A Dubai mainland license is the permit that lets your company trade anywhere in Dubai and across the wider UAE market, without being limited to a free zone. It is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which was formerly known as the Department of Economic Development (DED). If you are planning a mainland company formation in Dubai, this license is the most important document you will hold.
In this guide you will learn what a mainland license in Dubai is, the license types, the Dubai mainland license cost, the documents and steps involved, how mainland compares with free zone, and how renewal works.
What Is a Dubai Mainland License?
A Dubai mainland license is a trade license that legally authorizes a company to operate in Dubai’s onshore market. It confirms your business activity, legal structure and trade name, and it is the foundation for your office lease, visas and corporate bank account.
Unlike a free zone license, a mainland license allows you to:
- Trade directly with customers anywhere in Dubai and the rest of the UAE
- Work with government entities and bid for public-sector contracts
- Rent office space in any approved commercial location in Dubai
- Export and trade internationally
If you want a broader overview before choosing, read our guide on how to start a business in Dubai and our explainer on the DED trade license in Dubai.
Benefits of a Mainland License in Dubai
100% foreign ownership
Since the 2021 reforms, foreign investors can own 100% of most mainland companies. A UAE national local service agent or sponsor is no longer needed for the majority of commercial and professional activities. A small number of strategic-impact activities still carry ownership conditions, so confirm your activity before you apply.
Unrestricted market access
You can sell to local consumers, supply other businesses and serve government clients without needing a distributor.
Flexible office locations
You can choose from commercial towers, business centers and offices across Dubai that suit your budget and client base.
Visa eligibility
Mainland companies can sponsor employee and investor visas. The number of visas typically depends on the size of your leased office space.
Credibility
A mainland license is widely recognized by banks, landlords, suppliers and government departments, which helps when you open a corporate bank account.
Types of Mainland Licenses in Dubai
The license you need depends on your business activity.
| License type | Who it is for | Example activities |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial license | Businesses trading in goods | General trading, import and export, wholesale, retail, e-commerce |
| Professional license | Service providers and skilled professionals | Consulting, IT services, marketing, engineering, design, legal advisory |
| Industrial license | Manufacturers | Manufacturing, assembling, processing, packaging |
| Tourism license | Travel and hospitality businesses | Travel agencies, tour operators, holiday homes (needs DTCM approval) |
Some regulated sectors, such as healthcare, education, real estate, logistics and contracting, also need approval from the relevant authority. See our full trade license in Dubai guide for activity-level detail.
Legal Structures for a Mainland Company
- Limited Liability Company (LLC): The most popular option. It supports multiple shareholders and limited liability, and allows 100% foreign ownership for most activities.
- Sole establishment: Owned by one individual. Often cheaper to set up, but the owner carries unlimited personal liability.
- Branch of a foreign or UAE company: Lets an existing company extend its operations into Dubai.
- Civil company: For professional firms such as consultants and lawyers.
Documents Required for a Dubai Mainland License
Exact requirements vary by activity, but you will usually need:
- Passport copies of all shareholders and managers
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID copies (for UAE residents)
- Passport-size photographs
- Proposed trade name options
- Business activity details
- Memorandum of Association (MOA) or Local Service Agent Agreement, if applicable
- Ejari tenancy contract for your office
- NOC from the current sponsor (for residents on an employment visa)
- External approvals, where your activity requires them
- Parent company documents, if you are opening a branch
Dubai Mainland License Cost
The Dubai mainland license cost is not a single fee. It depends on your activity, legal structure, office and visa needs. Providers quote different starting prices, and published figures range from roughly AED 12,500 to AED 18,500 for a basic license, with total first-year budgets often reaching AED 30,000 to AED 50,000 or more once office, visas and approvals are included. Treat these as indicative ranges and request a written quote.
| Cost component | What it covers | Indicative range (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Reserving your company name | About 600 to 750 |
| Initial approval | DET’s first approval of your activity | A few hundred |
| Trade license fee | Annual license for your activity | About 10,000 to 15,000+ |
| Office and Ejari | Lease and tenancy registration | Varies widely; a flexi desk is the cheapest option |
| Local service agent | Only where required | Varies |
| External approvals | Regulated activities | Varies by authority |
| Visa and Emirates ID | Per owner and employee | Varies by visa count |
Factors that change your cost
- Business activity: Industrial and regulated activities usually cost more than basic professional ones.
