Dubai Mainland Company Setup
in the UAE
Plan your Dubai mainland business with a clear understanding of the licence, legal structure, and operating requirements. Royalty Business & Investment Consulting Services supports activity selection, document preparation, and application coordination.
Understanding Dubai Mainland Company Setup
A mainland licence needs to reflect how and where your business will operate. We review the activity, ownership arrangements, premises, and any additional approvals, then help organise the formation process and the responsibilities that follow.
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
Identify the licence activities that describe your actual operations.
Compare the company structures relevant to your shareholders and business plan.
Why Choose Mainland?
Support That Fits Your Requirements
Review proposed names and prepare the reservation application.
Business activity review
Identify the licence activities that describe your actual operations.
Legal structure
Compare the company structures relevant to your shareholders and business plan.
Trade name preparation
Review proposed names and prepare the reservation application.
Premises and approvals
Clarify the tenancy and activity-specific approvals needed for your case.
Formation documentation
Organise shareholder records and the documents required for registration.
Operating readiness
Plan accounting, tax registration, visas, and corporate bank application support.
Business activity review
Identify the licence activities that describe your actual operations.
Legal structure
Compare the company structures relevant to your shareholders and business plan.
Trade name preparation
Review proposed names and prepare the reservation application.
Premises and approvals
Clarify the tenancy and activity-specific approvals needed for your case.
Ready to Set Up Your Dubai Mainland Company?
Clarify the tenancy and activity-specific approvals needed for your case.
A Clear Scope for Your Business
Organise shareholder records and the documents required for registration.
Mainland Company
Plan accounting, tax registration, visas, and corporate bank application support.
Free Zone Company
The checklist depends on the shareholders, legal structure, and activity. We review your case before requesting identity records, corporate documents, or other supporting evidence.
| Feature | Mainland Company | Free Zone Company |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Ownership | 100% (most activities) | 100% |
| Trade Within UAE | Unrestricted | Needs mainland distributor |
| Government Contracts | Eligible | Not eligible |
| Office Requirement | Physical address required (flexi-options allowed) | Flexi-desk options available |
| Visa Quotas | Unlimited (office size based) | Fixed (package-based) |
| Customs Duties | Standard UAE rates | Often 0% within free zone |
| Corporate Tax | 9% on profits above threshold | 9% above threshold (unless qualifying) |
| Bank Account Opening | Easier with major UAE banks | Can be more complex |
| Business Activities | 2,000+ options | Limited to free zone scope |
| Best For | Local trading, services & government work | Import/export & international business |
| Regulatory Body | DED / DET Dubai | Respective Free Zone Authority |
| Branch Offices | Can open across all 7 Emirates | Restricted to free zone area |
Choose Mainland If You Want To...
- Sell directly to UAE consumers and businesses
- Bid for UAE government tenders and contracts
- Open a retail shop, restaurant or physical outlet
- Scale your team without visa restrictions
- Open a corporate bank account with ease
- Expand branches across all UAE emirates
Choose Free Zone If You Want To...
- Focus on international trade and export
- Start with a lower initial investment
- Operate with a flexi-desk arrangement
- Benefit from 0% customs duties on imports
- Run a remote or digital-first business
- Set up quickly with streamlined approvals
Plan the Next Stage
The timeline depends on document readiness, the chosen activity, and the authority’s review. We provide an estimate after assessing the case and update you if additional approvals are needed.
Commercial License
Identify the products and trading activities the licence needs to cover and clarify any additional requirements.
Common Business Examples:
Professional License
Review the professional service activities and any qualifications or additional approvals relevant to the proposed business.
Common Business Examples:
Industrial License
Review the production activity, premises, equipment, and approvals relevant to the proposed operation.
Common Business Examples:
Tourism License
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
Common Business Examples:
E-Commerce License
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
Common Business Examples:
Your quotation should separate the licence and authority fees from workspace, visa, and service costs. Ask us for the included items, exclusions, and renewal estimate before proceeding.
Questions to Consider
Licence issuance, residence applications, and bank account approval are separate processes. We explain the requirements for each and help you prepare the next application.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
Sole Proprietorship
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
Civil Company
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
Branch of a Foreign Company
Review the parent entity or ownership structure and confirm the documents required for the proposed registration.
Branch of a UAE Company
Review the parent entity or ownership structure and confirm the documents required for the proposed registration.
| Structure | Shareholders | Foreign Ownership | Liability | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC (Popular) | 1 – 50 | Up to 100% | Limited | All business types |
| Sole Proprietorship | 1 only | 100% (professional) | Unlimited | Freelancers, consultants |
| Civil Company | 2 or more | With LSA | Unlimited | Professionals, clinics |
| Foreign Branch | Parent company | 100% | Parent liable | International expansion |
| UAE Branch | Parent company | Same as parent | Parent liable | UAE expansion |
From First Discussion to Next Steps
The right option depends on where you will trade, which activities you will carry out, and how your team will operate. We help compare those requirements before you choose a jurisdiction.
Discuss your requirements
Plan your Dubai mainland business with a clear understanding of the licence, legal structure, and operating requirements. Royalty Business & Investment Consulting Services supports activity selection, document preparation, and application coordination.
