Business Setup
Mainland Company Formation in Dubai
Trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government work, with 100% ownership on most activities.
A mainland licence, issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism, gives you the widest commercial reach in the UAE: sell directly to the local market, open branches across the Emirates, tender for government contracts and hold an unrestricted visa quota tied to your office space. We handle activity selection, trade name reservation, initial approval, MOA notarisation, Ejari and licence issuance.
What's included
What you get with mainland company formation
- Business activity selection and legal-form advice (LLC, sole establishment, civil company)
- Trade name reservation and initial approval from the DET
- Memorandum of association drafting and notarisation
- Ejari tenancy registration and office-space guidance
- External approvals where your activity requires them
- Trade licence issuance and establishment card
- Immigration and labour file opening
How it runs
The process, step by step
What happens, in what order, and what we need from you at each stage.
Activity & legal form
We confirm the activity codes that cover what you actually do and the legal form that fits your shareholder structure.
Name & initial approval
Trade name reserved and initial approval obtained from the DET.
MOA & tenancy
Memorandum notarised, office secured and the tenancy registered through Ejari.
Licence & files
Trade licence issued, establishment card produced, immigration and labour files opened.
Paperwork
Documents you'll need
Gather these and the process moves quickly. We'll tell you if anything else is required for your specific case.
- Passport copies for all shareholders and managers
- Passport-size photographs with a plain background
- Emirates ID and visa copy if you are already a UAE resident
- No-objection certificate from your current sponsor, where applicable
- Proposed trade names (three options, in order of preference)
- Tenancy contract or Ejari certificate for the registered address
What it costs
Transparent pricing, in writing
Mainland licence cost depends on your activity, how many visas you need and which authority you register with. The cost calculator gives you an indicative range in under a minute, and a consultant will confirm an itemised figure in writing before anything is filed.
Want a number now?
The cost calculator gives you an indicative range in about two minutes.
Calculate Your Setup CostQuestions
Common questions
Next step
Get started with mainland company formation
One short form. A consultant who knows this specific service will come back to you with the cost, the timeline and what they need from you.
Ready to start your UAE business?
Tell us what you are trying to build and we will map the licence, the visas, the banking and the timeline — free, and with no obligation.