Company Setup
Mainland Company Setup
in Dubai
A Dubai mainland licence lets you trade directly with UAE customers and bid for government contracts, without the restrictions that come with a free zone entity. We handle the DET licence, office arrangement and visa process from structuring through to your first working day.
Start a ConversationOverview
A Licence That Lets You
Trade Anywhere in the UAE
A mainland company is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and can trade directly with customers anywhere in the UAE, including the mainland and other free zones, without needing a local distributor. It is also the only route eligible for government contracts.
Most mainland activities now permit 100% foreign ownership. Activities with strategic impact, such as banking, insurance, defence and certain resource-related sectors, can carry additional authority requirements, which we confirm before you file.
Mainland Suits You If
- Most of your customers are based inside the UAE
- You want to bid for government or semi-government contracts
- Your activity requires a specific mainland licence class, such as retail or certain professional services
- You plan to operate from a genuine physical office
How It Works
The Mainland Setup Process
Structure & Activity
We confirm activity code, legal form and shareholder structure against your business model.
Trade Name & Initial Approval
Reserve a trade name and obtain DET initial approval for the proposed activity.
Premises & Ejari
Secure office space and register the tenancy contract, matched to your visa requirement.
MOA & Licence Issuance
Finalise the Memorandum of Association and submit for licence issuance.
Post-Licence Setup
Establishment card, immigration file, visas and Corporate Tax registration.
A standard-activity licence typically takes 3 to 10 working days once documentation, external approvals and premises are ready. End to end, including office and initial setup, plan for 1 to 3 weeks for a standard case, longer where corporate shareholders or special approvals are involved.
2026 Update
Foreign Corporate Shareholders:
What Changed
Since February 2026, a Dubai mainland company owned by one or more foreign corporate shareholders has needed to appoint a UAE-resident manager at incorporation. The manager's Emirates ID is required to start the filing, and this applies to new mainland subsidiaries with foreign corporate ownership, not to individual-shareholder structures, UAE corporate shareholders or free zone incorporations.
Cost
Mainland Setup Cost
| Scenario | Indicative Range (AED) |
|---|---|
| DET trade licence only, standard activity | 12,000 to 22,000 |
| Flexi-desk or small office with Ejari, per year | 12,000 to 35,000+ |
| All-in year one, one visa, small office | 28,000 to 50,000+ |
| Per residence visa, government-related costs | 3,500 to 6,500+ |
| Per dependent, family sponsorship | 3,500 to 7,500+ |
| Annual renewal, share of year-one cost | 60 to 85% |
Final cost depends on activity, office, visa count, shareholder structure and any external approvals. Government and authority fees are quoted separately from Aurum's professional fee, so you can see exactly what each figure covers.
The Practical Difference
What Mainland Allows
That Free Zone Doesn't
Free zone companies generally need a local distributor or a dual-licence arrangement to sell directly to UAE mainland customers. A mainland licence removes that layer entirely, and is the only route eligible to tender for government and semi-government contracts.
Mainland Advantages
- Direct trading with any UAE customer, no distributor needed
- Eligible for government and semi-government tenders
- Wider range of licensable activities across sectors
- No cap on residence visas tied to a fixed flexi-desk quota
Comparing mainland against free zone in detail? See our Free Zone Company Setup page, or start from the Company Setup overview.
Why Aurum
Why Clients Choose Aurum
for Mainland Setup
Activity Matched to Reality
We confirm the exact DET activity code fits how you actually operate, before filing, so you are not stuck applying for an amendment later.
Premises That Fit Your Visa Plan
Office selection is tied to your visa count from the start, so you are not choosing between rent and headcount six months in.
Current on Regulatory Change
Requirements like the resident-manager rule shift. We confirm what currently applies before we file, not after.
What Clients Say
In Their Own Words
"We needed to bid on a government tender, which meant a free zone licence was never going to work. Aurum sorted the mainland structure, office and visa in under three weeks, and were upfront the whole way about what was government cost and what was their fee."
UK Founder, Professional Services Mainland setup with office and single visaCommon Questions
Mainland Setup FAQs
Yes, for most mainland activities. Activities with strategic impact or that are regulated, such as banking, insurance, defence and certain resource-related sectors, can carry additional authority requirements. We confirm this against your specific activity before you commit.
This applies specifically to new mainland companies with one or more foreign corporate shareholders, following a February 2026 DET procedural update. It does not apply the same way to individual-shareholder structures or UAE corporate shareholders. We confirm the current requirement before filing.
Visa allocation depends on your activity, premises size, immigration approval and the classification of your office. We do not publish a fixed ratio because it varies by case. We confirm the available quota before you commit to an office.
Mainland companies pay 0% Corporate Tax on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that threshold, with no exemption route. This differs from the conditional 0% treatment available to a Qualifying Free Zone Person on Qualifying Income only.