- Choose activities that match your actual business operations
- Multiple activities can be listed on a single license
- Some activities require additional regulatory approvals
- Royalty Business & Investment Consulting Services consultants identify exact DED activity codes for you
Confirm the scope
We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear.
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Sole Proprietorship
- Civil Company
- Branch Office of Foreign or UAE Entity
Prepare the information
Plan renewals, accounting, tax registration, and bank application preparation.
- Cannot match existing registered names
- No offensive, religious or political terms
- No country or government entity names
- Can be in English, Arabic or both
Review the prepared work
We review the available information with you and clarify any questions before proceeding.
- Passport copies of all shareholders
- Visa copies (if UAE residents)
- Proposed trade name submission
- Business activity specification
Coordinate the next stage
The timeline depends on document readiness, the chosen activity, and the authority’s review. We provide an estimate after assessing the case and update you if additional approvals are needed.
- Flexi-desk / Co-working (ideal for service firms)
- Shared Office (Dedicated desk with meeting room access)
- Private Office (Full dedicated space for higher visa quotas)
- Warehouse / Commercial (Required for industrial activities)
Handover and next steps
Licence issuance, residence applications, and bank account approval are separate processes. We explain the requirements for each and help you prepare the next application.
- For LLC: Memorandum of Association (MoA) & Notary Public Notarization
- For Branch: Board Resolution, Parent Certificate of Inc., Parent MoA/AoA, POA
- Court-certified bilingual legal translation (Arabic & English)
Business activity review
Identify the licence activities that describe your actual operations.
- Initial approval certificate & Trade name certificate
- Notarized MoA / AoA
- Registered Ejari tenancy contract
- Passport copies & digital photographs of shareholders
Legal structure
Compare the company structures relevant to your shareholders and business plan.
- Healthcare: Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
- Education: KHDA
- Food & Beverage: Dubai Municipality (Food Safety)
- Real Estate: RERA
- Financial: UAE Central Bank / SCA
- Security: Dubai Police
Trade name preparation
Review proposed names and prepare the reservation application.
- Official Dubai Commercial Register extract
- Certificate of Incorporation issued
- Immediate legal commencement of trade
Premises and approvals
Clarify the tenancy and activity-specific approvals needed for your case.
- Bank Account: Introductions with 30+ UAE and international banks
- Investor/Partner Visas: 2-Year or 5-Year Golden Visa processing
- Employee Visas: Work permits & Emirates ID processing
- Complete end-to-end management with zero hassle
Support That Fits Your Requirements
Review proposed names and prepare the reservation application.
Business activity review
Identify the licence activities that describe your actual operations.
Legal structure
Compare the company structures relevant to your shareholders and business plan.
Trade name preparation
Review proposed names and prepare the reservation application.
Premises and approvals
Clarify the tenancy and activity-specific approvals needed for your case.
Formation documentation
Organise shareholder records and the documents required for registration.
Operating readiness
Plan accounting, tax registration, visas, and corporate bank application support.
Business activity review
Identify the licence activities that describe your actual operations.
Legal structure
Compare the company structures relevant to your shareholders and business plan.
What We Help You Organise
Clarify the tenancy and activity-specific approvals needed for your case.
| Category | Service | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity selection | Business Activity Consultation | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Activity selection | Trade Name Search & Reservation | Review the VAT treatment and supporting records relevant to your transactions, registration, or return preparation. | Included |
| Activity selection | DED Initial Approval Application | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Activity selection | MoA / AoA Drafting & Notarization | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Office & License | Office Space Sourcing | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Office & License | Ejari Registration | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Office & License | Trade License Application & Follow-Up | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Office & License | External Regulatory Approvals | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Office & License | Establishment Card Processing | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Visa & Banking | Investor Visa Processing | Review the application route, supporting evidence, and authority requirements relevant to your circumstances. Approval is decided by the responsible authority. | Included |
| Visa & Banking | Employee Visa Processing | Review the application route, supporting evidence, and authority requirements relevant to your circumstances. Approval is decided by the responsible authority. | Included |
| Visa & Banking | Workspace planning | We start with your activity and business plan, then explain the licence, workspace, visa, and renewal requirements. Your consultant helps prepare the application and keeps the outstanding actions clear. | Included |
| Compliance & Renewals | VAT Registration | Review the VAT treatment and supporting records relevant to your transactions, registration, or return preparation. | Included |
| Compliance & Renewals | Corporate Tax Registration | Get support with your UAE corporate tax registration. We review your entity details, organise the application information, and help you navigate the registration process through EmaraTax. | Included |
| Compliance & Renewals | Annual License Renewal | Review upcoming expiry dates, the documents required, and the costs of maintaining the relevant registration or service. | Included |
Dubai Mainland Business Setup Packages
All-inclusive, guaranteed licensing packages with zero hidden fees. Installment options available via Tabby & Tamara.
Everything Included — Zero Extras
Organise shareholder records and the documents required for registration.
Let’s Discuss Your Next Step
Tell us what you need, or contact our team directly.
+97156 5411227+971 56 326 3921info@royaltyconsulting.ae