Going Mainland in Dubai: What It Actually Involves

Invest in Dubai frames the mainland in one line: "If you're looking to trade within the UAE, or prefer not to be within a free zone, establishing a mainland company is the path for you." If that describes your plan, the question becomes practical: what does the process ask of you, and in what order?

The short answer is six gates. You fix your activity and legal form. You reserve a trade name and obtain initial approval. You register a lease on real premises. You obtain any external approval your activity needs; the UAE Government Portal notes that some activities need approvals before initial approval. You collect the licence. Then you open the establishment and immigration files that let you hire. Each gate has its own decision-maker. The UAE Government Portal says initial approval "allows the investor to proceed with the next steps in setting up a business", and that the licence is collected "After completing the above steps".

This article sits within the wider Dubai business setup overview. If you have not yet settled whether the mainland is the right route, start with the mainland versus free zone framework. Here we assume you have chosen the mainland.

If tenders are part of your plan

Tender registration is a separate step from licensing. The UAE Government Portal states: "In order to be able to bid for government contracts, all bidders must register on the respective eProcurement system." For Dubai, Dubai.ae names eSupply as "the official Procurement Portal for Dubai Government Tenders". It states that registration "typically involves submitting company details, trade licenses, and compliance documents."

The published sequence, from two federal sources

Two federal pages publish the steps. They agree on the order, with small differences in wording and one extra step.

On that last step, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism states that "Membership of the Chamber of Commerce of the relevant Emirate might be required before proceeding with carrying on the economic activity." Ask whether it applies to your activity.

The Dubai Economy and Tourism service pages for initial approval, licence issuance, trade names and renewal could not be verified on 20 September 2026. This article therefore states no Dubai Economy and Tourism fee or service time. It relies on the federal pages, on Dubai Land Department and on the establishment card service pages.

Gate one: activity and legal form

Start with the activity, because the rest follows from it. The UAE Government Portal says: "It is important to identify the business activity you want to conduct as it is the basis for selecting the legal form and type of licence". The trade licence types are covered in their own article.

Legal forms: each page has its own list

Official pages list the available legal forms differently, and two Ministry of Economy and Tourism pages differ from each other. Read each list as belonging to its page.

• UAE Government Portal (federal): "General partnership, Limited partnership, Limited liability company (LLC), Public joint stock company (PJSC), Private joint stock company (PrJSC)".
• Ministry of Economy and Tourism, establishing companies page: "Sole establishment, Branch of a GCC company, Civil company, Branch of a local company, Limited liability company, Holding company, Public joint stock company, Representative office of a foreign company, Private joint stock company".
• Ministry of Economy and Tourism, establishing a business page: "Partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, public joint stock company, private joint stock company, branch of a foreign company."

On the limited liability company, Article 71 of Federal Decree Law No. (32) of 2021 on Commercial Companies states that it "is a company whose number of partners is at least two and does not exceed fifty [50]". It adds: "Any single natural or legal person may incorporate and own a limited liability company." The UAE Legislation portal lists the law as active, effective 2 January 2022.

The choice of legal form has legal consequences, so take advice from a licensed legal adviser.

Foreign ownership: check your activity

The UAE Government Portal's full foreign ownership page states: "Foreigners are allowed to establish companies with 100 per cent full ownership, based on the provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 amending the provisions of Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 on Commercial Companies."

For Dubai, it adds: "As per the guidelines published by Dubai Economy on its website, 100 per cent foreign ownership is available for more than 1,000 commercial and industrial activities ... excluding economic activities with a strategic impact, which relate to seven sectors."

Two published points qualify this, and one gap remains.

1. Strategic-impact activities. Cabinet Resolution No. (55) of 2021 sets the list. Its Article 2 names sectors including "Security and Defense Activities and Activities of Military nature" and "Banks, Exchange Houses, Finance Companies and Insurance Activities".
2. A national-participation ratio can be set. Clause 2 of Article 10 of Federal Decree Law No. (32) of 2021 provides for a Cabinet resolution defining activities with a strategic impact. Clause 3 opens: "Subject to the competencies vested in the Cabinet as per Clause [2] of this Article". It then gives the competent authority power to "Determine a particular ratio for the contribution of UAE nationals to the capital or the boards of directors of all companies that are incorporated within the scope of its competence."
3. The Dubai activity list could not be read. Invest in Dubai has a page introduced as "Find out which business activities do not allow for" full foreign ownership, but the list itself did not load when we reviewed it on 20 September 2026.

The two portals point to different laws. The UAE Government Portal's full foreign ownership page cites Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 and does not mention Federal Decree Law No. (32) of 2021. The UAE Legislation portal lists Federal Decree Law No. (32) of 2021 on Commercial Companies as active, effective 2 January 2022. We have not reconciled the two citations. Confirm your specific activity with the licensing authority before you plan your shareholding.

The local service agent: three official wordings

Three official pages describe when a local service agent is needed, and each words it differently.

We have not resolved these differences. Ask the licensing authority, in writing, whether your activity and legal form need a local service agent.

Gate two: trade name and initial approval

Both federal pages place the trade name step before initial approval. The UAE Government Portal explains the approval itself: "An initial approval means that the UAE Government has no objection for the business to be established in the country." It adds: "It does not, however, grant the authority to run or practice the business activity."

The same page sets two conditions that come first: "Foreign investors must obtain the approval of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners' Affairs before getting the initial approval." And: "Some activities require additional approvals from government entities related to that particular business before applying for the initial approval." Confirm the current trade name and initial approval fees with the licensing authority when you apply. The full line-by-line cost breakdown covers licence costs separately.

At this stage the founding document also comes in. The UAE Government Portal states: "Depending on the legal form of a business, a completed and signed Memorandum of Association (MoA) or a local service agent agreement (LSA) of the business is required."

