, our time on added visas, quota increases, activity changes, amendments, NOCs and letters is included. Authority fees are paid at cost.
Who it is for
Mainland, when the business needs the local market.
If the company's main operation happens physically in the UAE market, mainland should be reviewed seriously from the beginning.
Suits you
Mainland
- You need a physical office, shop, clinic or restaurant
- You serve walk-in customers or invoice UAE customers freely
- Your activity needs municipality or sector approvals
- You plan a larger local team or government contracts
Retail, food and beverage, clinics, local services, contracting and real estate brokerage.
Look again
Free zone
- You serve clients online, internationally or B2B
- You do not need a customer-facing location
- You want to start lean, with predictable costs
- A founder or small-team visa is enough
Where the activity allows it, a free zone company is often the leaner start.
External approvals.
Food, health, education, transport and security activities need a sector regulator's approval. Those files typically run 60 to 90 days or more, and we say so at the structuring call.
Mainland from a free zone.
Where your activity qualifies, a free zone company can reach the mainland through an operating permit or an onshore branch. We set out the scope limits in writing.
How it works
Five clear stages. One advisory partner.
The order matters: trade name before initial approval, tenancy before licence, licence before the immigration file.
01
Consultation
We learn the business and where your customers are. Free and without obligation.
You get: a clear view of whether mainland is required
02
Structure
Activity, legal form, premises and visa numbers decided, with government fees and ours shown separately.
You get: a written recommendation and an itemised quote
03
Name and approvals
Trade name reserved, initial approval issued, external approvals started, the MOA notarised.
You get: the approvals the licence depends on
04
Premises and licence
Tenancy signed and registered, licence issued, Chamber of Commerce membership where required.
You get: your trade licence
05
Activation
Establishment card, labour file, visa quota, individual visas and the corporate bank account.
You get: an operational company, not just a licence
What you need
The documents, in the order we ask for them.
Colour scans only. Passports need at least six months of validity.
On day one
- Passport copy for every shareholder and the manager
- Passport-size photograph on a white background
- Three to five trade name options, in order of preference
- A plain description of what the business will do
- UAE entry stamp, or Emirates ID and residence page, if in the UAE
Before initial approval
- Specimen signature of each shareholder and the manager
- NOC from your current sponsor, if on a UAE employment visa
- Attested Power of Attorney, if a shareholder will not attend
- Attested company documents and board resolution, for a corporate shareholder
- Attested degree and experience letters, for regulated professions
Before the licence
- Signed tenancy contract, minimum one year
- Tenancy registration: Ejari in Dubai
- Notarised Memorandum of Association, for an LLC
- External regulator approvals, where the activity needs them
Documents issued abroad are notarised at home, attested by the UAE embassy there, attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legally translated into Arabic. Budget weeks, not days.
Time and cost
What to expect, realistically.
Typical, not guaranteed. The bank account is almost always the longest step.
- 3 to 4
- weeks to a licence on a standard route
- 6 to 14
- weeks to fully operational, with establishment cards, two visas and a bank account
- 60 to 90
- days or more where a sector regulator must approve the activity
Government fees
Mainland costs depend on the activity, the approving department and the premises, so we quote each mainland file individually.
Dubai Mainland
- Government fees
- Quoted for your activity
Our own fee is separate. Subject to your needs, we will discuss.
Estimate your setup costQuestions
Mainland setup, answered.
Straight answers to what founders ask before they commit.
01Do I need a local partner on the mainland?
Most mainland activities have permitted 100% foreign ownership since the 2021 reform. Some legal forms and activities still need a Local Service Agent or carry conditions, so we confirm the position for your activity before you commit.
02Do I need a physical office?
A standard mainland licence needs a signed tenancy of at least one year, registered through Ejari in Dubai or the equivalent elsewhere, and the address must match the licence application exactly. The visa quota is granted against the premises.
03Does mainland guarantee easier banking?
Not automatically. Banks assess the clarity of the business profile, activity, documentation and source of funds. A mainland company with unclear activity or weak documents can still face delays, so preparation matters as much as structure.
04How long does it take?
A licence typically takes three to four weeks on a standard route. Being fully operational, with establishment cards, visas and a bank account, typically takes six to fourteen weeks. Activities that need a sector regulator's approval take longer.
05Can I set up without travelling to the UAE?
Formation can run under a notarised Power of Attorney. A POA signed abroad needs UAE embassy attestation, then Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation, then legal translation into Arabic. You need to be in the UAE for the medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID at the visa stage.
06Is corporate tax different on the mainland?
Mainland companies are generally subject to the standard UAE corporate tax framework. VAT depends on the business, its supplies and its revenue, not on whether the company is mainland or free zone.
Next step
Plan it before you commit.
Two tools answer the first questions in minutes. An advisor answers the rest.
Start here
Start with a conversation.
One no-obligation consultation. We discuss your goals, answer your questions, and recommend a clear path forward. No cost. No pressure. Just clarity.