Dubai Mainland Company Formation
Set up your Dubai Mainland LLC with 100% foreign ownership, full UAE market access, and DET licensing — operate anywhere in the UAE without free zone restrictions.
Description
Dubai Mainland Company Formation gives you the most flexible legal structure in the UAE — a Limited Liability Company (LLC) licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED) that can operate anywhere in the UAE, sell directly to UAE customers, take on government contracts, and open offices and showrooms across all emirates. Following Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021, 100% foreign ownership is now available for most mainland activities with no UAE national partner required.
A Dubai Mainland LLC supports virtually unlimited business activities (over 2,000 on the DET activity list), unlimited visa quotas tied to office size, full access to corporate banking, eligibility for government tenders, and the strongest commercial credibility in the UAE market. Trade license costs vary by activity category (Commercial, Professional, Industrial, Tourism) with annual renewal required.
Octavon Global Advisory handles the complete Dubai mainland setup — DET initial approval, trade name reservation, MOA drafting and notarisation, Ejari registration, trade license issuance, Establishment Card, Chamber of Commerce membership, immigration card, investor visa, medical fitness, Emirates ID, and corporate bank account introduction. Setup typically completes in 10 to 14 working days from document submission.
What's Included
- DET Trade License (Mainland LLC)
- 100% Foreign Ownership
- Operate Across the UAE
- Memorandum of Association (MOA) Drafting
- MOA Notarisation
- Trade Name Reservation
- DET Initial Approval
- Ejari Tenancy Registration
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce Membership
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Up to 3 Investor Visas (Standard Package)
- Medical Fitness Test and Emirates ID
- Corporate Bank Account Introduction
- Free UAE Corporate Tax Consultation
- VAT Registration Coordination (if required)
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Minimum 1 shareholder (individual or corporate)
- Trade name following DET naming rules
- Activity from DET-approved list (2,000+ activities)
- Physical office with valid Ejari tenancy contract
- Activity-specific NOC (for regulated activities)
- Shareholder passport with 6+ months validity
- NOC from current sponsor if applicant is on UAE residence visa
Required Documents
- Passport Copy of All Shareholders (6+ months validity)
- Passport-sized Photographs (white background)
- UAE Visa Copy and Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- NOC from Current Sponsor (if applicable)
- 3 Proposed Trade Name Choices
- Activity Selection List
- Office Lease Agreement / Ejari
- Power of Attorney (if signed remotely)
- For corporate shareholder: attested parent company documents
- For corporate shareholder: Board Resolution
Our Process
- Consultation on activity and license category selection
- Trade name reservation with DET
- DET Initial Approval submission
- Office tenancy contract and Ejari registration
- MOA drafting and notarisation
- Activity-specific NOC (if regulated)
- Final trade license application and payment
- Trade license collection
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce membership
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Investor visa, medical, and Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account opening
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 18,000
- Service Fee: AED 4,500
- VAT (5%): AED 1,125
- Total: AED 23,625
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a UAE national partner for a Dubai mainland LLC?
No, not for most activities. Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 removed the local partner requirement for over 1,000 mainland activities. You can now hold 100% ownership as a foreign investor. A few strategic activities (defence, certain trading) still require Emirati participation.
How long does Dubai mainland company formation take?
Standard setup typically completes in 10 to 14 working days from document submission and Ejari registration. Some regulated activities (with DHA, RERA, DTCM, KHDA approvals) can extend this to 3-6 weeks.
Can a Dubai mainland LLC operate in other emirates?
Yes. Unlike free zone companies, a Dubai mainland LLC can operate across all 7 UAE emirates, sell directly to UAE customers, take on government contracts, and open branches anywhere in the country.
What is the difference between Mainland and Free Zone in Dubai?
Mainland LLCs operate across the UAE with full market access, while free zone companies are restricted to operating within their free zone or internationally (cannot sell directly to mainland UAE without a distributor). Mainland is best for businesses targeting the local UAE market; free zones are best for international trade or low-cost setups.
How many visas can I get with a Dubai mainland LLC?
Visa quotas are tied to your office size, not capped artificially. The standard rule is approximately 1 visa per 9 square metres of office space, so even a small office supports 5-8 visas. Larger offices support unlimited visas.
What activities can I do under a Dubai mainland LLC?
DET has over 2,000 approved activities covering Commercial (trading), Professional (consulting, services), Industrial (manufacturing), and Tourism categories. You can combine up to 10 related activities under one license. Some activities require additional NOCs from regulators (DHA, RERA, DTCM, etc.).
Is a Dubai mainland LLC subject to UAE Corporate Tax?
Yes. All UAE businesses are subject to the federal Corporate Tax regime — 0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable income and 9% above that threshold. We provide free tax consultation as part of the setup.