Mainland Business Setup in Dubai, UAE
Dubai is known for its global infrastructure and facilities, and it is considered an international business hub with unlimited opportunities for business owners. A mainland business setup in Dubai gives you lots of benefits such as the wide range of covered business activities and the unlimited ability to trade locally and internationally.
Once you choose the activity of your company and its structure, you can accordingly issue one of the following three main types of licenses in Mainland, Professional, Commercial, or Manufacturing / Industrial license.
The type of your company will also determine whether you need to have a local sponsor, who will maintain 51% of the shares, or if you just need a local service agent, who will act as the company’s representative to deal with all governmental entities.
The general mainland business setup process can be summarized in 10 main steps, and our experts are here to help you through every single one, to make sure that you are choosing the most appropriate and beneficial options for your business, and to do it based on real data and the most recent market analysis.
Most Suitable Locations for Mainland Business Setup in UAE
Dubai Mainland
The private businesses are authorized to conduct any commercial activities in the Dubai Mainland under the jurisdiction by the department of Economic development. The aspect of judicial procedures that are considered for the start mainland Business Setup Dubai, are managed by Department of Economic Development.
Abu Dhabi Mainland
Abu Dhabi mainland is an adventurous marketing hub for small companies and startups because of massive number of major improvements in the region as compared to other emirates. We have customized plans for new companies as well as reputed businesses help in initiating your business in the mainland of Abu Dhabi.
Sharjah Mainland
One of the highly stabilized community of UAE is Sharjah. Its reputation as well as establishment will attract you for building empire in the mainland. The company formation is highly affordable with additional perks of modern infrastructure, amenities, and special business facilitation measures.
Ajman Mainland
Ajman is reputed for outnumbered business opportunities and lavish office infrastructure. The mainland is the concentrated hub for international investments. We are available to help you start your business in the mainland of Ajman.
Fujairah mainland
It is already well established region with reputed multi-national businesses landed in the mainland. The perks in establishing businesses in the mainland are convenience, opportunities, and affordability with the similar growth as expected in Dubai.
Frequent Ask Questions on Mainland Company Formation
How do I start a company in mainland Dubai?
To start a mainland company in Dubai, you need to follow the steps laid out by the Department of Economic Development in Dubai (DED). The DED is responsible for handling any new Mainland Company Formation in Dubai.
You can either complete all the steps and deal with the officials in the Department of Economic Development by yourself or take the services of business setup experts in Dubai.
These experts can be found from various business setup consultancies in Dubai. Obtaining the business trade license from the DED is the most important step in the process of business setup in Mainland Dubai.
Can a company be set up in Dubai mainland without a sponsor?
After some recent additions and amendments of the laws in the UAE, foreigners can now set up a Dubai Mainland business without a local sponsor. However, a few sectors that are strategically important to the government of the UAE still requires local sponsors.
You can still start a business in these sectors. However, you can only own 49% of the business, and the rest of the 51% needs to be owned by a local sponsor. But do not worry about having to split the profits in that percentage as well.
Local sponsors can be found for a small annual fee. These strategically important sectors include the transportation industry, the defense industry, and the oil and gas industry.
What is a mainland business in Dubai?
A mainland business in Dubai is a business that is located in the area that is defined as the Mainland in the city. The Mainland economic jurisdiction is separate from the free zones and offshore companies.
Mainland businesses get more flexibility and opportunities than free zone businesses and offshore companies. This is because businesses located in the mainland can perform their business activities anywhere in the UAE or outside the UAE.
How do I set up a company on the mainland?
If you want to get started with a Mainland Company Formation in Dubai by yourself then you will need to follow a few steps. These steps will lead you to obtain a business trade license from the Department of Economic Development in Dubai.
Since you can perform your business activities after obtaining the business trade license, it is the most important factor in starting your business in the UAE. You can follow these steps to obtain the business trade license from the DED and set up your company in the mainland:
- Select your business activities
- Determine Your Legal Structure
- Select the trade name of your business
- Apply for the initial approval from the DED
- Draft the Memorandum of Association (MOA)
- Select an office space
- Get the external approvals
- Collect the business trade license
Can a Freezone company trade in the mainland?
A Freezone company cannot trade or perform other business activities in the Mainland through normal means. A Freezone company needs to hire a local service provider to perform the business activities in the Mainland for them.
The local service provider will require a fee that will depend on the business activities you mean to perform through them. That is why a mainland company formation in Dubai is more attractive to many investors and entrepreneurs.
