Sell anywhere in the UAE, including to government
The route to take when your customers are UAE-based corporates or public sector bodies. Registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism.
Prefer to talk it through? A consultant can answer in minutes.
Included in this route
Full UAE market access
Trade freely anywhere in the country without geographic restriction.
Government contracts
Eligible to bid for and win public sector procurement.
No local sponsor
100% foreign ownership for most commercial and professional activities.
Multiple activities
Register several business activities under a single licence.
Physical office
Requires an Ejari-registered office, sized to your visa quota.
DET registration
Registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism.
VAT ready
Full compliance with UAE VAT regulations and FTA requirements.
Local market trading
Invoice consumers and businesses across the UAE directly.
Where this route wins
The trade-offs that usually decide it one way or the other.
Unrestricted trading
No geographic limitations - sell to anyone in the UAE.
No sponsor needed
Full foreign ownership under the updated Commercial Companies Law.
Government sector access
Participate in government tenders and public sector projects.
Flexible licence types
Professional, commercial, industrial and tourism licences available.
Brand credibility
Mainland registration carries weight with local partners and banks.
From first call to trading
- 01
Activity and trade name
Select licensed activities and secure trade name approval from DET.
- 02
MOA and initial approval
Prepare the Memorandum of Association and obtain initial approval.
- 03
Office space and Ejari
Secure office space and register the tenancy contract through Ejari.
- 04
Trade licence issuance
Submit final documents and collect your DET trade licence.
- 05
Emirates ID and banking
Process investor visas, Emirates IDs and corporate bank accounts.
Get a written quote for mainland
Send a few details and a consultant comes back within one business day with the route, the documents you need and a full first-year cost.
- No obligation and no pressure
- A named consultant, not a call centre
- One number covering licence, visas and compliance
Asked most often about this route
Do I still need a local sponsor for a Dubai mainland company?
No. Under the updated UAE Commercial Companies Law most activities allow 100% foreign ownership without a local sponsor. A small number of strategic activities still carry local participation requirements.
Can a mainland company trade inside free zones?
Yes. Mainland companies trade freely within free zones and anywhere in the UAE, which gives them broader market access than a free zone entity.
What does mainland company setup cost in Dubai?
It depends on the activity, the visa count and the office requirement. We quote licence, office, visas and first-year compliance as a single figure before you commit, so there is no drip of extra fees.
Is a physical office mandatory for a mainland licence?
Yes. Mainland companies need physical office space registered with Ejari. The minimum size depends on your activity and the number of visas you need.
How many visas can a mainland company sponsor?
The quota is driven by office size, roughly one visa per nine square metres of Ejari-registered space, subject to activity and Ministry of Human Resources approval.
The other routes
Free Zone Company
100% foreign ownership, tax exemptions and fast-track setup in any of the 25+ UAE free zones.
Offshore Company
International business structuring with asset protection and clean, low-maintenance holding vehicles.
DIFC & ADGM
Common-law jurisdictions with their own courts - the route for holding structures, SPVs, foundations and family offices.
Tell us what you want to build. We will tell you the fastest legal route to it.
A 30-minute call gives you a jurisdiction recommendation, a document checklist and a full first-year cost breakdown. No charge, no obligation.
Or call +971 55 779 9873 · Monday to Saturday, 09:00 – 18:00 Gulf Standard Time