Company Setup with Dubai Mainland (DED) in Dubai
Dubai · Mainland
Mainland company formation through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism allows trading anywhere in the UAE without freezone restrictions.
Trade anywhere in the UAE: a Dubai mainland licence from AED 15,000 a year
A Dubai mainland licence, issued through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DED), lets you trade across the whole UAE. You can sell to local customers, retailers and government, open a branch anywhere, and take on staff without freezone restrictions. Prices start from AED 15,000 a year as an estimate. Your exact figure depends on your activity, your structure and how many visas you need. We will give you the precise number in one free call.
We have started 1,400+ companies over 19+ years, and we run the whole DED process for you end to end. This includes your trade name, initial approvals, MOA notarisation, Ejari, establishment card, and investor and employee visas through to Emirates ID.
What the DED licenses
The DED covers most commercial and professional activities on the Dubai mainland, including:
- Retail and shopfront businesses
- General and specialised trading
- Professional services and consultancy
- Contracting
For most of these activities, a foreigner can now own 100% of the company. The 2021 amendment to Federal Commercial Companies Law No. 2 of 2015 removed the 51% local sponsor requirement across the majority of categories. A short list of strategic sectors, including oil and gas exploration, defence manufacturing, banking and insurance, still requires UAE national majority ownership. We confirm exactly where your activity falls before you commit.
What it costs, and what the price depends on
From AED 15,000 a year is the indicative starting point. A mainland licence needs a real tenancy registered through Ejari, and office size drives your visa quota, which is roughly one visa per 9 square metres in Dubai.
A mainland licence requires a physical tenancy registered through Ejari. There is no virtual office route on the mainland the way there is in some freezones. We factor this into your quote up front, so nothing surprises you later.
Rather than quote a number that may not fit your case, get your exact price in one free call.
How long it takes, and what you will need
Mainland incorporations typically take 3 to 7 working days once documents are submitted. Authority processing schedules vary, and we confirm a realistic timeline at the initiation stage. You will generally need shareholder and director passport copies, your chosen trade name and activity, and the tenancy for Ejari. We prepare and verify the full file to the DED's exact specifications, which is what makes approval straightforward in practice.
Tax and banking, handled in the same place
Corporate tax is 9% on net profit above AED 375,000 for financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023, with 0% below that threshold. Businesses under AED 3 million turnover can apply for Small Business Relief through the end of 2026. Registration with the Federal Tax Authority is required regardless of whether you owe anything, and we handle it for you.
On banking, we have named contacts at 10+ UAE banks and have opened 1,000+ accounts. We know exactly what each bank's compliance team will ask, because we have done it a thousand times. See our bank account opening service for what that involves. Approval always rests with the bank, but the quality of your file is what most decisions come down to, and that is the part we control.
Not sure mainland is the right fit?
If your customers are mostly international, a Dubai freezone address, such as IFZA or Meydan, can be faster to set up and carry strong banking relationships. We will walk you through the trade-off against your actual activity in the call, then set up whichever route genuinely fits.
Get your exact price and the fastest route to a Dubai mainland licence: one free call, no obligation.