Who this is for
- Trading, retail and service businesses selling directly to UAE customers
- Companies that need a physical shop, showroom, clinic or office in the city
- Businesses planning to bid on local or government contracts
- Overseas companies opening a UAE branch on the mainland
- Professionals seeking a professional or civil-company style licence
What Scaleon helps with
- Selecting activities from the emirate's activity list and checking ownership conditions
- Choosing a legal form, such as an LLC, sole establishment or branch
- Trade name and initial approval applications
- Coordinating the memorandum of association or equivalent constitutional documents
- Identifying premises that meet activity requirements and arranging Ejari registration in Dubai
- Coordinating external approvals for regulated activities
- Preparing for establishment registrations, visa applications and bank account applications
What a mainland company is
A mainland company holds a licence from an emirate-level economic authority and is entered in that emirate's commercial register, with data feeding into the federal National Economic Register. Because it is licensed on the mainland, it can generally trade with customers across the UAE without needing a separate distributor, subject to its licensed activities and any sector rules.
Licensing authorities across the emirates
Each emirate has its own economic department and its own procedures, fee schedules and activity catalogues. In Dubai this is the Department of Economy and Tourism; Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates have their own equivalent departments. The general sequence is similar: choose activities and legal form, reserve a trade name, obtain initial approval, complete constitutional documents and premises, obtain any external approvals, pay fees and receive the licence.
Initial approval indicates that the authority has no objection to the proposed company, but it does not permit trading. The business may only operate once the licence itself is issued.
Ownership and legal structure
Following changes to the Commercial Companies Law, a wide range of mainland activities can be fully owned by foreign investors. A limited number of activities considered to have strategic impact remain subject to specific ownership or approval conditions, and some legal forms or activities may still require a local service agent. We check the position for your activities before an application is filed.
- Limited liability company: the most common form for trading and services, with one or more shareholders
- Sole establishment: a single owner, without separate legal personality from the owner
- Branch of a foreign or UAE company: extends an existing entity rather than creating a new one
- Civil or professional company: used for certain professional activities, depending on the emirate
Office address and Ejari
Mainland companies need a registered physical address. In Dubai, the tenancy contract is registered through the Dubai Land Department's Ejari system, and the registered contract is part of the licensing file. Other emirates use their own tenancy registration systems. The size and type of premises can affect which activities are allowed and how many work permits the establishment can apply for.
Business centre or shared-desk arrangements are accepted for some activities, but not all. Trading in physical goods, food, healthcare or industrial activities typically need premises suited to the activity.
External approvals for restricted activities
Some activities need approval from a federal or emirate body in addition to the economic department, for example activities in healthcare, education, food, financial or security-related sectors. These approvals can add documents, inspections and time, and their outcome rests entirely with the approving body. We identify them at the planning stage so your timeline and budget reflect them.
Visa considerations
Once licensed, a company that will sponsor employees or investors registers with the immigration authority and with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The number of visas available is generally linked to premises and activity. We help you plan the sequence and prepare documents; applications are decided by the relevant authorities.
Bank account and renewals
After licensing, we can help you prepare a bank account application pack that explains your business model and expected transactions. Banks make their own decisions. The trade licence, Ejari contract and establishment card each have renewal dates, and keeping them aligned reduces the risk of penalties or blocked transactions.
Information usually needed
- Passport copies of shareholders, the manager and any authorised signatories
- Emirates ID and residence visa copies for UAE residents
- Proposed trade names and a description of planned activities
- Tenancy contract or office agreement for the proposed premises
- For corporate shareholders or branches: parent company incorporation documents, constitutional documents and board resolution, legalised as required
- Activity-specific documents for external approvals, such as professional qualifications
What you receive
- Confirmed activity list and legal form recommendation
- Trade name and initial approval application coordination
- Premises requirements summary and Ejari coordination support in Dubai
- Licence application coordination and copies of issued documents
- Post-licensing checklist for immigration, labour, tax and renewals
What affects the fee
- Emirate and licensing authority
- Number of activities and whether external approvals are required
- Legal form, number of shareholders and corporate shareholder documentation
- Premises type and whether we assist with sourcing
- Number of visas and whether bank application support is included
- Government, authority and tenancy registration fees, passed through at cost
Quotations are itemised, with government fees shown separately from professional fees.
How the process works
- 1
Activity and ownership check
We match your planned work to the emirate's activities and confirm ownership and approval requirements.
- 2
Trade name and initial approval
We prepare and submit the trade name reservation and initial approval application.
- 3
Constitutional documents and premises
We coordinate the memorandum of association or equivalent and help arrange premises and tenancy registration.
- 4
External approvals and licence
We coordinate any external approvals, then complete the licence application and fee payment.
- 5
Post-licensing steps
We support establishment registrations, visa planning, tax registration awareness and the bank application pack.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues a mainland licence in Dubai?
Mainland licences in Dubai are issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Other emirates have their own economic departments, each with its own procedures and fees.
Do I need a physical office for a mainland company?
A registered address is required. In Dubai, the tenancy contract is registered through Ejari. Some activities may use business-centre arrangements, while others need dedicated premises suited to the activity.
Can a mainland company be 100% foreign-owned?
For many activities, yes. A limited number of strategic activities remain subject to specific conditions, and some forms may need a local service agent. We confirm the position for your activities before applying.
What is an external approval?
It is a permission from another government body, required for certain regulated activities before the licence can be issued. Healthcare, education and food-related activities are common examples.
Does a mainland company need to register for Corporate Tax?
Generally yes. UAE resident companies are required to register with the Federal Tax Authority within the applicable deadline, even if no tax ends up payable.