Dubai Mainland Business Setup in 2026 — costs, process & 100% ownership

What a Dubai mainland company actually is

A mainland company is registered directly with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, the government body most people still call the DED. Unlike a free zone company, which operates inside a defined economic zone, a mainland licence lets you trade across the whole of the UAE without a local distributor sitting in the middle. You can open a shop in a mall, take a government tender, invoice clients in any emirate, and put your office wherever the rent makes sense.

For years the catch was ownership: a UAE national had to hold 51% of most mainland companies. That changed in 2021. Today the large majority of commercial and industrial activities can be 100% foreign-owned, which is why so many founders who used to default to a free zone now look seriously at mainland.

Why founders choose a mainland setup

The appeal comes down to reach and credibility. A few reasons come up again and again in our consultations:

• Trade anywhere in the UAE. No geographic limits, no need for a local agent to sell into the mainland market on your behalf.
• Government contracts. Most public-sector tenders are only open to mainland companies, which matters if you sell to ministries, municipalities or state-owned firms.
• Flexible visas. Visa allocation scales with your office size — roughly one visa per nine square metres — so a growing team isn't boxed in by a fixed quota.
• Any office, anywhere. Lease space in the location that suits your customers rather than being tied to one zone's buildings.
• Broad activity list. More than 1,000 activities are available, often combined under one licence. Not sure which fits? Try our business activity search.

Mainland vs free zone: which is right for you?

This is the first real decision, and it depends less on cost than on where your customers are. If you sell directly to UAE consumers or need a physical presence, mainland usually wins. If you serve clients internationally or want the lowest possible entry cost, a free zone such as IFZA often makes more sense.

Feature	Mainland (DET)	Free Zone
Market access	Whole UAE, incl. government	Zone & international; mainland via distributor
Foreign ownership	100% on most activities	100% always
Office requirement	Physical office / Ejari	Flexi-desk often enough
Setup cost	From ~AED 18,500	From ~AED 4,888
Visa allocation	Scales with office size	Tied to package
Best for	Retail, F&B, contracting, gov tenders	Consultants, e-commerce, holding, trading

Still weighing it up? Our setup cost calculator compares both in under two minutes, or look at offshore company formation if you only need a holding structure.

How much does a Dubai mainland setup cost in 2026?

There's no single sticker price, because your final figure depends on your activity, office and visa count. The table below breaks down the government and setup components most companies pay. Aurum bundles these into one transparent quote — no fees appearing halfway through.

Component	Typical range (AED)
Trade name reservation	620 – 1,000
Initial approval	120 – 500
DET trade licence	10,000 – 15,000
MoA drafting & notarisation	1,500 – 2,500
Office rent / Ejari (annual)	15,000 – 30,000
Chamber of Commerce	~1,200
Establishment & immigration cards	~2,600

A realistic way to think about it: a solo consultant on a professional licence with a shared workspace can start near AED 18,500. A small trading company with its own office and two or three visas usually falls between AED 35,000 and AED 55,000 in the first year. Renewals from year two are lower, since the one-off formation costs drop away.

The step-by-step mainland setup process

The process is more predictable than most people expect. Here's the path Aurum manages end to end, usually inside two weeks.

Documents you'll need

Mainland paperwork is heavier than a free zone, but nothing unusual. For an individual shareholder you'll typically provide:

• Passport copies for all shareholders
• UAE entry stamp or residence visa, and Emirates ID if you're already resident
• Three trade name options
• A short business plan for certain regulated activities
• A No Objection Certificate if you currently hold a UAE work visa
• The Ejari tenancy contract and the notarised Memorandum of Association

Corporate shareholders add a notarised board resolution and the parent company's trade licence. We prepare, translate and attest everything where required.

100% ownership and the local agent rule

Full foreign ownership is now the norm on the mainland, but two nuances are worth knowing. First, a small set of strategic activities — think oil and gas, defence and security — remain restricted. Second, some professional licences still require a Local Service Agent. Crucially, an LSA is not a shareholder: they take no equity and no share of profit, and act only as a government liaison for a fixed annual fee. So even where an agent is required, you keep 100% of the business and its income.

On tax, every mainland company must register with the Federal Tax Authority. Profits up to AED 375,000 are taxed at 0%, and 9% applies above that. If you'd like this handled from day one, our corporate tax team sets it up alongside your licence.

Common mistakes to avoid

Picking the wrong activity. Your licence must match what you actually do; the wrong activity code causes headaches at banking and renewal. Under-budgeting the office. Ejari is mandatory for mainland, so factor real rent into year one, not just the licence fee. Skipping tax registration. Corporate tax registration is compulsory even at 0% — missing it risks penalties. Choosing mainland when a free zone would do. If all your clients are overseas, you may be paying for market access you don't need.

Mainland business setup FAQs