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Dubai Mainland Company Formation
Open a mainland company in Dubai with full UAE market access — licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Government fees from AED 13,900, with 100% foreign ownership on most activities.
- 100% ownership for eligible activities
- From [WeCan Verified Price]
- Bank account assistance
- Fast, coordinated formation
- Investor and employee visa support
Build Your Dubai Business on Solid Mainland Foundations
A Dubai mainland company is licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and permitted to operate throughout the UAE without geographic limitation. Unlike certain free-zone entities, mainland companies can trade directly with the local UAE market, engage with government bodies and maintain offices across multiple emirates, with 100% foreign ownership on most activities.
Mainland company formation in Dubai is one of the most effective ways for entrepreneurs and international investors to establish a business in the UAE. A mainland company is licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and permitted to operate throughout the UAE without geographic limitation.
Unlike certain free-zone entities, mainland companies can trade directly with the local UAE market, engage with government bodies, and maintain offices across multiple emirates. This gives founders the freedom to expand operations, recruit talent and serve both local and international clients under a single legal structure.
Looking for the price?
Government fees from AED 13,900 — see the full line-by-line breakdown, what’s included and what moves the cost.
Why Dubai Mainland
Dubai mainland is the UAE’s default jurisdiction for businesses that need to trade directly with onshore UAE customers, open premises anywhere in the emirate, and bid for UAE government contracts. The 2021 reform allowing 100% foreign ownership for most commercial activities — combined with the world-class banking ecosystem, Emirates Airline connectivity, and direct DET licensing — makes Dubai mainland the single most-used UAE structure.
100% Foreign Ownership (Most Activities)
Federal Decree-Law 26/2020 amending the Commercial Companies Law removed the 51% Emirati ownership requirement for most commercial and industrial activities from 1 June 2021. Strategic activities (defence, oil & gas, certain telcos) still require Emirati participation — Avyanco maps the exact list per activity code.
Strong UAE Banking Ecosystem
Dubai hosts local, regional and international banks offering multi-currency corporate accounts, trade finance, merchant facilities and digital banking. An onshore DET licence with clear substance — premises, activity and shareholder documentation — generally presents a straightforward profile during bank onboarding and compliance review.
Direct Onshore Market Access
A mainland licence lets you invoice UAE customers directly, open retail or commercial premises, appoint staff across the emirates and deliver services on the client's site. There is no zone boundary limiting where your customers are, which suits businesses whose revenue comes from inside the UAE.
Dubai International Connectivity
Dubai's airports, ports and logistics corridors connect Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Far East within a single working day. For trading, logistics and services businesses, that connectivity shortens supply chains and makes Dubai a practical base for regional operations.
Government and Corporate Opportunities
Mainland companies may, subject to activity and eligibility criteria, register with government and semi-government procurement portals and tender for public-sector work. They can also contract with large UAE corporates that require an onshore counterparty for local delivery.
Wide Business Activity Options
The DET activity list spans thousands of commercial, professional, industrial and tourism activities, and multiple related activities can often be combined under a single licence. This allows a company to broaden its offering over time without restructuring.
Ideal for
- Businesses serving UAE onshore B2B & B2C customers
- UAE government contractors & PSA bidders
- Retail, hospitality & physical premises operations
- Trading houses requiring deep banking relationships
- Headquarters operations for MENA-region groups
Types of Mainland Licences in Dubai
Three licence categories under the Department of Economy and Tourism — activity, ownership rules and approvals all flow from this choice.
Commercial Licence
For businesses that import, export, distribute or sell products locally and internationally.
* General trading companies
* Import & export businesses
* Retail stores
* Real estate brokerage firms
* E-commerce trading companies
Professional Licence
For individuals and firms offering services and consultancy — allows full foreign ownership of the entity.
* Business consultancy
* IT services & technology consulting
* Marketing agencies
* Management consulting
* Accounting & advisory services
Industrial Licence
For manufacturing, processing and assembly. Typically requires extra regulatory approvals beyond DET.
