Mainland Company Setup in Dubai, UAE
Mainland company setup in Dubai and all seven emirates. 100% foreign ownership, direct market access, and zero guesswork. OMC handles everything from the licence to the visa.
Start Your Mainland SetupWhat changed in 2021, and why it matters
For years, company formation in the UAE meant finding a local sponsor to hold 51% of your shares. That requirement is gone for most activities. The 2021 amendment to Federal Commercial Companies Law No. 2 of 2015 opened full foreign ownership across the majority of business categories.
There are still exceptions. Oil and gas exploration, defence manufacturing, banking, insurance, and a few other strategic sectors still carry UAE national majority ownership requirements. But for trading companies, consultancies, tech firms, hospitality businesses, and most service providers, you keep 100%.
That change made UAE mainland business setup a serious option for a much wider range of investors. The conversations we have today look completely different from the ones we had five years ago.
Which emirate fits your business?
We cover all seven. Here is how each one is used in practice when clients come to us for company setup in the UAE.
Dubai
DED (Department of Economic Development) issues licences across hundreds of activities. Dubai's name carries weight with international partners and banks. Standard processing runs 5 to 10 working days for most activities. Visa allocation is roughly one investor or employee visa per 9 square metres of office space.
Abu Dhabi
ADDED (Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development) runs the Tamm digital platform, which has made applications considerably cleaner. Abu Dhabi suits businesses in construction, energy services, healthcare, and government contracting.
Sharjah
A cost-conscious choice with a large industrial and manufacturing base. Warehousing, light manufacturing, and logistics businesses get solid practical value here at competitive cost.
Ajman & Umm Al Quwain
The most affordable mainland options. Both are 30 to 45 minutes from Dubai and suit businesses that need a legitimate UAE mainland presence without paying Dubai prices. Good for product trading companies with lean setups.
Ras Al Khaimah
RAK DED offers competitive fees. The emirate has attracted a notable number of manufacturing and technology businesses in recent years, and has quietly built solid infrastructure to support them.
Fujairah
East coast access to Indian Ocean trade routes. Port services, commodities, and import-export businesses focused on South Asia regularly choose Fujairah for geographic reasons more than anything else.
Licence types for company formation in the UAE
Your licence defines what you are legally permitted to do. Getting this wrong is one of the most costly mistakes in UAE company setup — and one of the most common.
Commercial licence
Covers import/export, wholesale, retail, general trading, and most buying-and-selling activities.
Professional licence
For consultancies, IT firms, engineering, marketing, and skill-based services. Foreign nationals can hold 100% ownership here with no local partner.
Industrial licence
For manufacturing and production. Requires a dedicated facility that meets industrial zoning standards.
The activities on your licence also affect which bank accounts you can open, which government departments need to approve you, and how many visas you can apply for. We spend time on this step because the downstream impact is real.
What does UAE mainland business setup actually cost?
No consultancy can give you an exact number without knowing your activity, structure, and chosen emirate. Here is a realistic baseline to budget against — these are government fees, set by the authority, not by us.
- Trade licence, depending on the emirate and activityAED 8,500 – 15,000
- DED trade name registration and initial approvalAED 600 – 900
- Memorandum of Association (MOA) notarisationAED 1,500 – 2,500
- Ejari (tenancy registration on office space)from AED 2,500
- Each investor or employee visa, including Emirates ID and medical testingAED 3,000 – 4,500
Activities needing external ministry approvals — healthcare, education, financial services, food trading — take longer and sometimes carry additional fees. OMC maps this out at the start, before you have paid anything you cannot recover. Figures are indicative and change; your binding quote comes from an advisor, not this page.
Corporate tax and compliance since 2023
The UAE introduced a 9% corporate tax on net profit above AED 375,000, effective from financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. Below that threshold the rate is zero. Businesses with annual revenue under AED 3 million can apply for Small Business Relief, which allows 0% tax through the end of 2026.
VAT at 5% applies to most goods and services, with registration mandatory once taxable annual turnover exceeds AED 375,000. Corporate tax registration with the Federal Tax Authority is now a fixed requirement for all companies, not an option.
OMC handles annual accounts, licence renewals, VAT filings, and corporate tax compliance for clients who want support beyond the initial setup.
Why businesses choose OMC for mainland company setup in Dubai
OMC has been handling company setup in the UAE for over 14 years. We have processed mainland company formation across every emirate, through multiple regulatory frameworks, and with hundreds of different activity types.
We do not disappear after the licence is printed. Our clients come back for accounting, tax filings, visa renewals, and business expansion. One relationship, and a lot less running around for you.
- 1400+ clients served across the UAE
- 14+ years of UAE company formation experience
- Licensed setup across all seven emirates
- Dubai Silicon Oasis office for in-person meetings
- Full-service support: accounting, VAT, corporate tax, PRO and visas
Questions? We've Got Answers.
Everything you need to know about mainland company setup in Dubai and the wider UAE. Can't find your answer here? Reach out anytime.
Still have a question?
Speak to an OMC advisor directly — we respond within 2–4 hours on business days.
Talk to an advisorCan a foreigner own 100% of a UAE mainland company?
For most activities, yes. The 2021 amendment to Federal Commercial Companies Law No. 2 of 2015 removed the 51% local sponsor requirement across the majority of business categories — trading, consultancy, tech, hospitality and most services. A short list of strategic sectors still requires UAE national majority ownership, including oil and gas exploration, defence manufacturing, banking and insurance. We confirm where your specific activity falls before you commit to anything.
Is a physical office required for a UAE mainland license?
Yes. A mainland licence requires a real tenancy registered through Ejari, which is what links your licence to a physical address. There is no virtual-office route on the mainland the way there is in some free zones. Office size also drives your visa quota — in Dubai, roughly one visa per 9 square metres. If a lean setup matters more to you than mainland market access, a free zone may fit better, and we will say so.
What is the corporate tax rate for a mainland company in UAE?
9% on net profit above AED 375,000, for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023. Below that threshold the rate is 0%. Businesses with annual revenue under AED 3 million can apply for Small Business Relief, which allows 0% through the end of 2026. Separately, VAT registration at 5% becomes mandatory once taxable turnover exceeds AED 375,000, and corporate tax registration with the Federal Tax Authority is required regardless of whether you owe anything.
Can OMC manage the entire company setup UAE process?
Yes — licence, trade name, initial approvals, MOA notarisation, Ejari, establishment card, and investor and employee visas through to Emirates ID. Most clients then keep us on for accounting, VAT and corporate tax filings, and licence renewals, so the same team that set the company up is the one that keeps it compliant.