Dubai Mainland Company Formation
Dubai mainland company formation cost depends on your activity, legal form, office and number of visas. We explain each DET step and quote for your plan.
Description
Searching for the Dubai mainland company formation cost usually means you want two answers: what the total is made of, and what you have to do to get a licence. A mainland company is licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) and can trade directly with customers anywhere in the UAE. Business setup in Dubai mainland runs through DET's Invest in Dubai platform, and the licence is tied to a registered office in Dubai.
**What the cost is made of.** The total for a mainland company formation in Dubai is built from DET licence and trade name fees, any approvals your activity needs from another authority, your office rent and its Ejari registration, Dubai Chamber membership, the establishment card, and one residence visa for each person you sponsor. The items that move the number most are the activity, the legal form, the size and location of the office, and how many visas you need. We do not publish a single figure because two setups rarely match. Message us on WhatsApp or live chat and we will send a written quote based on your plan.
**Ownership and legal form.** Since June 2021 the UAE allows 100% foreign ownership of mainland companies for most commercial and industrial activities; the rule now sits in Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies. A short list of activities with strategic impact, such as banking, security and telecoms, still has ownership conditions. Most foreign founders choose a limited liability company (LLC), which can have one owner. A professional sole establishment or civil company is a different route and can involve a UAE national local service agent; our Dubai mainland professional license page explains when.
**Choosing the mainland licence type.** Your activities decide the mainland licence in Dubai: a commercial trade license for buying and selling goods, a professional licence for services and expertise, or an industrial license for manufacturing. Some activities need a second approval before DET issues the licence, for example Dubai Municipality for food or the Real Estate Regulatory Agency for brokers.
**Office.** DET needs a Dubai address with a tenancy contract registered in Ejari, the Dubai Land Department's system. A business centre or flexi-desk with an Ejari can work for small teams, but the office you choose affects how many visas the company can later apply for. DET's Instant Licence lets some founders start with a virtual address in the first year; see the Dubai Instant License page.
**After the licence.** The company registers with Dubai Chamber, gets an establishment card, and can then sponsor the Dubai investor visa for owners and employment visas for staff through GDRFA Dubai and MOHRE. Most companies then open a corporate bank account, register for Corporate Tax with the Federal Tax Authority, and check whether they must register for VAT. The licence is renewed every year through Dubai trade license renewal.
**Mainland or free zone?** Mainland suits businesses that sell to UAE customers, work on site across the emirates or bid for local contracts. A free zone such as IFZA or Meydan Free Zone can suit international or online businesses with a smaller office need. Since 2025, Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 also gives free zone companies routes to work on the mainland through DET, so the gap is narrower than it was. We compare both for your activity before you commit.
What's Included
- Review of your activities, licence type and legal form (LLC, branch or other) against DET's activity list
- Trade name options checked against DET naming rules and reserved
- DET initial approval application through Invest in Dubai
- Coordination of any external approval your activity needs
- Guidance on office options and Ejari registration
- Memorandum of association prepared and signed in the form DET requires
- Final DET licence application and licence issue
- Dubai Chamber registration and establishment card
- Investor and employment visa applications (number of visas set in your quote)
- Support with corporate bank account applications
- Pointers on Corporate Tax and VAT registration after setup
Requirements / Prerequisites
- At least one shareholder, either a person or a company
- A business activity on DET's list, with its ownership rule confirmed for foreign owners
- A trade name that meets DET's naming rules
- An office in Dubai with a tenancy contract that can be registered in Ejari (or eligibility for the Instant Licence route)
- Any external approval your activity needs (for example Dubai Municipality, RERA, KHDA or DHA)
- If you are employed in the UAE, check whether your employer's no-objection letter is needed for your case
Required Documents
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- UAE visa and Emirates ID copies for anyone resident in the UAE
- Passport-size photos where requested
- Two or three proposed trade names
- List of the business activities you want
- Tenancy contract and Ejari certificate for the office
- Memorandum of association (prepared during the process)
- Power of attorney if someone signs on your behalf
- For a corporate shareholder: certificate of incorporation, articles, board resolution and good standing, legalised and attested for use in the UAE
- Employer no-objection letter, if it applies to you
Our Process
- Agree activities, licence type and legal form, and check whether mainland or a free zone suits you
- Reserve the trade name with DET
- Apply for DET initial approval
- Obtain any external approval your activity needs
- Lease the office and register the tenancy contract in Ejari
- Prepare and sign the memorandum of association
- Submit the final application, pay DET fees and receive the trade licence
- Register with Dubai Chamber and obtain the establishment card
- Apply for investor and employment visas (entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID biometrics)
- Apply for a corporate bank account and register for Corporate Tax
Pricing
Contact us on WhatsApp for a tailored quote for this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dubai mainland company formation cost made of?
DET trade name and licence fees, any approvals from other authorities, office rent and Ejari registration, Dubai Chamber membership, the establishment card, and the cost of each residence visa. The activity, legal form, office size and number of visas change the total the most. Message us on WhatsApp or live chat for a written quote based on your plan.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Dubai mainland company?
Yes, for most commercial and industrial activities, under the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021). A small group of strategic activities keeps ownership conditions, and professional sole establishments or civil companies may need a UAE national local service agent who holds no shares. We check your activity before you apply.
Do I need an office for a mainland license in Dubai?
Yes. DET issues the licence against a Dubai address with an Ejari-registered tenancy contract. Business centres and flexi-desks with Ejari are an option for small teams, but the office affects your visa quota. DET's Instant Licence route allows a virtual address in the first year for eligible activities.
How long does business setup in Dubai mainland take?
DET's Instant Licence can be issued online in one step for eligible activities. For a standard LLC, the time depends on how quickly the office is secured, whether your activity needs another authority's approval, and how fast documents are signed. There is no single official timeline, so we give you a plan once your activity and office are known.
How many visas can a Dubai mainland company get?
There is no fixed number. The visa quota depends on the office (its type and size), the activity and the company's record with MOHRE and GDRFA Dubai. A flexi-desk usually supports fewer visas than a full office. Tell us how many people you plan to hire and we will match the office to it.
Is a Dubai mainland company better than a free zone company?
Mainland suits selling directly to UAE customers, working on client sites and local contracts. A free zone can suit international or online businesses. Since Resolution No. 11 of 2025, free zone companies also have DET routes to work on the Dubai mainland, so the right answer depends on your customers and premises.
Does a Dubai mainland company pay Corporate Tax?
Yes. Mainland companies are within the UAE Corporate Tax regime and must register with the Federal Tax Authority. The rate is 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. VAT registration depends on your taxable turnover.
What happens after the licence is issued?
You register with Dubai Chamber, get the establishment card, apply for visas, open a bank account and register for Corporate Tax. The licence and Ejari are renewed every year, and the licence must be amended if you change activities, partners or address.