Arabic
Dubai Mainland Business Setup Guide
Welcome to Your Dubai Business Journey
Setting up a mainland business in Dubai offers numerous advantages:
- No restrictions on business activities or trading
- Ability to do business directly with the local UAE market
- No foreign exchange controls or taxation on personal income
- 100% foreign ownership available for most business activities
- Access to government tenders
Let's guide you through the key decisions you'll need to make.
Dubai Mainland
Your Gateway to UAE Business
Step 1: Choose Your License Type
Every mainland company needs a license to operate. Select the type that best fits your business:
For all forms of manufacturing, production, packaging, segregation, and collection.
Ideal for businesses focused on buying and selling various goods and services.
For individuals providing services based on intellectual or artistic skills.
For home-based individuals or entrepreneurs selling through online platforms.
Enables companies in select free zones to expand operations to the mainland.
Dubai License
Specifically tailored for businesses operating in Dubai.
Step 2: Select Legal Structure
The legal structure of your business determines liability, ownership options, and operational framework:
Two or more partners who are both jointly and individually responsible for the company's obligations.
One or more general partners with joint liability, or one or more limited partners with limited liability.
Partners' liability is limited to their capital share.
Up to 200 shareholders with capital divided into shares of nominal value.
Capital divided into equal negotiable shares, with some offered to the public.
Owned by two or more partners engaged in a professional activity.
A business owned by a single person.
Step 3: Understand Ownership Restrictions
While most Dubai mainland companies allow 100% foreign ownership, certain business activities require a local partner. Below are activities with foreign ownership restrictions:
Activities Requiring Local Partnership
If you wish to operate a company involved in any of these activities, you will need to collaborate with a local partner:
- Security and military activities
- Oil exploration and production
- Banking and financing operations
- Insurance and reinsurance
- Pilgrimage and Umrah services
- Certain recruitment activities
- Water and electricity services
- Fishing and related services
- Postal, telecommunication and audio-visual services
- Road and air transport
- Printing and publishing
- Commercial agencies
- Medical retail (pharmacies)
- Blood banks, quarantines, and poison centers
Your Dubai Business Setup Summary
Here's an overview of what you've learned about setting up a mainland company in Dubai:
Dubai offers 5 main license types: Industrial (manufacturing), Commercial (trading), Professional (services), E-Trader (online businesses), and Dual License (free zone expansion).
Choose from 7 legal structures including General Partnership, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Private Joint Stock, Public Joint Stock, Civil Company, and Sole Proprietorship.
100% foreign ownership is possible for most business activities, except for specific sectors like security, oil exploration, banking, insurance, and certain other regulated industries.
After choosing your license type and legal structure, you'll need to:
- Select a company name
- Prepare required documents
- Apply for initial approval
- Secure a location/office space
- Obtain external approvals (if needed)
- Submit final documents and pay fees
- Receive your business license