- Legal structure: Sole establishments are often cheaper than LLCs.
- Office space: Rent is usually the biggest cost, and it also drives your visa quota.
- Number of activities: Each extra activity can increase the license fee.
- Approvals: Municipality, health, tourism and other approvals add fees.
Ways to reduce setup cost
- Start with a flexi desk or shared office if your activity allows it.
- Choose only the activities you need now and add more later.
- Compare a professional license with a commercial one if you offer services.
- Use a bundled setup package instead of paying for each step separately.
Fees change, so always confirm the latest charges with DET or your consultant before budgeting.
How to Get a Mainland License in Dubai: Step by Step
Getting a Dubai mainland license follows a clear sequence. Completing the steps in the right order saves time, because each approval depends on the one before it.
Step 1: Choose Your Business Activity
Your activity decides your license type (commercial, professional, industrial or tourism), your costs and the approvals you need. Check the DET activity list to confirm your activity is permitted, whether it needs an external approval, and whether it carries any ownership conditions. Our guide to the DED trade license in Dubai explains how activities are classified. If you plan several activities, list them now, because each extra one can raise your license fee.
Step 2: Select a Legal Structure
Decide how your company will be set up. An LLC suits most investors because it offers limited liability, supports multiple shareholders and allows 100% foreign ownership for most activities. A sole establishment has one owner and is often cheaper, but the owner is personally liable. A branch lets an existing company operate in Dubai. Your structure affects your ownership, liability, fees and paperwork.
Step 3: Reserve Your Trade Name
Submit your preferred company names to DET, ideally with two or three alternatives. The name must follow DET naming rules: no offensive or religious terms, no duplicates of existing names, and it should reflect your activity where required. Once approved, the name is reserved for you while you complete the remaining steps.
Step 4: Apply for Initial Approval
Initial approval is DET’s first confirmation that you may proceed with your chosen activity, legal structure and name. It does not yet give you the right to trade, but it lets you move on to the lease, the MOA and external approvals. Make sure the details match what you intend to put on your final license, since changes later can add cost and delay.
Step 5: Arrange a Local Service Agent (If Required)
Most commercial and professional activities no longer need a UAE national sponsor, thanks to the 100% foreign ownership reforms. However, a small number of activities and structures still do. If yours is one of them, choose your agent carefully and have the agreement reviewed, because it governs your rights as the owner.
Step 6: Draft and Notarize the Memorandum of Association (MOA)
The MOA is the legal document that sets out your shareholders, share capital, management powers and profit distribution. For LLCs it must be drafted, signed by all partners and notarized. Take care with clauses on decision-making, exit and profit sharing, because they are hard to change later.
Step 7: Rent an Office and Register Ejari
A physical address is generally required for a mainland license. Choose a space that suits your activity and budget: a flexi desk, a shared office or a private office. Your lease must then be registered through Ejari, Dubai’s tenancy registration system, because DET asks for it before issuing the license. Your office size also influences how many visas you can sponsor.
Step 8: Obtain External Approvals
Some activities need sign-off from other authorities before DET will issue the license. Examples include Dubai Municipality for food and trading activities, the health authority for medical services, and DTCM for tourism businesses. Check this requirement at the start, as these approvals can add weeks to the timeline.
Step 9: Pay Fees and Receive Your Trade License
Once approvals, MOA and Ejari are in place, you pay the government fees and DET issues your Dubai mainland trade license. Keep a copy of the license, MOA and Ejari together, because banks, landlords and immigration will ask for them. Your license is valid for one year.
