Foreign Ownership Allowed
Working Days to Setup
Personal Income Tax
Business Activities Available
A Mainland Company (also called an Onshore Company) in Dubai is a business entity licensed by the Department of Economic Development (DED). Unlike Free Zone companies, a mainland business can operate freely anywhere in the UAE - including with government entities and across all seven Emirates.
With recent UAE reforms, foreign investors can now enjoy up to 100% ownership in most business sectors, making business setup in Dubai mainland more attractive than ever for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and multinational corporations.
Dubai company formation on the mainland offers unmatched flexibility and access compared to other business jurisdictions.
The UAE Commercial Companies Law amendments now allow full foreign ownership in most mainland business activities no local partner required in most sectors.
Choose any commercial address in Dubai from premium business districts to affordable areas. Physical presence strengthens client trust and brand credibility.
Most mainland license types have no minimum paid up capital requirement, making it easy and affordable to start a mainland company in Dubai.
Benefit from 0% personal income tax, no withholding tax, and access to UAE's extensive double tax treaty network covering 100+ countries.
Choose from an extensive list of commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism activities under a single mainland trade license in Dubai.
Mainland companies enjoy better access to UAE banking services, credit facilities, and investor financing compared to free zone entities.
Our streamlined process for Dubai company formation ensures fast approvals with zero hassle we handle everything for you.
Select from 2,000+ approved DED activities. Our experts help you pick the right activity and license type for your business goals.
Reserve your preferred company name with the DED. We ensure it complies with UAE naming conventions and is available for registration.
Obtain initial DED approval and prepare your Memorandum of Association. Legal drafting and notarization handled by our team.
Secure a physical office or Ejari tenancy contract. Submit all documents to DED and receive your official mainland trade license.
Prepare these documents in advance to ensure a smooth and fast business setup in Dubai mainland.
Have questions about Dubai company formation on the mainland? Find answers to the most common queries below.
A mainland company in Dubai is a business entity licensed by the Department of Economic Development (DED). It allows you to operate freely across the UAE, including with government departments and local businesses, without the restrictions applied to Free Zone companies.
Yes. Following the 2021 amendment to the UAE Commercial Companies Law, foreign investors can own up to 100% of mainland companies in most business activities without needing a UAE national partner. Certain strategic sectors may still require a local partner.
With VirtualPro's expert assistance, the entire business setup in Dubai mainland typically takes 3 to 7 working days for standard activities. Regulated activities requiring external ministry approvals may take 2 to 4 weeks.
There is no mandatory minimum share capital for most mainland LLC formations in Dubai under current DED regulations. However, the partners agree on and declare a share capital amount in the Memorandum of Association, which is typically set at AED 50,000 or more in practice.
Yes. A mainland company must have a physical office address with a valid tenancy contract (Ejari) to obtain a DED trade license. Virtual office solutions may be accepted for some professional license categories, but a registered address is always mandatory.
A Commercial License covers trading, retail, and commercial activities. A Professional License is issued for service based, consultancy, and skilled profession activities (e.g., IT, accounting, legal, medical). The required license type depends on your chosen business activity.
Absolutely. VirtualPro specializes in end to end Dubai company formation for all mainland license types commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism. Our team handles name reservation, DED approvals, MOA drafting, Ejari, and visa processing so you can focus on your business.
