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. Put simply, 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. In short, choosing Dubai mainland gives you a licence that landlords, government departments and large corporate clients recognise without a second thought.
Why Dubai
Just as important, 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. Importantly, among the strengths of a Dubai mainland licence are unrestricted UAE-wide trading and Government and corporate tenders, so local service businesses gravitate here. Dubai's economic department issues more than 50,000 new licences a year.
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.
Step 2Trade name and initial approval
In practice, 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. This is also the point at which we answer any question specific to documents for a mainland company in Dubai.
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. If the authority raises a query on documents for a mainland company in Dubai at this stage, we handle it the same day.
Documents required
Crucially, for documents for a mainland company in Dubai the licensing authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.
- The existing visa copy and NOC if a shareholder is on another UAE visa
- The notarised memorandum of association, which GoldenKey drafts for you
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- An attested degree for professional activities such as engineering or healthcare
- Passport photographs on a white background
- A tenancy contract for an office or shop registered with the emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai)
Pricing
Use the table below to compare packages for documents for a mainland company in Dubai; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. The figures below for documents for a mainland company in Dubai are updated by GoldenKey whenever the registrar changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
- 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.
Format and attestation
Dubai accepts clear colour scans for most papers, but educational certificates for professional activities and any corporate shareholder documents must be attested in the home country and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. GoldenKey tells you which of your documents need attestation before you send anything.
Common document problems
For most clients, expired passports, photographs with the wrong background, and names spelled differently across documents are the issues that delay Dubai files most often. We check every item against the licensing authority's checklist before submission.
Why the UAE
Since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so documents for a mainland company in Dubai no longer requires a local partner. There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from documents for a mainland company in Dubai can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely.
Why GoldenKey
GoldenKey builds its own CRM and client portal, so you can see the status of your Dubai file, download your documents and pay invoices from your phone. Our quotations for supporting documents for a mainland company in Dubai list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before any payment anything. Importantly, after your Dubai licence is issued, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice.
Day to day, tell us about your plans for paperwork for a mainland company in Dubai and GoldenKey will come back to you shortly with a clear price, a document checklist and a realistic timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Dubai mainland company formation take?
Put simply, 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.
Do I still need an Emirati partner for a Dubai mainland company?
For most commercial and industrial activities, no. Since 2021 foreign nationals can own 100% of a Dubai mainland LLC. A short list of strategic activities still requires Emirati participation, and GoldenKey checks your activity before you commit.
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.
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.
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.
