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Business setup

Mainland company formation in Dubai

A Dubai mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and can deal directly with customers across the Dubai market. We prepare, type and submit each application in the right order, from trade name to license, and keep you updated while DET and other authorities review it.

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Overview

What a Dubai mainland company is

A mainland company is set up under UAE federal law and licensed by DET, Dubai's economic authority, rather than by a free zone. Its license lets it trade directly with individuals and businesses on the Dubai mainland, rent premises outside the free zones and employ staff through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

Since 1 June 2021, foreign investors can own up to 100% of a mainland company for most activities, without a UAE national shareholder. In Dubai, more than 1,000 commercial and industrial activities are open to full foreign ownership. Activities with strategic impact are excluded and follow separate licensing measures, so we check your activity against the current list before you commit to a structure.

Every mainland license falls under one of the federal license types: commercial, professional, industrial, tourism, agricultural or crafts. The type follows your activity. Your activity also decides your legal form, whether you need approval from another government body and what kind of premises you need, which is why we start every mainland setup with the activity rather than the price.

Who it's for

Who it's for

  • 01

    Businesses selling to UAE customers

    Retail, trading, contracting, hospitality and service businesses that need to deal directly with customers on the Dubai mainland.

  • 02

    Founders who want full ownership

    Foreign investors whose activity is open to 100% foreign ownership and who want to hold all the shares themselves.

  • 03

    Businesses that need mainland premises

    Shops, showrooms, warehouses, clinics and offices located outside the free zones, with the lease registered through Ejari.

  • 04

    Free zone companies moving into Dubai

    Owners who now need regular mainland trading and want to compare a new mainland company with a DET branch license.

Our part

What we do, and what we don't

Clear boundaries, so you know exactly what you're paying for and who decides each step.

Included

  • Activity and legal form check against DET's current activity list
  • Trade name options checked against the naming rules before you apply
  • Initial approval application, typed and submitted
  • Memorandum of association (MOA) typing and coordination of signing
  • Lease review so your premises can be registered with Ejari
  • Coordination of any external approvals your activity needs
  • License collection and a clear plan for establishment card, visas and tax registration

Not included

  • We don't issue licenses or approvals; DET and the other authorities make every decision.
  • We don't give legal advice on shareholder agreements or disputes; a licensed lawyer can.
  • We don't decide bank account applications; banks run their own checks.
  • We can't shorten an authority's review time or change its outcome.
Documents

Documents you'll need

  • Passport copies for every shareholder and the proposed manager
  • UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copies, if you already live here
  • Your chosen business activities and a shortlist of trade name options
  • Shareholder details and how the shares will be split
  • For corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents and a board resolution, attested for UAE use
  • A signed lease or tenancy contract for your premises, for Ejari registration
  • Any qualifications or approvals your activity needs, such as professional certificates

Extra documents depend on your activity and legal form; we confirm the full list before you apply.

Fees and timing

Two fees, shown separately

  • Government fees, paid at cost

    Set by DET and any other approving authority, and paid at cost; we confirm the exact amounts before you pay.

  • Global Sky PRO service fee

    Quoted in writing before we start, so you know the full cost up front.

  • Timing

    Timing depends on your activity, trade name availability, any external approvals and how quickly your lease and documents are ready. We give you a realistic plan once your activity is confirmed and update you at each stage.

Process

How it works, step by step

Each step shows who does what, so you always know where things stand.

  • You
  • Global Sky PRO
  • Authority

  1. Step 1: Share your activity and plans

    You

    Tell us what you will sell, who your customers are, how many owners there will be and whether you need visas. This decides your activity, legal form and license type.

  2. Step 2: Check activity, legal form and name

    Global Sky PRO

    We match your plans to DET's activity list, confirm whether full foreign ownership applies, suggest a legal form and check your trade name options against the naming rules.

  3. Step 3: Initial approval from DET

    Authority

    DET reviews the application and issues initial approval, which confirms it has no objection to the business. Initial approval does not yet let you trade.

  4. Step 4: Prepare the MOA and premises file

    Global Sky PRO

    We type the MOA for legal forms that need one, coordinate signing, and review your lease so it can be registered with Ejari without changes.

  5. Step 5: External approvals, if needed

    Authority

    Some activities need approval from another body, such as a ministry or sector regulator. That body reviews the application and decides independently.

  6. Step 6: Submit the final file

    Global Sky PRO

    We submit the completed file with the approvals and registered lease, and share the payment voucher so government fees are paid at cost.

  7. Step 7: License issued

    Authority

    DET issues your trade license. We then explain the next steps for your establishment card, residence visas and tax registration.