Step 10: Complete Post-License Setup
After the license is issued, finish the steps that make your company fully operational:
- Apply for the establishment card and immigration file
- Process investor and employee visas and Emirates ID applications (see our UAE residence visa guide)
- Open a corporate bank account
- Register for VAT and corporate tax where required
- Explore the UAE Golden Visa if you qualify as an investor or business owner
How Long Does the Process Take?
Simple activities with ready documents can be licensed in a few days. Regulated activities, or setups where the office is not yet leased, usually take a few weeks. Bank account opening is a separate process and can add more time.
Want this handled for you? AE Setup manages every step above, from trade name to bank account. Contact us for a free consultation.
Mainland vs Free Zone: Which Is Better?
| Factor | Mainland | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Market access | Entire UAE and international | Mainly within the zone and abroad; onshore sales need a distributor or extra permission |
| Ownership | 100% foreign for most activities | 100% foreign |
| Government contracts | Eligible | Generally restricted |
| Office | Required, any approved location | Within the free zone, often flexi-desk friendly |
| Setup cost | Usually higher | Often lower to start |
| Best for | Retail, trading, consulting for local clients, large teams | Export-focused, online and holding businesses |
If most of your customers are in the UAE, a mainland license is usually the better fit. If you mainly trade internationally, a free zone may cost less. Read our full comparison, free zone vs mainland company in Dubai, or see setting up a free zone company.
Taxes and Compliance After You Get Your License
- Corporate tax: The UAE applies 9% corporate tax on taxable profits above AED 375,000, so register and keep proper accounts. Corporate tax in the UAE
- VAT: Registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000. VAT registration in UAE
- Bookkeeping and audits: Maintain financial records as required by your activity and regulators.
- Emiratisation and labor rules: Check obligations that apply to your headcount and sector.
Speak to a tax adviser about your own position, as rules and thresholds can change.
Dubai Mainland License Renewal
A mainland license is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. To renew you will typically need:
- A valid Ejari and office lease
- Payment of the renewal fee
- Clearance of any outstanding fines
- Updated approvals, where applicable
Renewing late can bring fines and block visa and bank transactions, so set a reminder well before expiry. See also trade license renewal in Dubai.
Why Set Up Your Mainland Company with AE Setup
At AE Setup, we handle the full mainland business setup in Dubai, so you do not have to chase approvals or paperwork:
- Activity and license-type advice
- Trade name reservation and initial approval
- MOA drafting and notarization
- Office, flexi desk and Ejari arrangements
- Visas, Emirates ID and PRO support
- Corporate bank account opening assistance
Ready to get your Dubai mainland license? Contact AE Setup today for a free consultation and a clear, written cost breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Dubai mainland license?
It is a trade license issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism that allows a company to operate in Dubai and trade across the UAE without free zone restrictions.
2. How much does a Dubai mainland license cost?
Basic licenses are commonly quoted from around AED 12,500 to AED 30,000, and the total first-year cost is often higher once office, visas and approvals are added. The final figure depends on your activity, structure and office.
3. Can foreigners own 100% of a mainland company in Dubai?
Yes, for most commercial and professional activities. A few strategic activities still have ownership conditions.
4. Do I need a local service agent?
Not for most activities today. It depends on your activity and legal structure, so confirm before applying.
5. Is an office mandatory for a mainland license?
Generally yes, and it must be registered with Ejari. Some activities may qualify for a flexi desk, which lowers cost.
6. How long does it take to get a mainland license in Dubai?
From a few days for simple activities to a few weeks where approvals or office arrangements are needed.
7. What is the difference between mainland and free zone?
A mainland company can trade directly across the UAE and bid for government work. A free zone company is based in a specific zone, often with lower setup cost but limits on onshore trading.
8. Can I convert a free zone license to a mainland license?
Yes, but it involves cancelling or transferring the free zone license and completing the mainland process, with additional steps and cost.
9. How often must I renew a mainland license?
Every year.
10. Can I change or add business activities later?
Yes, activities can be amended through DET, usually with additional fees and approvals.
