100% foreign ownership

Mainland company formation in Dubai

A mainland licence lets you trade anywhere in the UAE, sign local contracts, hire without limit and bid for government work. Kinzaad sets it up end to end — with a fixed price and your renewal cost told to you up front.

Is mainland right for you?

When a mainland company makes sense

Mainland — sometimes called an "onshore" company — is licensed by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai, or the equivalent authority in each emirate. Unlike a free zone company, it can do business directly across the whole UAE market without a local distributor.

It's the right choice if you plan to:

  • Sell to the UAE public — a shop, clinic, restaurant, salon or retail brand.
  • Take on local contracts — service businesses working with UAE companies and government departments.
  • Open multiple branches or scale headcount without visa caps tied to a package.
  • Bid for government tenders, which usually require a mainland licence.

Not sure yet? If most of your customers are outside the UAE, a free zone company is often cheaper. We'll tell you honestly which one fits — even when it's the lower-cost option.

What's included in a Kinzaad mainland setup

We handle the full process so you're not chasing four different providers:

  • Business-activity selection and trade-name reservation
  • Initial approval and MOA drafting
  • Licence issuance with DET (or the relevant emirate)
  • Ejari / office solution to meet the tenancy requirement
  • Establishment card and residence visas (owner + staff)
  • Corporate bank account introduction and application support
  • Corporate tax and VAT registration where required

The process, step by step

1

Free consultation

We confirm your activity, ownership, office and visa needs, and check whether mainland or free zone is genuinely cheaper for you.

2

Fixed-fee proposal

An itemised quote — our fee and government fees shown separately, plus the Year-2 renewal cost. No surprises later.

3

Approvals & licence

Name reservation, initial approval, MOA and licence issuance with DET. We do the government running around.

4

Visas & bank

Establishment card, your residence visa and staff visas, then your corporate bank account application.

Mainland vs Free Zone

How mainland compares

The honest short version — the full breakdown is in our comparison guide.

 MainlandFree Zone
Trade in the UAE marketDirectly, anywhereWithin zone / via distributor
100% foreign ownershipYes (most activities)Yes
Government contractsYesGenerally no
Typical starting costFrom AED 15,000From AED 12,500
Office requirementTenancy (Ejari) neededFlexi-desk often enough
Visa allocationScalableCapped by package
Answers

Dubai mainland setup — common questions

Can I own 100% of a mainland company in Dubai?
Yes. Since the 2021 reforms, most commercial and industrial mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor. A short list of strategic activities still needs an Emirati partner or agent — we check your exact activity before you commit.
How much does a Dubai mainland licence cost?
A professional mainland licence typically starts from around AED 15,000. The final figure depends on your activity, office requirement and number of visas. You get a fixed, itemised quote with government fees shown separately — and we tell you the Year-2 renewal cost too.
How long does mainland company formation take?
Most mainland licences are issued within 5 to 10 working days once documents and initial approval are in place. Visas and the corporate bank account follow after the licence.
Do I need a physical office?
Usually yes — mainland companies need a tenancy contract (Ejari). The space can be small; for many service activities a modest or shared office meets the requirement, and we help you do it cost-effectively.
What's the difference between mainland and free zone?
A mainland company trades directly anywhere in the UAE and can bid for government contracts. A free zone company is cheaper and simpler but trades mainly within its zone or internationally, or onshore through a distributor. If your customers are in the local UAE market, mainland is usually the right fit. See the full comparison.

Start your Dubai mainland company

Book a free consultation and we'll recommend the right structure and hand you a fixed-fee quote the same day — renewal cost included, no surprises.

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