Business setup in Dubai mainland means registering a company licensed by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) that trades across the emirate rather than from inside one free zone. It is also searched as Dubai mainland business setup, or mainland business setup Dubai. This page covers the route from activity to license to visas. For the license itself, see our Dubai mainland license page, and for the other emirates our UAE mainland license guide.
What mainland gives you that a free zone does not
The difference is reach. A mainland company operates within the emirate under its DET license. A free zone company does not: under Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025, a free zone establishment may conduct activities outside its free zone and within Dubai only after obtaining a license or permit from DET. If your customers are inside Dubai, that distinction usually decides the structure.
Ownership rules for mainland business setup in Dubai
The 2020 reform to the Commercial Companies Law abolished the requirement for a majority Emirati shareholder or local partner and removed the obligation on branches of foreign companies to appoint a UAE national service agent. Two qualifications remain.
- Strategic activities. Cabinet Resolution No. 55 of 2021 covers security and defence, military activities, banking, exchange and financing companies, insurance, currency printing, telecommunications, Hajj and Umrah services, Holy Quran memorisation centres and fisheries services. For most, the sector regulator sets the national shareholding case by case rather than imposing an automatic partner. Fisheries services are fixed at 100 per cent citizen shareholding.
- Dubai’s list is more granular than the federal categories. Check the specific activity code you intend to license, not the category name above it.
Under the sole establishment form, DET restricts nationals of other countries to professional activities and requires a UAE local service agent, appointed under an agreement attested by the notary public or the court. An agent and a national partner are alternatives, not the same thing: the partner takes an equity share in the company’s capital, the agent is not a partner.
Partners, managers and residency
The standard limited liability company has a minimum of two partners and no more than 50. A single owner is also possible: Dubai publishes the Limited Liability One Person Company as a legal form in its own right, which an individual or a company of any nationality may own. A company incorporated inside or outside the UAE may also be a shareholder. The LLC must be managed by one or more managers, who may be partners or third parties, and neither partner nor manager has to be a UAE resident under the company law, which is Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025. Our LLC company formation page covers the structure.
Premises and Ejari
Mainland businesses must have a physical workspace with a minimum size of 100 sq. ft., and no restriction applies to where in Dubai, outside the free zones, that space is rented or bought. Warehouses and regulated activities carry further requirements.
The tenancy must then be registered. Ejari is the system run by RERA, within the Dubai Land Department, for recording tenancy contracts under Law No. 26 of 2007 as amended by Law No. 33 of 2008. Registration is mandatory, and courts may not consider a claim on an unregistered lease. A lease attested by RERA is among the documents required to collect the license.
Visas: what decides the number
There are no restrictions on the number of visas a mainland company can obtain, as long as they are in line with regulatory frameworks regarding the size of the premises and the business activity. The link is qualitative rather than a published formula: Dubai’s investment portal sets out no square-metre-per-visa table for mainland companies, so the number follows from the premises and the activity in each case.
The establishment card, issued in Dubai by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, opens the company’s immigration file so it can sponsor visas. Two steps cannot be done remotely: the medical fitness test, and Emirates ID fingerprint and signature capture, which anyone aged 15 or over must complete in person. Our remote business setup page covers what can be handled from abroad.
Dubai mainland company requirements and the setup sequence
- Confirm the activity and check it against Dubai’s restriction list at activity-code level.
- Choose the legal form: LLC, one person LLC, sole establishment or branch.
- Prepare the shareholder documents and obtain initial approval from DET.
- Sign the memorandum of association and appoint the manager or managers.
- Take premises suited to the activity and register the tenancy with Ejari.
- Collect the license, submitting the RERA-attested lease among the documents.
- Obtain the establishment card to open the immigration file.
- Process visas: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID biometrics, then stamping.
Mainland vs free zone Dubai: how they compare
| Point | Dubai mainland | Dubai free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can trade | Across the emirate under the DET license | Within the zone. Activity outside it needs a DET license or permit |
| Workspace | At least 100 sq. ft. outside the free zones, registered with Ejari | No compulsory office. Any leased office must be inside that zone |
| Visas | No set cap, provided the number matches the premises and activity | Quota set by the authority. DMCC’s standard flexi desk, for example, allows three visas |
| Corporate tax | 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000, 9% above | A Qualifying Free Zone Person pays 0% on Qualifying Income and 9% on the rest, with no AED 375,000 nil band |
Who Dubai mainland suits
- Businesses selling into the Dubai market, where the license already covers the activity.
- Businesses expecting to add staff, since there is no fixed quota, provided visa numbers stay in line with the premises and the business activity.
- Local trading and professional operations: see our trade license and professional license pages.
If you trade only outside the UAE and need no local premises, a Dubai free zone or an offshore structure may fit better, since an offshore company cannot trade inside the UAE, rent an office in Dubai or hire employees, as our Dubai offshore company benefits page explains.
What business setup in Dubai mainland costs
Cost is driven by the activity, the legal form, the premises and the number of visas. Government fees are set by the authorities, can change without notice, and licence, visa and immigration approvals rest with the relevant UAE authorities. We do not publish a single mainland figure, because a consultancy with one visa and a trading company with a warehouse are not comparable. Send us the activity and the headcount and we will quote, or use our cost calculator and contact us.
Want a straight answer on your activity? Message us on WhatsApp with your activity and visa numbers, or call +971 56 500 6694.
Working with First Idea Consultant
First Idea Consultant LLC has advised founders in the UAE since 2015, from Park Regis, ParkLane Tower - Office 812 - Business Bay - Dubai - United Arab Emirates. We handle all emirates, all free zones and all offshore jurisdictions. Amir Aslam is our named expert on business setup.
Very professional company. Amir is a friendly and approachable professional who provided excellent guidance throughout the entire process of setting up our company and bank accounts. Everything was handled efficiently and clearly, which made the experience smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended.
Ronald Bakker
The firm holds 67 Google reviews, shown on our reviews page. We also cover Abu Dhabi mainland and Sharjah mainland.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own 100 per cent of a Dubai mainland company?
For most activities, yes. The law abolished the requirement for a majority Emirati shareholder or local partner. Strategic sectors are the exception: for those, Dubai’s government portal states you will need an Emirati partner.
Do I need an office for business setup in Dubai mainland?
Yes. Mainland businesses must have a physical workspace with a minimum size of 100 sq. ft. The tenancy must be registered with Ejari, and a RERA-attested lease is among the documents required to collect the license.
How many visas can a Dubai mainland company get?
There is no cap as such, as long as visa numbers are in line with regulatory frameworks regarding the size of the premises and the business activity.
Do the owner or manager have to live in the UAE?
No. The company law does not require a partner or manager of an LLC to be a UAE resident. A residence visa is different: the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics must both be done in person in the UAE.
Can a free zone company trade on the Dubai mainland instead?
Not on the free zone license alone. A free zone establishment may conduct activities outside its zone and within Dubai only after obtaining a license or permit from DET under Resolution No. 11 of 2025. Dubai launched the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit in October 2025 as one route.
