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. Since the 2021 ownership reforms, most Dubai mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership, which removed the biggest objection founders used to have. GoldenKey has French clients from Paris, Lyon and Marseille, and our consultants understand the paperwork released in France and how to attest them for the UAE. French brands and groups have a major footprint in the UAE, from Louvre Abu Dhabi to the Sorbonne campus, which gives French entrepreneurs a ready market and supply chain the moment their Dubai licence is released.
Why Dubai
On the ground, 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. In our experience, 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. As we tell every client, for French nationals, the practical advantages of Dubai are the ease of travel between France and the UAE, English is used for business, and French-speaking advisers are easy to find in Dubai, and a banking system that processes euro (EUR) transfers daily.
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, usually a LLC or a sole establishment.
Step 2Trade name and initial approval
In short, 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. Your portal shows the status of this step for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals in real time.
Step 3Office, MOA and submission
From day one, you sign the memorandum of association before the notary or online, we register your tenancy contract and submit the full file.
Step 4Licence, Chamber and immigration
The Dubai mainland licence is released, Chamber membership activated, and we open the establishment and labour files so visa processing can start. We keep a written record of this step so your file for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals is audit-ready.
Documents required
On the ground, the document list for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals is short, and most customers already have everything on it.
- The notarised memorandum of association, which GoldenKey drafts for you
- An attested degree for professional activities such as engineering or healthcare
- External approvals where the activity requires them, for example from the health authority, RERA or the municipality
- A passport issued by France with at least six months' validity
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- Attested parent-company paperwork for corporate shareholders
Pricing
Use the table below to compare packages for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. The figures below for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority 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.
Why the UAE
As we tell every client, the dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals and makes international pricing simple. The UAE's reputation as a trading hub means international clients and suppliers already trust a UAE licence, which shortens sales cycles for Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals.
Why GoldenKey
Importantly, after your Dubai licence is released, the same team handles renewals, visa additions, amendments and tax registrations, so you never have to explain your business twice. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. GoldenKey's consultants have handled Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals for traders, consultants, tech company owners and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves promptly.
Just as important, prefer to visit? Our Ajman office welcomes walk-ins during working hours, and we can also meet you in Dubai or Sharjah by appointment to discuss Dubai mainland company formation for French nationals.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Dubai mainland company trade in other emirates?
It can. A mainland licence is valid across the UAE, and you can open branches in other emirates by registering with their economic departments.
What is the difference between Dubai mainland and a free zone?
As we tell every client, 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.
How long does Dubai mainland company formation take?
Day to day, with documents and a tenancy contract ready, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) nine times out of ten issues the licence within 4 working days. External approvals for regulated activities add time.
Do French nationals need a UAE visa before applying for Dubai?
No, it does not. You can apply for the licence from France with scanned documents, and the investor residence visa is completed afterwards.
How long does the process take for French applicants?
Put simply, processing for French nationals follows the same timeline as other nationalities. Documents from France that need attestation are the main variable, and GoldenKey guides you through that step.
