WhatsApp quoteA 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. Mainland company formation in Dubai is the right choice when your customers are inside the UAE, when you need a shop, clinic or contracting classification, or when visa quota matters. Day to day, external approvals for construction & contracting are: municipality contractor classification; civil defence for MEP work. Put simply, the most common businesses Portuguese nationals open through GoldenKey are in technology, hospitality, engineering and renewable energy, although Dubai supports almost any activity.
Why Dubai
To be clear, 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. A Dubai mainland company can apply for an unlimited visa quota in proportion to its office space, which free zone packages cannot match.
How Dubai works with GoldenKey
Step 1Activity and legal form
We select the correct activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and the legal form, typically a LLC or a sole establishment.
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. Your portal shows the status of this step for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder in real time.
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).
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. For opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder this step rarely needs your presence; scans and e-signatures are enough.
Documents required
Here is what you will need for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.
- Educational certificates attested by the Portugal authorities and the UAE embassy, for professional activities
- Engineer's attested degree
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the country
- A bank statement from your Portugal bank for the last three months, which banks use to understand your profile
- Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE resident
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visa
Pricing
All prices for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before you pay. Day to day, pricing for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese 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
To be clear, residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder a route to relocation as well as a business decision. Day to day, there are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely.
Why GoldenKey
Put simply, because GoldenKey works with the licensing authority, the immigration department and the banks every single week, we know exactly which documents each of them will ask for on a Dubai file. Importantly, our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for opening a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder happen the same day they are ready. In short, 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 Portuguese founder.
As a rule, 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 a contracting company in the UAE as a Portuguese founder.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Dubai mainland company formation take?
From day one, with documents and a tenancy contract ready, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) typically issues the licence within 4 working days. External approvals for regulated activities add time.
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.
How much office space do I need for a Dubai mainland licence?
As we tell every client, 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.
Is construction & contracting allowed in Dubai?
Yes. Portuguese nationals can own 100% of a contracting company in the UAE. {brand} recommends Dubai for this activity and confirms any sector approvals before you commit.
Can my family from Portugal join me?
Once your investor visa is issued you can sponsor your spouse and children, and GoldenKey processes their visas alongside yours.