Good to know

Details that save time

Premises, Ejari and why your lease matters

Every UAE business needs a physical address that meets the economic department's and the municipality's rules. In Dubai, the lease for your office, shop or warehouse must be registered with Ejari, and the registered lease forms part of the file DET reviews before it issues the license.

A frequent cause of delay is a lease signed before the activity is settled: the wrong permitted use, a unit that doesn't suit the activity, or a landlord who can't supply what Ejari registration needs. Send us the draft before you sign and we will check it against your activity.

Common reasons for delays or rejections

Each of these is avoidable with careful checks before submission, which is where most of our work goes.

  • A trade name that is already registered, doesn't end with the legal form, or uses words the rules don't allow, such as religious terms or names of authorities
  • An activity that needs approval from another government body that wasn't planned for
  • Corporate shareholder documents that haven't been attested for use in the UAE
  • Lease details that don't match the activity or the license application
  • Spelling or passport details that differ between documents

New mainland company or a DET branch?

If you already own a free zone company and want to serve mainland customers, a new mainland company is not the only route. Under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025, DET can issue one of two branch licenses, each valid for one year at a time, or grant a temporary permit lasting up to six months. We compare these routes with a new company, including the effect on visas and accounts, before you decide.

FAQs

Mainland company formation: your questions

Short answers here. Your situation may differ, so ask us before you decide.

Still have a question?

An adviser replies during opening hours, Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00.

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Can I own 100% of a mainland company in Dubai?

Yes, for most activities. Since 1 June 2021, foreign investors can own up to 100% of a mainland company, and more than 1,000 activities in Dubai are open to full foreign ownership. Activities with strategic impact are excluded and follow separate rules, so we check your exact activity against DET's current list before you apply.

What are the steps to set up a mainland company?

There are eight main steps. You choose your activity, select a legal form, reserve a trade name, get initial approval, sign the MOA, register premises with Ejari, obtain any external approvals and then collect your license from DET. We prepare and submit each stage, while you sign the documents and pay government fees at cost.

Which license types are available?

The federal license types are commercial, professional, industrial, tourism, agricultural and crafts. Your activity decides which one you need: a trading business usually needs a commercial license, while a consultancy usually falls under professional. Some activities also need approval from another authority before DET issues the license, and we flag these at the start.

Do I need an office and Ejari for a mainland license?

Yes. Every mainland business needs a physical address that meets DET and municipal rules, and in Dubai the lease must be registered with Ejari. The size and type of premises depend on your activity. Show us the lease before you sign it, because premises that don't suit the activity are a common reason for delay.

How much does a mainland company cost?

The total depends on your activity, legal form, premises, any external approvals and the number of visas you need, so there is no single price. Government fees are set by DET and other authorities and paid at cost. Our service fee is quoted in writing before work starts, and the two are always listed separately.

Can a mainland company sponsor residence visas?

Yes. Once licensed, a mainland company can sponsor residence visas for its owners and staff, subject to approval. Work permits go through MOHRE, and residence visas are issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). We prepare and submit the applications.

What is DET initial approval for a mainland company?

Initial approval is the government's confirmation that it has no objection to your business being set up, but it does not yet let you trade. In Dubai it comes from DET once your activity, legal form and trade name are settled. You then complete the MOA, premises and any external approvals. When the payment voucher is issued, the license fee must be paid within 30 days or the application is cancelled.

Source: u.ae: steps to start a business on the mainland

Which legal forms can a mainland company take?

The UAE government portal lists these legal forms: general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company (LLC), public joint stock company and private joint stock company. The form must match your business activity, which is why we settle the activity first. Your choice also shapes the company documents, including the MOA that the owners sign. We confirm which forms DET accepts for your activity before you apply.

Source: u.ae: steps to start a business on the mainland

How do I renew a Dubai mainland trade license?

You renew a mainland license with DET, which offers renewal as an online service through the Invest in Dubai platform. Apply before the expiry date shown on your license so that it stays valid. Before renewing, we check that your Ejari lease, any activity approvals and the owner details are still current, then submit the request and share the fee voucher so you pay government fees at cost.

Source: Invest in Dubai: request to renew trade license

Which mainland activities need approval from another authority?

Regulated activities need a second approval before DET issues the license. Examples listed on the UAE government portal include telecommunications (the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority), banking, insurance and money exchange (the Central Bank), ticketed travel agencies and air cargo (the General Civil Aviation Authority), securities and investment advice (the Securities and Commodities Authority) and recruitment (MOHRE). That authority decides independently; we prepare its file alongside DET's.

Source: u.ae: steps to start a business on the mainland

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Licenses are issued by the relevant authority (DET for Dubai mainland, or the chosen free zone authority). Global Sky PRO prepares and submits your application. Last reviewed 31 October 2026 by the Global Sky PRO team.

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