What is a UAE mainland company?

A UAE mainland company (also called an onshore company) is licensed by the emirate's Department of Economic Development (DED) — such as Dubai's DED, Abu Dhabi's DOE, or Sharjah's DED. Unlike free zone companies, mainland companies can trade freely within the UAE, take government contracts, and open offices in any emirate without restriction.

Since June 2021, the UAE Companies Law was amended to allow 100% foreign ownership of mainland companies in most business sectors — ending the requirement for a 51% UAE national shareholder. Selected sectors still require a local partner or agent.

Mainland vs free zone — key differences

Feature Mainland (DED) Free Zone
UAE market trading ✅ Unrestricted ⚠️ Requires distributor
Government contracts ✅ Eligible ❌ Not eligible
Visa quota ✅ Unlimited ⚠️ Based on office size
Physical office required ✅ Yes (Ejari) Optional in most zones
Annual audit ✅ Mandatory ❌ Not required (most zones)
Foreign ownership ✅ 100% (most sectors) ✅ 100%
Corporate tax (9%) ⚠️ Applies above AED 375K ✅ 0% as QFZP (qualifying)
Banking score ✅ 9.0/10 Varies: 6.5–9.9/10
Setup speed 5–10 working days 2–14 working days
Setup cost From AED 15,000 From AED 5,000–41,000
Multiple UAE offices ✅ Allowed ⚠️ Restricted
Employees from all nationalities ✅ Yes ✅ Yes

Mainland setup by emirate

Dubai (DED)

Dubai Economy & Tourism (DET)
AED 15,000–25,000 5–10 days Banking: 9.0/10

Activities: General trading, professional services, hospitality, real estate, construction, retail, tech — almost any lawful commercial activity.

Most prestigious UAE mainland address; required for premium retail locations, hotels, and government contracts.

Abu Dhabi (DOE)

Department of Economic Development
AED 14,000–22,000 5–8 days Banking: 8.8/10

Activities: Oil & gas services, government contractors, professional services, trading, consulting, hospitality.

Best for government and oil-sector contracts; strong for Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 sectors.

Sharjah (DED)

Sharjah Economic Development Department
AED 10,000–18,000 3–7 days Banking: 8.2/10

Activities: General trading, manufacturing, retail, professional services, education, health.

Most affordable UAE mainland option; close to Dubai but significantly cheaper on rent.

Ajman (DED)

Ajman Department of Economic Development
AED 8,000–15,000 2–5 days Banking: 7.5/10

Activities: Trading, manufacturing, retail, services, construction.

Lowest cost mainland in UAE; popular for budget-conscious entrepreneurs who need UAE market access.

Ras Al Khaimah (DED)

RAK Department of Economic Development
AED 9,000–16,000 3–6 days Banking: 7.8/10

Activities: Trading, industrial, manufacturing, services, tourism.

Growing mainland option; significant infrastructure and lower rents than Dubai.

Fujairah (DED)

Fujairah Municipality
AED 9,000–15,000 3–7 days Banking: 7.3/10

Activities: Trading, port services, industrial, manufacturing, tourism.

Strategic port emirate; ideal for shipping, port services, and east-coast trade.

Dubai mainland company cost breakdown 2025

Item Cost (AED) Notes
DED trade license 8,000–15,000 Depends on activity; general trading AED 12,000–18,000
Initial approval 1,500–3,000 Reserve trade name + initial approval
MOA notarisation 1,500–3,000 Memorandum of Association at DIWAN
Office lease (Ejari) 20,000–150,000/yr Physical office mandatory; costs vary by area
Commercial registration 300–500 DED registration fee
Visa (per person) 4,000–6,000 Emirates ID, medical, typing, visa stamping
Annual audit 5,000–25,000 Mandatory every year for mainland companies
PRO services (optional) 2,000–5,000/yr Government liaison and document processing
Renewal (annual) 8,000–14,000 License renewal + Ejari renewal
Year 1 total estimate AED 45,000–110,000 Varies significantly by office size and location
⚠️ Important: The biggest mainland cost is the physical office lease (Ejari). Budget AED 30,000–150,000/year minimum for office space depending on size and Dubai location. Virtual offices do not satisfy the Ejari requirement for mainland licenses.

Types of UAE mainland licenses

🏪
Commercial License
For trading, retail, import/export, general trading, e-commerce. Most common mainland license type. Allows buying and selling goods and services.
AED 10,000–18,000
👔
Professional License
For service businesses: consulting, IT, marketing, legal, accounting, engineering, medical. No need for local partner in many professions.
AED 8,000–15,000
🏭
Industrial License
For manufacturing, production, processing. Requires industrial land and environmental approvals. Not available in all areas.
AED 15,000–50,000+
🍽
Tourism & Hospitality
For hotels, restaurants, cafes, travel agencies, event management. Requires DTCM (Dubai Tourism) approval in addition to DED license.
AED 12,000–25,000
🏗
Construction License
For contracting, civil engineering, fit-out, maintenance. Requires engineering qualifications and construction classification.
AED 15,000–30,000
🏠
Real Estate License
For property brokerage, real estate management, holiday homes. Requires RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) registration.
AED 18,000–35,000

UAE mainland company FAQ

Since June 2021, most UAE mainland businesses allow 100% foreign ownership under the updated Companies Law. However, certain strategic sectors (oil & gas, military, media, banking) still require a UAE national shareholder of 51%. For most SMEs, consultants, and trading companies, 100% foreign ownership is now available.
It depends on your business. Mainland is better if: you need to trade directly with UAE consumers or retailers, you want unlimited visa quota, you plan to open multiple offices across the UAE, or you need government contracts. Free zones are better if: you want lower costs, faster setup, no mandatory audit, and primarily do international or B2B business.
Mainland companies pay 9% UAE Corporate Tax on taxable income above AED 375,000 per year. Free zone companies can qualify for 0% CT as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) if they meet certain conditions. For businesses under AED 375,000 net profit, CT is 0% for both mainland and free zone.
Yes — the initial setup can be done remotely via a power of attorney. However, the physical office lease (Ejari) must be signed in person, and the visa process requires physical presence in the UAE. Many founders set up the mainland license remotely first, then visit once to complete the Ejari and visa process.
Dubai DED requires an Ejari-registered office of at least 200 sq. ft. for most commercial licenses. Professional services companies may be able to use a smaller shared office. The Ejari must be valid and registered with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).
Dubai DED (mainland) company formation takes 5–10 working days with complete documents. This includes: initial approval (1–2 days), MOA notarisation (1–2 days), office Ejari registration (1–3 days), final trade license issuance (1–3 days). Visa processing adds 7–14 more days.
Yes. All UAE mainland companies must file audited financial statements annually with the relevant DED. This is a key difference from most free zones (except DIFC and ADGM) where audit is not mandatory. Audit costs typically range from AED 5,000–25,000 depending on company size.