* Food manufacturing
* Industrial assembly operations
* Packaging & processing units
* Light manufacturing facilities
LLC and Other Dubai Mainland Legal Structures
Six recognised structures under Dubai mainland — the right one depends on shareholder count, liability and the nature of your activity. For most trading and commercial businesses the answer is an LLC.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
The default structure for Dubai mainland company formation, and the one most trading and commercial businesses use. An LLC is a separate legal entity licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), so shareholders' liability is limited to their stake in the company. Since the amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law, most commercial and professional activities allow 100% foreign ownership, with no requirement for an Emirati partner. There is no statutory minimum share capital for most Dubai mainland LLCs — the figure is stated in the Memorandum of Association and simply has to be adequate for the licensed activity, not paid up as a deposit. An LLC can trade anywhere in the UAE, bid for government work, sponsor employee and investor visas, and open a corporate bank account in its own name.
Sole Establishment
Single-owner structure designed for professional service businesses and independent practitioners.
Civil Company
Partnership vehicle for consultants, lawyers, engineers and other licensed specialists.
Branch of Foreign Company
UAE branch office for existing international entities seeking a regulated mainland presence.
Private Joint Stock Company
Suited to larger ventures with multiple shareholders and capital-raising needs.
Branch of a Free Zone / Other Free Zone Company
An existing UAE free zone company can register a mainland branch to trade and contract outside its free zone — operating under the parent free zone entity's name and licence, giving mainland market access without forming a new company.
Mainland Company Formation Process in Dubai
A structured, government-approved sequence managed by the Department of Economy and Tourism.
Choose Your Business Activity
Select from the official DET activity list — this determines licence type, ownership rules and any extra regulator approvals required.
Choose Legal Structure
LLC, Sole Establishment, Civil Company, Branch or Private Joint Stock — matched to your shareholder model and liability needs.
Reserve Trade Name
The company name is checked against UAE naming rules and reserved with the licensing authority.
Obtain Initial Approval
Government no-objection on the proposed activity and ownership structure before formal incorporation.
Draft Memorandum of Association
MoA defines ownership structure, capital distribution and management responsibilities; notarised in line with DET rules.
Secure Office Premises
Lease compliant commercial space and register Ejari — DET has location and usage-type eligibility rules.
Mainland Licence Issued
Once documents and approvals are submitted, DET issues the mainland trade licence. The company can then open a corporate bank account and apply for investor visas.
Documents Required for Dubai Mainland Setup
The exact set depends on whether each shareholder is an individual or a corporate entity. All foreign company documents must be notarised and attested by the UAE Embassy in the country of origin.
Individual Shareholders
- Passport copies of all proposed shareholders and managers
- Emirates ID of proposed shareholders and managers (if available)
- Utility bill of the proposed shareholder / manager
- Visa copy of all proposed shareholders and managers (if available)
- Three proposed trade name choices
- Three months' personal bank statement (if available)
Corporate Shareholders (parent / related company)
- Certificate of Incorporation / trade licence of the parent or related company
- Board Resolution approving the UAE registration
- Utility bill of the proPassport copy of the proposed managerposed shareholder / manager
- Emirates ID of the proposed manager (if available)
- UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) declaration letter
- Memorandum & Articles of Association (MoA / AoA)
- Incumbency Certificate
- Visa copy of the proposed manager (if available)
- Three proposed trade name choices
Why Choose a Dubai Mainland Structure
A Dubai mainland company offers the highest operational flexibility available in the UAE — serving the local market, expanding regionally and operating internationally under one legal structure.
Conduct business anywhere in the UAE without geographic restrictions
100% foreign ownership across most commercial and professional activities
Eligibility to bid for UAE government and semi-government tenders
Visa quota that scales with office size and team growth
Access to over 3,000 licensed activities across Dubai DET
No currency restrictions — free movement of capital and profits internationally
Strong banking access and global trade connectivity through Dubai's infrastructure
Tax & Compliance Position — Dubai Mainland
Dubai mainland entities are standard UAE taxable persons under the Corporate Tax regime — no QFZP option. The 9% headline rate above AED 375,000 applies, with Small Business Relief available below AED 3M turnover.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Standard Rate Above AED 375,000 · 0% Below
Corporate Tax at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000; 0% on the first AED 375,000. No QFZP eligibility — Dubai mainland is not a Free Zone. Small Business Relief: entities with turnover up to AED 3M can elect to be treated as having no taxable income (relief applies to FYs ending on or before 31 December 2026 unless extended).
