Local customers & premises
A business serving UAE customers from an office, shop or other approved operating location.
DUBAI MAINLAND
Build your presence
in the UAE market.
A mainland company can suit businesses that need a direct local presence. We help align the activity, legal form, premises and approvals with your plans.
A LOCAL OPERATING BASE
What is a mainland company?
A Dubai mainland company is licensed through the Department of Economy and Tourism to conduct specified business activities.
The licence, legal form and any sector approvals determine what the business may do. Retail, trading, professional services and other activities each have their own requirements.
WHEN MAINLAND MAY FIT
Choose it for the way you operate.
Trading & distribution
A business needing local trading capability, with the relevant commercial and customs permissions.
Professional services
A consultancy or service business with an activity and legal form suited to its professional scope.
Regional growth
An operating base that supports your expansion, with additional licences or approvals assessed as required.
YOUR MAINLAND SETUP
Practical support at each step.
We coordinate the process and keep the documentation connected to your commercial requirements.
- Activity and legal-form assessment
- Trade-name reservation and initial approval coordination
- Memorandum and ownership documentation support
- Premises and Ejari coordination, where applicable
- External approval and trade licence application support
- Banking preparation, tax registration and ongoing compliance planning
- 01
Define your activity
Confirm the appropriate activity code, proposed name, shareholders and manager.
- 02
Confirm the legal requirements
Review ownership, premises, constitutional documents and any professional or sector approvals.
- 03
Complete the application
Coordinate documentation, signing and payments required by the relevant authority.
- 04
Prepare to operate
Address banking due diligence, visas where eligible, accounting records and applicable tax registrations.
Further reading: UAE mainland setup steps ↗ · Foreign ownership ↗. General information reviewed September 2026; application depends on your circumstances and current rules.
KNOW BEFORE YOU APPLY
The details make
the difference.
Can a foreign investor own a Dubai mainland business?
Full foreign ownership is available for many mainland activities. Strategic-impact activities and regulated sectors can have additional ownership or approval requirements. We check the specific activity before recommending a legal form.
Do I need a physical office?
Premises requirements depend on the activity and licence. We confirm the approved address, tenancy or workspace arrangement and any inspection requirements before you commit to a lease.
Can a mainland company operate across the UAE?
A Dubai mainland licence can support business with customers across the UAE, but branch locations, regulated activities and specific operations may require additional local permissions. We assess the actual operating model.
What happens after the licence is issued?
We help you organise the next steps: banking preparation, immigration requirements where relevant, accounting systems, applicable tax registrations and a renewal calendar.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
Support for what comes next.
LET’S MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
Ready to establish
your Dubai presence?
Tell us where you are today and where you want to go. We’ll help you work out the next step.