1 Visa Package
1 residence visa · 1-year licence
AED 16,500
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 1 visa eligibility
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
MAINLAND · DUBAI
Dubai Mainland Company Formation for Icelanders
around 9 to 10 hours with one stop from Reykjavík · the UAE is 4 hours ahead of Iceland
5–7 daysSetup time100%OwnershipUp to 5 visasVisas
- 5–7 daysSetup time
- MainlandLicence type
- Flexi | PhysicalOffice / facility
- Up to 5 visasVisa eligibility
- StandardApprovals needed
- From AED 13,200Renewal cost
About Dubai
Why Dubai
Dubai 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. Choosing Dubai mainland gives you a licence that landlords, government departments and large corporate clients recognise without a second thought. GoldenKey has Icelandic clients from Reykjavík, and our consultants understand the documents issued in Iceland and how to attest them for the UAE. From day one, for Icelandic company owners, the UAE is around 9 to 10 hours with one stop from Reykjavík, the UAE is 4 hours ahead of Iceland, and English is used for all UAE business.
For most clients, ejari-registered office space is required for most licence types. Government and semi-government tenders in Dubai require a mainland licence and Chamber of Commerce membership, both of which GoldenKey arranges. On the ground, for Icelanders, the practical advantages of Dubai are the ease of travel between Iceland and the UAE, English is used for all UAE business, and a banking system that processes Icelandic króna (ISK) transfers daily.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
Use the table below to compare packages for Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation. As a rule, the figures below for Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders are updated by GoldenKey whenever the registrar changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one.
2 Visa Package
2 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 22,000
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 2 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
3 Visa Package
3 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 27,500
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 3 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
5 Visa Package
5 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 37,400
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 5 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
Additional visaAED 3,850
Annual renewalAED 13,200
Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-27.
Business activities
Explore business activities in Dubai
Dubai licenses trading, service, professional and industrial activities. Search every activity we license across the UAE and see where it is available and what it costs.
Required documents
Documents required
For Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders the authority asks for the following documents, and we tell you exactly how each must be formatted.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- External approvals where the activity requires them, for example from the health authority, RERA or the municipality
- The notarised memorandum of association, which GoldenKey drafts for you
- A bank statement from your Iceland bank for the last three months, which banks use to understand your profile
- Passport photographs on a white background
- A tenancy contract for an office or shop registered with the emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai)
- A police clearance certificate from Iceland if the activity or the Golden Visa category requires itif applicable
For companies
- Certificate of incorporation (attested)
- Memorandum & articles of association
- Board resolution approving the UAE company
- Passport copies of shareholders & directors
- Company profile / business plan
Our process
How Dubai works with GoldenKey
- 1
Activity and legal form
From day one, 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. Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders.
- 2
Trade 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.
- 3
Office, MOA and submission
You sign the memorandum of association before the notary or online, we register your tenancy contract and submit the full file. We keep a written record of this step so your file for Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders is audit-ready.
- 4
Licence, Chamber and immigration
For most clients, the Dubai mainland licence is released, Chamber membership activated, and we open the establishment and labour files so visa processing can start.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Dubai. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsHow 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) typically issues the licence within 4 working days. External approvals for regulated activities add time.
Can I convert my free zone company to a Dubai mainland company?
In our experience, you cannot convert directly, but you can open a mainland branch of your free zone company or set up a new mainland LLC and transfer the business. GoldenKey advises on the most tax-efficient route.
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 Icelandic citizen own 100% of a company in Dubai?
Yes. Icelanders can own the full share capital of a Dubai company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
How long does the process take for Icelandic applicants?
In practice, processing for Icelanders follows the same timeline as other nationalities. Documents from Iceland that need attestation are the main variable, and GoldenKey guides you through that step.
Get a free quote
Ready to start your business in Dubai?
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 Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders.
Good to know
More about Dubai
Why the UAE
English is the working language of business, contracts are routinely drafted in English, and government portals are bilingual, which simplifies Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders for international company owners. Residence visas for owners and families come with the company, which makes Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders a route to relocation as well as a business decision.
Why GoldenKey
GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped business owners from more than 60 countries with Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us. On the ground, if a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your Dubai file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the application sit. Just as important, our quotations for Dubai mainland company formation for Icelanders list every government fee and our service fee on one page, in writing, before any payment anything.
