DMCC or Dubai mainland
Compare a DMCC free-zone company with a Dubai mainland company licensed by DET. The permitted route depends on the activity, where you trade and the premises you need; these figures do not establish a universal cost advantage.
Your situation
Answer for the default situation: one visa, selling abroad or in free zones. Change an answer above to update it.
Ajman Free Zone fits your answers, and it is not in this comparison.
Choose Dubai Mainland if you will sell or work onshore.
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between DMCC and Dubai Mainland; decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Read from the same published figures as the table. Activity eligibility, approvals and the full first year still decide the route.
Side by side
Package figures cover their stated inclusions only. Activity eligibility, the full first-year cost and renewal still need confirmation for your case.
| Metric | DMCCFree zone | Dubai MainlandMainland |
|---|---|---|
| From, one visa | DMCC AED 43,780 12 months · published package | Dubai Mainland Priced by owners, not visas Visa costs are separate |
| Lowest package price | DMCC AED 35,484 12 months · published package | Dubai Mainland AED 14,000 Licence only · plus 5% of rent |
| Licence issued in | DMCC 2 weeks Company setup is described as usually taking about two weeks. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Residency visa in | DMCC 0–20 business days The employee visa guide allows up to 20 working days. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Renewal price | DMCC AED 20,265 Trading or service licence renewal for one year is AED 20,265. | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Licence types | DMCC Trading, Service, Industrial | Dubai Mainland Commercial, Professional, Industrial |
| Facility options | DMCC Flexi desk, Office, Retail | Dubai Mainland Confirm the premises are suitable for the exact activity before signing a lease or paying for fit-out. Ejari registration alone does not establish activity approval. 2 moreShow less
|
| Visa options | DMCC Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing. |
| Remote paperwork | DMCC No | Dubai Mainland Not published: Not published |
| Activity guides catalogued | DMCC Not published: Not published | Dubai Mainland 2,327 |
| Next step | Explore DMCC | Start with Dubai Mainland |
Check before choosing
Dubai Mainland
- Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements
- Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions
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FAQ
Can a DMCC company trade directly with the Dubai market?
Free-zone companies generally trade within their zone and internationally, and reach the local market through a distributor or additional permissions. A mainland licence is built for onshore trading. Confirm the rules for your activity.
How are the prices compared?
The mainland column shows the official licence estimate, which excludes rent, visas and approvals, so it is never ranked against a free-zone package. Confirm the activity, premises and visa plan to get a like-for-like quote.
Which costs less on published figures, DMCC or Dubai Mainland?
The published figures do not yet support a like-for-like call between DMCC and Dubai Mainland; decide on activity fit, location and an itemised quote for your case.
Still torn?
Explore the full guides to compare package costs, visa requirements and how you plan to trade.