Company formation in Dubai starts with the activity and operating model, not the cheapest licence headline. Kinzaad compares mainland, free zone and offshore routes, then prepares the selected licence application and related setup file.
Dubai company formation, in brief. Mainland companies are licensed through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism for approved activities, while free-zone companies register with the relevant zone authority. The right route depends on activity, customer location, ownership eligibility, workspace, visas and required approvals—not one factor alone.
Check the official Invest in Dubai company setup comparison and Dubai business setup process alongside your tailored quote.
Each route has different operating uses and authority requirements. Open the relevant guide for its documents, fees, process and limitations.
Relevant where the company needs direct UAE-market operations, premises, regulated approvals or local contracting under a mainland licence.
Mainland setup →Relevant where the selected zone supports the activity, workspace and visa needs. Each free zone sets its own legal forms, licence categories and fees.
Free zone setup →A non-resident structure for permitted holding and international purposes. It does not provide UAE residence visas or replace an operating licence.
Offshore setup →
The honest short version. For the full breakdown, read our comparison guide.
| What matters to you | Mainland | Free Zone | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE market activity | Permitted activity under the mainland licence and required approvals | Depends on the activity, authority and mainland trading route | Not an operating licence for onshore UAE trade |
| Foreign ownership | Available for many activities; eligibility must be checked | Available subject to the selected authority and legal form | Available subject to the offshore registry rules |
| Residence visas | Eligibility depends on the licence, premises and immigration requirements | Eligibility and allocation depend on the package, facility and authority | Generally not included with an offshore company |
| Workspace requirement | Depends on activity, authority and premises rules | Options vary from shared facilities to dedicated premises | Registry requirements apply; no operating workspace is created |
| Cost basis | Activity, legal form, approvals, office and visas | Zone, legal form, package, workspace and visas | Jurisdiction, registered agent and permitted purpose |
| Best for | Local shops, services, contracts | Global trade, consulting, startups | Holding assets, IP, invoicing |
The assessment starts with the same commercial questions, but documents, approvals and later immigration steps differ by route.
We record the activity, customer market, ownership, budget, workspace and visa plans, then compare the relevant licensing routes.
The proposal separates the quoted authority fees, Kinzaad service fees and known recurring components for the selected route.
We prepare the name-reservation, activity, legal-form and supporting documents required for submission to the relevant authority.
After licence issuance, we support the establishment-card and visa stages where applicable and help organise the banking file. The authorities and bank make their own decisions.
Book a free consultation and we will compare mainland, free zone and offshore against the activity, customers, visa needs and workspace, then prepare an itemised quote.