Mainland Company

Issued for businesses involved in the buying and selling of goods and services, including import and export, logistics, wholesale, retail, software trading, construction, and real estate.

For  service-based businesses that generate revenue by offering expertise and specialized services, such as consulting firms, administrative services and educational institutions, legal firms and artisans. In some cases, this allows for 100% foreign ownership on the mainland, but the eTrader version limits expatriates to professional services and not trading products.

Required for businesses engaged in manufacturing, industrial production, packaging, segregation, or collection of goods, including industries such as food production, textiles, paper, petroleum products and equipment manufacturing. External approvals from relevant regulatory authorities are required before commencing operations

A separate license for companies in the tourism sector, with its own set of rules and regulations.

The E-Trader Licence is a home-based business licence that allows freelancers and entrepreneurs to legally conduct business from their place of residence in Dubai. Primarily for e-commerce, it is specifically tailored for individuals selling products or services through social media and online platforms. This licence is issued exclusively under the Sole Proprietorship legal form, with the owner bearing full legal responsibility and is available to expatriates aged 21 and over.

Dual licensing allows companies operating in specific free zones to extend their presence to the mainland without the hassle of leasing additional office space or partnering with a local shareholder. This is currently available in collaboration with the free zones below:

Dubai CommerCity

Dubai Design District (d3)

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)

One Central (Dubai World Trade Centre Authority)

The Instant Licence is a fast-tracked licensing service that allows entrepreneurs to obtain a business licence within five minutes through a fully digital process. This licence includes a virtual business site for the first year only, after which a valid business location must be provided upon renewal or any amendments. It is available for all business activities that do not require external approvals beyond the Department of Economy and Tourism.

The SME Licence is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing UAE and GCC national entrepreneurs with an opportunity to operate businesses in Dubai at a reduced cost. Entrepreneurs may qualify for a fee exemption or a minimal annual fee, making it an ideal option for startups looking to minimize operational expenses.

The Intelaq Licence is a home-based business licence available exclusively to UAE or GCC nationals residing in Dubai. It allows individuals to legally operate businesses from their homes across various sectors. Designed as an affordable option for entrepreneurs, the Intelaq Licence is issued for a minimal annual fee, supporting homegrown businesses. This licence is issued exclusively under the Sole Proprietorship legal form, with the owner bearing full legal responsibility.

This involves two or more UAE Nationals who are jointly and separately liable for the company’s obligations using their personal funds.

A company formed of one or more general partners who have joint and separate liability, or one or more limited partners who have limited liability proportional to their capital shares.

A business entity in which partners’ liability is limited to their capital share. A Limited Liability Company can be established and owned by a UAE national or any other individual or company, regardless of nationality, and can have multiple partners, up to 50.

A company of this type owned by one person only is known as a Limited Liability Company – Single Ownership. It is subject to the same laws and regulations as limited liability companies with multiple owners.

A company of this type can have up to 200 shareholders, with the company’s capital split equally between shareholders into nominal value shares. Its shares cannot be publicly offered.

When a company of this type is owned by one legal person (either an individual or a company) only, it is known as Private Joint Stock Company – Single Ownership, and the owner’s liability for company obligations is limited to the capital specified in its Memorandum of Association. In this case the company’s name must include the term “One-Person Private Joint-Stock”. It is subject to the same laws and regulations as private joint stock companies with multiple owners.

A company with capital divided into equal negotiable shares, where the founders subscribe to a portion of such shares, while the remainder is offered to the public through a public offering.

This is a company owned by two or more partners practising a professional activity such as consultancy, accounting, training, tailors, beauty salons, etc.

A business owned by one person, who is personally liable for all financial obligations and liabilities incurred by the business.

Find out which business activities do not allow for 100% foreign ownership.

While Dubai companies under 100% foreign ownership can undertake the vast majority of activities, there are some categories where this is not allowed. Please refer to the list below for these activities before starting the business setup process, and plan accordingly.

If you do wish to operate a company which will perform one or more of these activities, you’ll need to work with a local partner.

Security and defence activities and activities of a military nature.

Telecommunications

Banks, exchange, financing, insurance and bank note or coin production

Other categories such as Commercial agencies, Hajj & Umrah Organizing, Holy Quran Recitation Institute, Fish catching, Natural pearl catching and Marine animals catching

To start a business in Dubai, you must hold a valid tourist or visit visa before applying for a licence. All new applicants need:

Copy of the licence holder’s passport (if a non-UAE resident) or Emirates ID (if resident)

Copy of the applicant’s residence visa or entry permit (for non-GCC nationals)

Company’s Articles of Association (not required  for a one-person limited liability company)

Board resolution from the parent company

Authorisation letter from the managing director

Parent company’s commercial registration certificate

Parent company’s Memorandum of Association (MoA)

Copy of the parent company’s licence

All parent company documents must be:

Attested in the home country by the UAE Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Counter-attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Legally translated into Arabic and attested by the UAE Ministry of Justice

Steps to Establish Your Company in the UAE Mainland

Choose Business Activity (General Trading, Building Maintenance, Technical Service, IT Service.

Determine Company’s Legal Structure (Sole Establishment, Limited Liability Company, Civll Company.

Register the Trade Name (Commercial Name)

Apply for Initial Approval (for your Business activity)

Create LSA or MOA (Local Service Agent Agreement- Professional License / Memorandum of Association – Commercial License)

Choose Business Location (Shop, Office, Showroom, Flexi desk.

Apply for Additional Government Approvals (Some activities need approval from external Departments like Municipality, RTA.

Issue Trade License.

This is your first step towards obtaining your trade license. This helps you define your legal form, economic activities and the license partners. You can obtain this before or after reserving your trade name.

Purpose of this request:

Securing a commercial site lease contract

Obtaining approvals from relevant authorities for economic activities that require external approvals (e.g., Health Authority, Roads and Transport Authority, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and others).

This service allows you to obtain an official government document that confirms your project’s trade name. This is used in contracts and other official documents and instances. You can reserve your trade name before or after receiving your initial approval.

Trade name guidelines:

Bear these guidelines in mind when you’re choosing your trade name:

Your trade name should be a proper name and free from obscene or indecent words and should not be offensive to the general public.

Do not include Allah’s name nor ‘God’ or His divine attributes.

Please refrain from using family names, tribe names or other individuals’ names – unless the name belongs to the licensee.

Your trade name should be distinct and not similar to existing brands in Dubai, government projects, or international brands.

Names should be written literally and not translated. For example, ‘السماء العالية’ must be written as ‘Al Samaa Al Aalya’, and if it is ‘هاي سكاي’ it must be written as ‘High Sky’

The trade name must be logical and reflect and indicate your business activity. For example, you cannot use ‘Al Madina Contracting’ for a building material trading licence.

You cannot use any restricted names which include global political organisations or religious sectarian organisations.

DET has the right to cancel or change a trade name, if it finds that a similar name already exists.