Consultation and choosing the structure
We review your activity, select the licence type (commercial, professional, industrial) and the company form (LLC, Sole Establishment). We check whether your activity needs a local partner.
1–2 days
Company setup in Mainland (Dubai, UAE)
Turnkey registration: DED licence, office and Ejari, residence visas, Emirates ID and a bank account. Full access to the UAE market — without Free Zone restrictions.
- Timeline — from 2 weeks
- 100% foreign ownership
- Direct access to the UAE market
- No hard visa limit
Mainland or Free Zone?
Working in the UAE
Mainland
You can work directly with individuals and companies across Dubai and the wider UAE.
Free Zone →
Business is mainly conducted inside the Free Zone and with international clients. Working fully on the Mainland may require an additional DET permit.
Company ownership
Mainland
100% foreign ownership for most business activities.
Free Zone →
100% foreign ownership.
Office
Mainland
A physical office and a registered Ejari tenancy contract are usually required.
Free Zone →
A Flexi Desk or a workspace within the Free Zone is often enough.
Visas
Mainland
The number of visas depends on the office, the activity and the assigned quota.
Free Zone →
The number of visas depends on the chosen package and the type of workspace.
Setup cost
Mainland
Can be higher due to office rent and additional approvals.
Free Zone →
More affordable starter packages are often available, but visas and other fees may be charged separately.
Corporate Tax
Mainland
0% on the first AED 375,000 of taxable profit and 9% on the amount above it.
Free Zone →
0% only on Qualifying Income when the required conditions are met. Other taxable income may be taxed at 9%.
Bank account
Mainland
Well suited for active work with clients and payments inside the UAE.
Free Zone →
Opening an account is possible, but the bank additionally assesses the activity, office, clients and economic substance.
Who it suits
Mainland
Local businesses, services, trade, restaurants, salons, construction and other companies operating in the UAE market.
Free Zone →
International consulting, IT, digital, online businesses, export, logistics and international trade.
The short answer: choose Mainland if you work with clients inside the UAE, open a physical location or plan to hire a team. choose a Free Zone if your business is international and you don't need the local market.
Not sure? We'll review your case on a consultation and tell you honestly if you don't need Mainland.
When Mainland is the right choice
Mainland isn't for everyone. Here are the cases where it's genuinely justified.
Working with clients inside the UAE
Trade, services, B2C. A Free Zone company can't sell on the local market directly — a Mainland company can, with no intermediaries or extra permits.
A physical location
A shop, restaurant, café, salon, clinic, showroom, warehouse or car service — anything customers visit and that needs a real address.
Working with the public sector
Government and semi-government clients, tenders and contracts are the territory of Mainland companies.
A team of employees
The number of visas isn't capped by a package — it depends on the office area and the quota. Planning to hire? Mainland is more flexible.
A wide range of activities
DET allows activities that no Free Zone offers. If your activity is specific, start by checking the activity list.
How the registration works
Eight stages. You get a status update on each one — not a month of silence.
Name reservation and Initial Approval
We check the name against DET requirements, reserve it and obtain preliminary approval for the activity.
2–3 days
Constitutional documents (MOA)
The company's articles, the split of shares between owners, and notarisation.
3–5 days
Office and Ejari registration
We find an office sized for the visas you need, arrange the tenancy contract and register Ejari. Without Ejari the licence won't be issued — it's a mandatory step for Mainland.
2–3 days
Obtaining the DET licence
We submit the full document package, pay the fees and receive the Trade License. From this point the company exists legally.
5–7 days
Establishment Card and visa quota
We register the company with immigration and open the quota — it determines how many visas you can issue.
2–5 days
Residence visas and Emirates ID
Visa application, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID — for you, partners, family and employees.
7–10 days
Opening a bank account
We shortlist a bank for your profile, prepare the documents and support opening the account through to approval. We also prepare you for the bank interview.
1–4 weeks
Ready to start?
We'll review your case and give an exact timeline for your activity.
What we need from you
The list is shorter than it seems. Everything else is on us.
Documents
- A passport valid for at least 6 months
- A colour photo on a white background
- A copy of your visa or entry stamp if you're already in the UAE
- Proof of qualifications or a CV — for a professional licence
- Proof of residential address
Information
- What you plan to do — as specifically as possible
- The ownership structure and share split
- Approximate turnover and client geography
- Whether you need visas for family and staff, and how many
Your presence in the UAE is needed for biometrics and, usually, for opening the account. The rest happens without you — we work by power of attorney.
How much it costs
Approximate figures. We give the exact number on a consultation — before work starts, with no items added along the way.
- ServiceCost
- DET licence (government fees)from AED 15,000
- Office and Ejari registrationfrom AED 7,500 / year
- Residence visa (one)from AED 5,500
- Banking supportfrom AED 5,000
The final cost depends on the activity, the number of visas and the office requirements. Some activities need extra approvals — on the consultation we check this before you pay for anything.
Why work with us
A specialist for every stage
A consultant selects the jurisdiction, a PRO specialist handles the paperwork, a banking specialist opens the account. Not one person doing 'a bit of everything'.
We're based in Dubai
We work on the ground in the UAE. We know how the procedures actually run in practice, not from a government-website description.
Timelines without surprises
We quote realistic timelines, not convenient ones. If a stage slips, you hear about it immediately — not after a month of silence.
Support after registration
The work doesn't end with the licence. Document renewals, new visas, PRO tasks, banking questions — we stay in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. For most activities, 100% foreign ownership is allowed. Certain strategic activities still require the participation of a UAE national — we check this at the activity-selection stage, before filing.
Let's review your case in 20 minutes
Tell us what you do and where you plan to grow. We'll tell you whether Mainland suits you, how much it will cost and what timeline is realistic. If you don't need Mainland — we'll say so too.
We reply within one business day. No spam and no 'just checking in' calls.