A Mainland company is a business entity registered with the Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET). 

Setting up a Mainland company in Dubai can be beneficial in more ways than one: 

Ease in obtaining government contracts 

Ease of obtaining a corporate bank account 

Trade locally and internationally

100% expat ownership for selected activities

100% repatriation of capital and profits

Ability to expand and trade internationally

Ability to do business with the UAE government

No currency restrictions

Ease of obtaining visas based on the size of the office space; for instance, you can get up to 5 visas with a minimum office space of 200 sq. ft.

Freedom to operate business and rent office space anywhere within the mainland area

What are some important requirements for setting up a Mainland company in Dubai?

When setting up a Mainland company in Dubai, it is essential to meet requirements such as:

- Dubai Economy and Tourism allows for 100% ownership for most business activities. Before one can register a company, it is essential to show that a commercial space or a space within a business centre as a co-working facility has been rented.

- It is also important to check if your business requires external approvals. The approvals would depend on the business activity that you intend to conduct.

- When setting up a business in Dubai Mainland, before a company can process employee visas there is a requirement to obtain Labour file from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

These and more requirements must be met when setting up a Mainland company in Dubai. For more assistance, kindly get in touch with our experts. 

How can I set up a business in Dubai Mainland?

Setting up a business in Dubai Mainland would include the following steps:

Selecting your business activity: The first step for setting up a business in Dubai Mainland would include choosing your business activity. When choosing the right activity, it is essential to do thorough research on its feasibility of it within Dubai’s business market. While most business activities are permitted in Dubai Mainland, it is important to do your due diligence before choosing the right business activity.

Selecting the company structure/legal form: You can choose to incorporate your business under a specific company structure or legal form, such as Limited Liability Company (LLC), Sole Establishment, or Branch of a Foreign Company. It will help you, as the business owner, to organise your company assets and resources accordingly. This step is important as you will not be able to apply for a business licence without deciding the company’s legal form. 

Getting approval for company name and activity: After you select your company structure and business activity, you would have to submit your business trade name for approval with Dubai Economy and Tourism. When choosing a trade name for your business, you would have to ensure to comply with the rules set by the Dubai Economy Tourism and other government entities based on your business activity. For more information, you can get in touch with our company set-up experts at Ascent Partners.

Applying for trade licence: When applying for a trade licence, one should check if their chosen business activity qualifies for 100% ownership with no limitations from any external governmental bodies. To know if your business activity qualifies for 100% ownership, get in touch with our experts at Ascent Partners.

Registering the company: The next step would be to submit all required documents that would differ based on each company type and activity. You may also require external approvals from governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Preparing the Memorandum of Association (MoA): Business owners in Dubai can acquire e-MOAs through service centres and online mediums.

Applying for a labour file: When starting a new business in Dubai Mainland, you will have to apply for recruitment permits for your new employees to legally work for your business. To know more about how you can apply for a labour file, you can check out our detailed guide here.

Renting an office: For setting up a Mainland company in Dubai, you would require renting an office space and getting the Ejari (Tenancy Contract).

Opening a corporate bank account: When setting up a Mainland company in Dubai, a corporate bank account can help you manage your finances. For more details on how you can open a bank account in the UAE, you can check out our detailed article here. 

Obtaining your trade licence: After you submit all the required documents for setting up a business and after receiving the necessary approval from all relevant entities, you would receive your business licence and begin your entrepreneurial journey in Dubai.

To understand the main differences between a Mainland and Free Zone company, you can check out our detailed article here.

What is the cost of starting a business in Dubai Mainland?

The cost for setting up a Mainland business or LLC would depend on the business activity, office premises, visa costs, and other factors.

For detailed information, you can get in touch with our experts using the lead form below.

How can Ascent Partners help?

At Ascent Partners, we provide bespoke, end-to-end solutions for entrepreneurs looking to set up their next venture in the UAE. 

With services ranging from choosing the right business activity and jurisdiction to visa services and corporate bank account opening provisions, we work alongside you to strategise and start up so that you have the freedom to scale your business the way you want in Dubai.

Set up a Mainland Company with Ascent Partners! Get in touch with us today!