WhatsApp quoteDubai is the UAE's commercial capital — trade anywhere in the UAE with a Dubai DET licence, and GoldenKey registers mainland companies there with the economic department week in, week out. A mainland company in Dubai can hold a mainland office, hire staff under MOHRE contracts and register with the Chamber of Commerce for tenders. In our experience, payments between Austria and the UAE are routine: the dirham is pegged to the dollar, euro (EUR) transfers settle quickly and UAE banks are familiar with Austrian business profiles. In our experience, the most common businesses Austrians open through GoldenKey are in engineering, hospitality, construction technology and trading, although Dubai supports almost any activity.
Why Dubai
Among the strengths of a Dubai mainland licence are unrestricted UAE-wide trading and Government and corporate tenders, which is why local service businesses gravitate here. Importantly, popular districts for a Dubai mainland office include Business Bay, Deira, Bur Dubai, Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Al Quoz, each with different rent levels and customer footfall.
How Dubai works with GoldenKey
Step 1Activity and legal form
Day to day, we pick the precise activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and settle on the legal form — normally a LLC, or a sole establishment for individual professionals.
Step 2Trade name and initial approval
GoldenKey files the name reservation and initial-approval request with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and obtains sector approvals where needed. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder.
Step 3Office, MOA and submission
The memorandum of association is signed (online or before the notary), your tenancy is registered and the complete file is submitted to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
Step 4Licence, Chamber and immigration
With the licence in hand we register with the Chamber of Commerce and open the immigration and MOHRE files for your visas. If the authority raises a query on opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder at this stage, we handle it the same day.
Documents required
The document list for opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder is short, and most clients already have everything on it.
- Engineer's attested degree and experience letters
- Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
- Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement, requested by some zones
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
- A police clearance certificate from Austria if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires it
- A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activities
Pricing
The figures below for opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Pricing for opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated.
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- GoldenKey full assistance
| Additional visa | AED 3,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual renewal | AED 12,000 |
Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-06.
Why the UAE
There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely. Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder no longer requires a local partner.
Why GoldenKey
We speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. GoldenKey's consultants have handled opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder for traders, consultants, tech entrepreneurs and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly.
Ready to start? Send us a WhatsApp message with your nationality, the activity you have in mind and the number of visas you need, and we will reply shortly with a written quotation for opening an engineering consultancy in the UAE as an Austrian founder.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Dubai mainland company formation take?
Importantly, with documents and a tenancy contract ready, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in most cases issues the licence within 4 working days. External approvals for regulated activities add time.
How much office space do I need for a Dubai mainland licence?
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) requires a registered tenancy for most licences. A small office or a desk in a business centre is enough for a few visas, and the visa quota increases with the floor area.
What is the difference between Dubai mainland and a free zone?
Mainland companies can trade directly with any UAE customer and take government contracts; free zone companies have lower costs and customs benefits but trade with the mainland through distributors. GoldenKey compares both for your specific activity.
Is engineering consultancy allowed in Dubai?
It can. Austrians can own 100% of an engineering consultancy in the UAE. {brand} recommends Dubai for this activity and confirms any sector approvals before you commit.
Do Austrians need a UAE visa before applying for Dubai?
No. You can apply for the licence from Austria with scanned documents, and the investor residence visa is handled afterwards.
