The short answer
A mainland company in Dubai is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism. It can trade anywhere in the UAE, open shops and offices and work with government. Most activities allow 100% foreign ownership, and the usual legal form is a limited liability company (LLC). You need registered premises with an Ejari lease, and the size of your premises affects how many visas you can get. The licence usually takes 1 to 3 weeks.
When you need a mainland company
- A shop, restaurant, café or showroom open to the public
- Selling goods or services directly to consumers across the UAE
- Government contracts and some regulated activities
- Many staff working from real premises
- Local services such as maintenance, cleaning, salons or clinics
For consulting, online and tech businesses, a Free Zone company is usually simpler.
Mainland or Free Zone?
| Mainland | Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed by | Department of Economy and Tourism | The Free Zone authority |
| Where you can trade | Anywhere in the UAE | Worldwide; services to UAE companies |
| Office | Registered premises with Ejari | Flexi-desk for small teams |
| Visas | Linked to premises size | Linked to your package |
| Ownership | 100% for most activities | 100% |
| Shops and restaurants | Yes | No |
| Salaries | Through WPS | Free Zone rules |
| Time to licence | 1 to 3 weeks | Usually days |
Legal forms for a mainland company
| Form | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| Limited liability company (LLC) | Most businesses; one or more shareholders, liability limited to the share capital |
| Sole establishment | One owner trading in their own name, for some professional activities |
| Branch of a UAE or foreign company | An existing company expanding into Dubai |
| Civil company | Professionals in partnership, such as consultants or engineers |
Ownership: 100% for most activities
Foreign investors can own 100% of a mainland company for most commercial and professional activities. A short list of strategic activities, such as some in security, defence and utilities, still has ownership rules or needs special approval. We check your activity on the first call, before you commit to premises.
How to set up a mainland company, step by step
- Choose your activities. They decide the licence type and any outside approvals.
- Choose the legal form, usually an LLC.
- Register the trade name. It must not copy a name already registered.
- Get the initial approval: a government no-objection to go ahead. It is not yet permission to trade.
- Sign the memorandum of association.
- Rent premises and register the lease with Ejari.
- Get outside approvals your activity needs.
- Collect the licence, then open the immigration and labour files for visas.
Instant Licence: for activities that need no approval beyond the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai can issue a licence online in minutes, with a virtual business address for the first year only. Real premises are needed at renewal.
Premises, Ejari and visas
- Premises: an office, shop, warehouse or business centre desk, suited to your activity.
- Ejari: the lease must be registered in Dubai's Ejari system before the licence.
- Visas: the number of visas depends mainly on the size of your premises.
- Labour file: with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, for work permits and contracts.
- Your own visa: as investor or partner of the company. See residence visa.
Outside approvals
Many mainland activities need approval from another authority before the licence: food businesses, healthcare, education, transport, tourism, real estate brokerage and financial activities, among others. Approvals can add time and premises requirements, so we map them before you sign a lease.
Documents you usually need
Each owner
- Passport copy and photo
- UAE visa and Emirates ID, if resident
- Proof of address
A company as owner
- Certificate of incorporation
- Memorandum and articles
- Board resolution, attested
For the licence
- Signed memorandum of association
- Tenancy contract registered with Ejari
- Outside approvals, where needed
What decides the cost of a mainland company
- Your premises: rent, size and location are usually the biggest cost.
- Activities and the outside approvals they need.
- Visas: establishment card, labour file, work permits and visas.
- Fit-out for shops, restaurants and clinics.
- Legal form and any company shareholder documents.
We don't publish a price that may be wrong for you: after a free call you get an exact, written quote.
Already have a Free Zone company?
You have three ways to reach mainland customers: invoice mainland companies for services from your Free Zone company; use a zone that offers a mainland route with approval, such as Meydan; or open a mainland company or branch next to your Free Zone company. We compare the options for your business.
Common mistakes
- Signing a lease before checking approvals. Some activities need specific premises.
- Premises too small for the visas you will need.
- A trade name that gets refused, delaying the initial approval.
- Forgetting WPS and labour contracts when hiring.
- Missing the Ejari renewal before the licence renewal.
After setup
- Corporate tax: register within 3 months of incorporation and file every year. See corporate tax.
- VAT: register once taxable sales pass AED 375,000 in 12 months. See VAT registration.
- Salaries through WPS every month. See payroll and WPS.
- Renewals: licence and Ejari every year, visas when due. See PRO services.
- Books: proper accounts kept for 7 years. See accounting services.
Sources
Rules checked on 29 October 2026.