Get expert advice
QFZP is a Free Zone–only regime. Dubai mainland businesses considering 0% Corporate Tax should look at Free Zone alternatives — or, for very small operations, Small Business Relief.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Standard VAT Regime
Standard UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold (AED 187,500 voluntary). Exports outside the GCC implementing states are typically zero-rated; healthcare and education have specific zero-rating / exemption rules. The full Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 framework applies without any free-zone special regime.
Not a Designated Zone
Dubai mainland is not a Designated Zone — Designated Zone status is a Free Zone–only concept. Goods movements follow standard UAE VAT supply rules.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- Annual trade-licence renewal with the DET
- Audited financial statements (mandatory for revenue > AED 50M and other thresholds)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment (quarterly or monthly)
- ESR notification + report (where in scope)
- UBO register maintenance
Best Businesses to Start in Dubai Mainland
Dubai mainland supports a wide range of industries due to its strong economy and strategic location between Europe, Asia and Africa.
Real Estate Brokerage
Construction & Contracting
Restaurants & Hospitality
Import & Export Trading
Logistics & Transport
Management Consulting
IT & Technology
e-Commerce
The WeCan Advantage
Avyanco assists investors through the complete mainland registration process in Dubai — from selecting the right activity and legal structure through to licensing, banking and ongoing compliance.
Business Activity & Licence Advisory
Mapping the right DET activity codes and licence category to your real business model.
Corporate Structuring & Tax Planning
Holding structures, ownership and group set-ups designed for UAE Corporate Tax efficiency.
MoA Drafting & Notarisation
Memorandum of Association drafted, reviewed and notarised in line with current DET requirements.
Corporate Bank Account Introduction
Introductions to leading UAE banks plus full documentation preparation and compliance support.
Investor & Employee Visa Processing
Investor, partner and employee visas processed end-to-end with Emirates ID and medicals coordinated.
Corporate Tax & VAT Registration
FTA registrations for Corporate Tax and VAT plus ongoing filing and compliance support.
Meet Our Specialists
Five partner-level advisors who together cover every leg of a Dubai mainland setup — formation, tax, growth and operations.
Chandy Joseph
Sales
Astha Joshy
Sales
Dhirendra Khadka
Sales
Taniya Ashik
Sales
Why Investors Choose WeCan
Three things you can count on when you mandate Avyanco to stand up your Dubai mainland entity.
Wide-Ranging Expertise
Years of work with businesses of every size — startup, scale-up and group — across formation, legal and finance. We tailor solutions to fit exactly what your firm needs.
Full-Scope Support
Every step of Dubai mainland formation is handled in-house — from licence selection to bank account opening and ongoing UAE compliance.
Your Vision Matters
Your goals drive the structure we recommend. We build solutions designed to help you grow in the UAE — not one-size-fits-all paperwork.
What Clients Say
A small slice of feedback from founders and operators who have set up with us in Dubai.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often about Dubai mainland company formation.
Most standard company formations complete within 5 to 10 working days once documentation is in order. Regulated activities and multi-shareholder structures typically take three to six weeks.
Depending on jurisdiction and activity, these usually include annual licence renewal, audited financial statements, corporate tax registration and filing, VAT returns, economic substance reporting, and AML/UBO declarations. We map them all in your onboarding plan.
Yes. Our tax team manages registration, quarterly and annual filings, transfer pricing documentation, and correspondence with the tax authority on your behalf.
We support deal structuring, financial and legal due diligence, shareholder agreements, and capital deployment strategy for both investors and operating businesses.
We build a market entry roadmap covering entity structure, tax exposure, local partner requirements, hiring, and banking, then execute it with our on-the-ground teams in each market.
Verification & independence
Content verified against the live Avyanco site and publicly available Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and UAE Federal Commercial Companies Law sources as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of DET, not endorsed by the Government of Dubai and not affiliated with any UAE government agency.
DET activity catalogues, licence categories, ownership rules and Corporate Tax positions evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific activity directly with DET and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
Speak to a UAE specialist
Tell us what you need and a senior advisor will respond within one business day — no obligation.
- Partner-led — you speak to a senior advisor, not a junior analyst
- A straight answer on the right structure, cost and timeline
- A reply within one business day, every time
- A free, no-obligation 30-minute scoping call
Ready to Set Up on the Dubai Mainland?
Connect with our advisory team to scope a Dubai mainland setup that fits your business activity, timeline and goals — whether you’re entering the UAE for the first time or scaling an existing presence.