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Dubai · June 2026

UAE mainland setup. One federal law, seven front doors.

To trade anywhere in the UAE, win government contracts, or hold a physical presence without a free-zone boundary, a mainland licence is the right start. The same Commercial Companies Law applies in every emirate. What changes is the licensing authority, the office requirement, and the cost. This page maps each route.

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Mainland at a glance

Trade scopeUAE-wide
Ownership100%, most activities
Government contractsEligible
Emirates coveredAll 7
DET Trade Licence No 1457744
DNFBP Registered
How Mainland Works

One federal law, seven front doors.

Mainland companies across the UAE share one Commercial Companies Law, one corporate-tax regime, and, since the 2021 reforms, 100% foreign ownership for most activities. What changes by emirate is the licensing authority, the office and tenancy rules, and the cost. Dubai runs through DET, Abu Dhabi through ADDED, each northern emirate through its own department.

  • Where your customers and contracts are: a Dubai address carries weight.
  • Which government clients you want to reach: Abu Dhabi opens government and energy work.
  • What an office costs: the northern emirates cut cost for the same federal rights.

We hold no quota with any emirate or authority, so the recommendation follows your case, not ours.

Government Fees

The authority fees, openly.

The published Dubai (DET) government fees, verified against authority sources. These are the fixed charges every Dubai mainland company pays. The commercial licence fee is activity-driven and varies by activity and Chamber category, shown below.

Published rates, Dubai mainland (DET)

Authority fees, verified June 2026.

DET initial approvalGovtAED 120
DET trade name reservation (standard)GovtAED 620
MOA notarization (LLC, activity-dependent)GovtAED 900 to 2,000
Commercial licence feeGovtActivity-driven (see note)
Establishment card (GDRFA Dubai, 1-year)GovtAED 270 to 420
Visa change of status (GDRFA Dubai)GovtAED 520
Visa stamping, 2-year residence permitGovtAED 510 to 560
Emirates ID (2-year validity)GovtAED 370 to 400
Medical fitness test (DHA-approved centre)Approved centreAED 250 to 380
Corporate Tax registration (FTA)GovtFree
verified against authority sources (DET, GDRFA, ICP, FTA), June 2026

The commercial licence fee is the biggest variable in a Dubai mainland setup, set by activity category and Chamber of Commerce membership tier, not a flat fee. A single professional or service activity can run as low as AED 9,500 all-in government cost; general trading with multiple activities regularly reaches AED 25,000 or more. Never trust a headline "from AED X" figure without confirming your activity list. The medical fitness fee goes to a private DHA-approved centre, not a government authority.

Compare mainland with a free zone, side by side

A licence fee is not your year-one number. That depends on your activity, visa count and office, scoped in the first conversation. See how we price.

Browse by Emirate

Pick where to register.

Same federal law everywhere; different authority, office rules and cost. Each links to a full setup guide.

Dubai (DET)

Trade UAE-wide, bid for government work, 100% ownership for most activities, Ejari office, visas.

View Dubai →

Abu Dhabi (ADDED)

Reach Abu Dhabi government and energy work, 100% ownership for most activities, Tawtheeq office, visas.

View Abu Dhabi →

Sharjah, Ajman, UAQ, RAK & Fujairah

Same federal law and 100% ownership, each emirate's own department, lower cost.

View the others →

The right emirate is decided by where your customers, contracts and office need to be, not by licence price alone.

An honest view

Who mainland actually fits.

We do not rank mainland against free zones for you. Read the fit below and conclude for yourself. If your case points to a free zone, we say so plainly.

  • Businesses whose customers are mainly in the UAE mainland and need direct invoicing.
  • Companies bidding for UAE government, semi-government, or public-sector contracts.
  • Retail, restaurant, clinic, and service businesses needing a storefront or walk-in address anywhere in the UAE.
  • Professional firms in regulated activities (healthcare, real estate brokerage, legal, engineering) where a mainland licence is required or preferred.
  • Trading businesses moving goods through UAE customs, warehouses, and logistics without free-zone restrictions.
  • Founders relocating to the UAE who want no zone-boundary limit on where they operate.

Where a free zone may serve you better

  • If you sell internationally or mainly to clients outside the UAE, a free zone licence removes the office cost and is cheaper to run.
  • For financial services, funds, or a regulated fintech needing a common-law framework, the financial centres (DIFC and ADGM) are the right home.
  • If cost is the priority and you do not need mainland access, a northern emirate free zone is more economical.

Still weighing the structure? The company setup overview sets out all four routes; the emirate pages and the mainland vs free zone comparison give the full picture.

Before You Choose

Understand the route and the alternative.

Dubai mainland setup guide

DET licence, activity approval, office tenancy, establishment card, visa and banking process in full.