Gate three: premises and a registered lease

The UAE Government Portal is direct: "All businesses in the UAE must have a physical address to operate. The business premises and location must comply with the requirements defined by the respective emirate's Department of Economic Development, as well as the land planning regulations of the local municipalities."

On the lease, the same page says: "Office and warehouse rental agreement must be provided. Some emirates require the agreements to be attested. In Dubai, the agreement must be registered with Ejari". Dubai Land Department describes its Ejari service as one that "allows customers to register or renew a Tenancy contract in the Emirate of Dubai". Its fee list starts with "AED 100 for registering a tenancy contract", an "AED 10 knowledge fee" and an "AED 10 innovation fee". A service partner fee is added, and it differs between the Dubai REST app or website and the "Real Estate Services Trustee Centers".

We did not find an official statement on whether a flexi desk or shared-office address can support a Dubai mainland licence, on the pages reviewed on 20 September 2026. How business centres work is explained separately. Ask the licensing authority about your premises before you sign a lease.

Gate four: external approvals, where the activity needs them

The UAE Government Portal states: "In some cases, additional approvals from government entities governing certain business activities are required". Its mainland steps page lists examples of such activities by approving body, including the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the Central Bank of UAE, the General Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation, the Securities and Commodities Authority and the National Media Council. Read the page itself for the activities each body covers.

For Dubai, Invest in Dubai's additional approvals page carries the description: "Activities in certain sectors will require some extra approval steps." The list itself did not load when we reviewed it on 20 September 2026. Ask the licensing authority which external approvals your activity code carries, and ask each approving authority for its own requirements and fees.

Gate five: licence issuance

The UAE Government Portal states: "After completing the above steps, investor can collect the business licence from service centres of the economic departments or through their websites." The steps it lists before this one include the business location and any additional government approvals.

On payment, the UAE Government Portal states: "You have to pay for your trade licence within 30 days of receiving the payment voucher".

Gate six: establishment card and immigration file

GDRFA Dubai publishes the "Establishment Card for Institutions in the Private Sector/ Free Zone", with a stated time of "48.0 Hour(s)". The page shows two different fee statements, so confirm the current fee with GDRFA Dubai on that service card.

MOHRE publishes its own establishment card service. It states that "The service is provided free of charge through MOHRE website and App. (only government fees are applicable)". Check the fee lines on each service card; this article does not reproduce them, and the cost breakdown linked above covers the licence itself.

ICP publishes an establishment card service stating that "It is required that the application for the initial approval and the establishment card issuance be submitted exclusively through the authorized service providers." The page does not say whether it covers Dubai-licensed companies.

On the hiring quota, the UAE Government Portal's recruiting on the mainland page states: "The ministry will determine the quota according to the legal form of the company, the area of the premises, the projects involved and the demand of the work operation as evidenced by the employer." We did not find a published ratio of office area to work permits or visas on the pages reviewed on 20 September 2026. Treat any figure quoted to you as unconfirmed until the ministry confirms it.

The employer employment visa process takes over from here.

Practical asset: the mainland gate checklist. Tick each item as you confirm it in writing. (1) Activity and legal form. The authority decides: whether your activity can be licensed, and under which ownership conditions. You prepare: the activity description, the shareholder list and the licensing authority's written answer on ownership and local service agent requirements. A provider can: draft the questions with you. (2) Trade name and initial approval. The authority decides: whether the name is accepted and whether initial approval is granted. You prepare: your preferred trade name, the documents the licensing authority lists, any residency approval the UAE Government Portal says foreign investors need first, and the MoA or LSA your legal form needs. A provider can: prepare, submit and track the application. (3) Premises and registered lease. The premises must meet the economic department's requirements and municipal land planning regulations, according to the UAE Government Portal. You prepare: a lease on premises suited to the activity, registered with Ejari. A provider can: check the lease details against the application before you sign. (4) External approvals. The approving authority decides: its own approval, on its own requirements. You prepare: the documents each authority lists, and its fee. A provider can: identify the authorities named for your activity and coordinate submissions. (5) Licence issuance. The licensing authority decides whether to issue. You prepare: payment within the stated 30 days of the voucher. A provider can: check the voucher with you before payment. (6) Establishment card and immigration file. GDRFA Dubai, MOHRE and, where it applies, ICP decide. You prepare: the documents each service card lists, and a hiring plan. A provider authorised for that channel can: submit and track each file.

What the licence brings with it afterwards

This section is editorial: the transactions that recur after a mainland licence is issued. It is not a comparison with free zones.

• Licence renewal. Check the renewal requirements well before the licence expiry date. Renewal is covered in its own article.
• Establishment card. GDRFA Dubai's page refers to an issuance or renewal fee.
• Employees. Each hire brings its own work permit and residence transactions. The UAE Government Portal refers to the cost of "issuing and renewing a work permit" and describes the employment visa as "valid for two years and renewable subject to terms and conditions set by the visa-issuing authorities."

Keep the licence, lease and establishment card expiry dates in one calendar.

The authority at each gate decides its own application: the licensing authority for the licence, the governing authority for an external approval, and GDRFA Dubai, ICP or MOHRE for their own services. No provider can decide it or promise the outcome. The map of PRO services and authorities shows where each of these transactions sits.

Information verified against official sources on 20 September 2026. Fees checked on 20 September 2026.

Contact RINJAZ to confirm availability, scope and quotation for a mainland setup. RINJAZ is a privately licensed UAE service provider. It is not a government entity and does not act for any authority. A provider's role, within whatever its licensed activity covers, is to prepare documents, submit them through the correct channel and track progress. The licensing authority, each external approving authority, Dubai Land Department, GDRFA Dubai, ICP and MOHRE decide their own applications, and no provider can promise the outcome.