Business setup in Mainland
How to Setup a Company in Mainland?
Key Benefits of business setup dubai mainland
Business Activities for mainland company formation in dubai
Types of legal forms in Dubai Mainland
Limited liability Company for single owners
Civil partnership company
Civil partnership company
Branch setup
Represntative office
Essential Documents for Business Setup In Mainland
The type of visa required varies depending on the business activity:
- 2.1 UAE Residence Visa: For this type of visa, an NOC (No Objection Certificate) form is required from the current person.
- 2.2 Tourist Visa: For this type of visa, a copy of the visit visa is required.
- 2.3 Cancel Visa: For this type of visa, a copy of the canceled visa is required.
- 2.4 On Arrival Visa: This type of visa is for British people, such as those from the USA, UK, and other countries. A copy of the on-arrival visit visa is required.
- 2.5 Golden Visa: For this type of visa, no NOC is required. Only a copy of the Golden Visa is required.
- 3.1 Business Plan: A business plan is not mandatory for some business activities, but it is required for certain activities, such as Ministry of Health and KHDA “Dubai Health Authority” to set up any pharmacy, institute, or other related activities.
- 3.2 Goods Standard Certificate, Resume, Personal Profile, and Education Certificate:
These documents may be required for certain business activities.
- Military trade (Good Standing Certificate and Education Certificate)
- Education institute setup (Resume and Education Certificate)
- Chemical activity (Goods Standard Certificate and Personal Profile)
- Sports academy setup (Resume and Personal Profile)
- Military trade (Good Standing Certificate and Education Certificate)
- A unique company name is required as per the company government guidelines.
- The proposed company name should be checked for availability and approved by the relevant authorities.
Cost of business setup in mainland
Business Setup In Mainland Services include:
DED PRO assistance, ICA document attestation, visa stamping, and government liaison for seamless approvals.
DED portal submission with NAICS-aligned activity classification under UAE Ministry of Economy guidelines.
Annual DED licence renewal, activity amendments, and Ejari lease registration for investor visa quota.
Corporate Bank account setup with Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq; AML/KYC and banking compliance support.
Register with FTA for UAE corporate tax compliance, CIT filings, and Ministry of Finance reporting.
FTA-compliant VAT registration, invoicing setup, and quarterly VAT return filing support.
Frequently Asked Questions about Business setup In Mainland
Start by selecting a DED-approved activity (wholesale, IT services, F&B) and choosing your legal structure under the UAE Commercial Companies Law. Reserve your trade name via the DED portal, then submit your trade license application with a notarized Memorandum of Association (MOA), ICA-attested passport/visa copies, and Ejari tenancy contract. Once the Dubai mainland trade licence is issued, finalize PRO services to handle visa stamping and government liaison.
Mainland business Setup Owners can opt for an LLC (Limited Liability Company), Sole Establishment, Civil Company, or Branch Office. Each falls under the Department of Economic Development (DED) and has distinct shareholding, liability, and VAT registration requirements with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Under the recent UAE Commercial Companies Law, you can obtain 100% foreign ownership in most mainland activities—no local sponsor required. However, certain professional licences may still mandate a local service agent to comply with DED regulations.
Typical turnaround is 5–10 working days if all documents (MOA, Ejari lease, ICA-attested passport/visa copies) are ready. Complex activities regulated by DHA or KHDA (health, education) may extend processing by an additional 3–5 days.
Visa quota depends on your Ejari-registered office space:
Flexi-desk: 1–3 visas
Small office: 3–5 visas
Commercial showroom: 5+ visas
Additional visas require higher office square footage, per DED and ICA guidelines.
Yes—an Ejari tenancy contract is required for visa quotas and licence activation. You can choose a flexi-desk, private office, or commercial showroom in any approved Dubai zone (Business Bay, Deira, JLT).
ICA-attested passport copies
Valid residence visa/entry permit copies
Detailed business plan (for DHA/KHDA-regulated activities)
Goods Standard & Good Standing certificates (if applicable)
DED trade name approval certificate
Notarized MOA and Ejari contract for visa registration
