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 Portuguese nationals
around 8 hours from Lisbon · the UAE is 3 to 4 hours ahead of Portugal
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
GoldenKey helps business owners compare Dubai mainland with the nearby free zones honestly, because the right answer depends on where your customers are. A mainland company in Dubai can hold a mainland office, hire staff under MOHRE contracts and register with the Chamber of Commerce for tenders. Day to day, payments between Portugal and the UAE are routine: the dirham is pegged to the dollar, euro (EUR) transfers settle quickly and UAE banks are familiar with Portuguese business profiles. Portuguese nationals are a smaller community active in engineering, hospitality and technology, so the Dubai authority, the banks and the immigration officers see Portuguese applications every day and process them without hesitation.
As we tell every client, instant Licence lets some activities start within minutes with a one-year office exemption. As we tell every client, 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. As we tell every client, for Portuguese nationals, the practical advantages of Dubai are the ease of travel between Portugal and the UAE, English is the business language in the UAE, and a banking system that processes euro (EUR) transfers daily.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
Pricing for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. All prices for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before any payment.
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
Gather these documents and GoldenKey will take care of the rest of Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- A passport released by Portugal with at least six months' validity
- A tenancy contract for an office or shop registered with the emirate's system (Ejari in Dubai)
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- An attested degree for professional activities such as engineering or healthcare
- Attested parent-company supporting documents for corporate shareholders
- The existing visa copy and NOC if a shareholder is on another UAE visaif 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
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.
- 2
Trade 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. For Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals this step rarely needs your presence; scans and e-signatures are enough.
- 3
Office, MOA and submission
After the MOA is signed and the office tenancy registered, GoldenKey lodges the full submission with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
- 4
Licence, Chamber and immigration
Importantly, with the licence in hand we register with the Chamber of Commerce and open the immigration and MOHRE files for your visas. For Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals this step rarely needs your presence; scans and e-signatures are enough.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Dubai. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsCan I convert my free zone company to a Dubai mainland company?
Put simply, 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.
How much office space do I need for a Dubai mainland licence?
Just as important, 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.
Can a Dubai mainland company trade in other emirates?
Absolutely. A mainland licence is valid across the UAE, and you can open branches in other emirates by registering with their economic departments.
How long does the process take for Portuguese applicants?
In practice, processing for Portuguese nationals follows the same timeline as other nationalities. Documents from Portugal that need attestation are the main variable, and GoldenKey guides you through that step.
Can a Portuguese citizen own 100% of a company in Dubai?
Absolutely. Portuguese nationals can own the full share capital of a Dubai company with no local partner, exactly like any other nationality.
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Ready to start your business in Dubai?
Tell us about your plans for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals and GoldenKey will come back to you shortly with a clear price, a document checklist and a realistic timeline.
Good to know
More about Dubai
Why the UAE
Crucially, the UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many founders choose it as a base for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals. On the ground, the dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals and makes international pricing simple.
Why GoldenKey
Day to day, we will tell you plainly if Dubai is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. We speak the languages our clients speak, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam, and we can arrange Russian, French and Mandarin support for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals. Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for Dubai mainland company formation for Portuguese nationals happen the same day they are ready.