View Dubai guide →

Mainland vs free zone

The single biggest decision. Where your customers are usually decides it.

Compare structures →

UAE free zones

If you sell internationally or want the lowest entry cost, a free zone may fit better.

Browse zones →
Frequently asked

Common questions on UAE mainland setup.

Reviewed by Manish Kumar Pandey, Founder & Managing Director, DM Consultancy · Last reviewed June 2026

Can a foreigner own 100% of a UAE mainland company?

Yes, for most activities since the 2021 commercial companies law reforms. Most professional and commercial activities allow 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor or Emirati partner. A small set of strategic and restricted activities still require Emirati ownership of 51% or more. Confirm whether your activity is on the restricted list before choosing the structure.

What is the difference between a DET licence and a free zone licence?

A DET (Dubai mainland) licence lets you trade anywhere in the UAE, take government and public-sector contracts, open retail or service offices anywhere in Dubai, and invoice any customer. A free zone licence restricts direct trading to the zone and internationally; selling directly to UAE mainland customers usually needs a distributor or branch. If your customers are UAE-based, mainland is usually the right start.

How long does it take to get a Dubai mainland trade licence?

The licence itself takes three to seven business days for straightforward activities once documents are in order. A fully operational company with a bank account and residence visas typically takes four to six weeks, depending on activity approvals, office tenancy, and bank onboarding. The bottleneck is rarely the licence; it is the visa or banking stage.

Do I need a physical office for a UAE mainland licence?

Yes. A mainland licence requires a physical tenancy agreement (Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi). The office size and type sets how many visas the licence can sponsor: a small office limits the count, larger commercial space allows more. Flexi-desk and hot-desk arrangements do not qualify for mainland licences the way they do for some free zone products.

Does a UAE mainland company pay corporate tax?

Yes. UAE mainland companies fall within the UAE Corporate Tax regime (Federal Decree-Law 47 of 2022). The standard rate is 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000; income below is taxed at 0%. Registration is mandatory for all taxable persons via the FTA portal, whether or not you expect to owe tax. Get qualified tax advice before filing.

Which is cheaper for a mainland licence: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or the northern emirates?

The northern emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, UAQ, RAK, Fujairah) are usually cheapest for the same federal rights and 100% ownership, mainly because office rent is lower. Dubai (DET) carries the highest brand weight and customer access; Abu Dhabi (ADDED) opens government and energy work. Cost should not decide it alone. Where your customers, contracts, and office need to be usually does.

Can I convert a free zone company to a mainland company later?

Not by a simple switch. Moving from free zone to mainland generally means a new mainland licence and, in most cases, a fresh incorporation, new tenancy, and re-issued visas rather than transferring the existing entity. It is cleaner and cheaper to choose the right structure at the start. If your customers are UAE-based, start mainland rather than migrating later.

How many residence visas can a UAE mainland licence sponsor?

It is tied to your office space, not a fixed cap. As a guide, authorities allow roughly one visa per nine to ten square metres of approved office area, so a small office supports a handful and larger commercial space supports more. Size your office to your hiring plan; the right tenancy is set by the headcount you intend to sponsor.

Do I need an Emirati local service agent for a mainland company?

For most commercial and industrial LLC activities, no. Since the 2021 reforms these allow 100% foreign ownership with no local partner or agent. A Local Service Agent is still required for certain professional structures (a civil company or a foreign branch), where the agent holds no equity and takes an annual fee, not a share of profit. Whether you need one depends on your activity and legal form.

Can a mainland company open a corporate bank account in the UAE?

Yes, and a mainland licence is often viewed favourably by UAE banks because it signals local trading and a physical office. Approval is not automatic. Banks assess your activity, shareholder profile, source of funds, and expected transactions, and onboarding commonly takes two to four weeks. The activity and ownership chosen at setup directly affect how smoothly the account opens.

A note on specialist services. Accounting, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax, and legal or liquidation work are delivered with our independently licensed partners. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice; confirm your position with an independent tax advisor before acting.

The Decision Path

Understand Evaluate Clarify Proceed

Next: choose your emirate, confirm your activity, and get the all-in government fee in writing. Book a 30-minute call.

A senior read, no pitch

Do you actually need a mainland licence?

Answer a few questions and a senior advisor tells you whether mainland is the right call for where you trade, or whether a free zone fits. No obligation.

UAE Mainland Setup

The emirate is the easy part. The activity is the work.

Thirty minutes with Manish covers your activity, the right emirate, a realistic all-in government cost, and whether mainland or a free zone is the better home. If the firm fits your case, we proceed. If not, you leave with sharper direction than you arrived with.

Book a 30-minute call Or message on WhatsApp

info@dm-uae.com · Port Saeed, Deira, Dubai