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 Dubai mainland licence, issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), lets your company trade anywhere in the UAE, bid for government work and open as many branches as you need. Payments between Belgium and the UAE are routine: the dirham is pegged to the dollar, euro (EUR) transfers settle without delay and UAE banks are familiar with Belgian business profiles. In practice, the most common businesses Belgians open through GoldenKey are in diamond trading, logistics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, although Dubai supports almost any activity.
Why Dubai
A Dubai mainland company can apply for an unlimited visa quota in proportion to its office space, which free zone packages cannot match. Just as important, businesses that benefit most from Dubai mainland licensing include retail, restaurants, contracting, real estate brokerage and consulting with government clients, because they serve customers on site across the emirate.
How Dubai works with GoldenKey
Step 1Activity and legal form
GoldenKey maps your business to the right Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) activity codes and recommends the legal form that fits ownership and liability needs. Nothing is submitted for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder until you have reviewed and approved it.
Step 2Trade name and initial approval
Your trade name is reserved and initial approval secured from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), together with any external approvals the activity requires.
Step 3Office, MOA and submission
After the MOA is signed and the office tenancy registered, GoldenKey lodges the full application with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Your portal shows the status of this step for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder in real time.
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.
Documents required
As we tell every client, for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.
- Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a company
- Engineer's attested degree
- Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
- A clear passport copy for each shareholder and manager, valid for at least six months
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
- A police clearance certificate from Belgium if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires it
Pricing
Put simply, all prices for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay. Pricing for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian 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 2026-10-05.
Why the UAE
Crucially, english is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder for international founders. On the ground, there are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely.
Why GoldenKey
Our quotations for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before any payment anything. Importantly, you deal with one named adviser from the first call until your Dubai licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally. For most clients, 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 a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder.
Message GoldenKey now and we will prepare a personalised quotation for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Belgian founder, valid for 30 days and confirmed in writing.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Are Dubai mainland companies subject to corporate tax?
Yes. Mainland companies pay 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000 and must register with the FTA, which GoldenKey handles as part of your setup.
Can a Dubai mainland company trade in other emirates?
Yes. A mainland licence is valid across the UAE, and you can open branches in other emirates by registering with their economic departments.
Is construction & contracting allowed in Dubai?
Absolutely. Belgians can own 100% of a contracting company in the UAE. {brand} recommends Dubai for this activity and confirms any sector approvals before you commit.
Do Belgians need a UAE visa before applying for Dubai?
No. You can apply for the licence from Belgium with scanned documents, and the investor residence visa is processed afterwards.
