# Dubai mainland company setup Dubai · Mainland · Dubai Setup Index > DET registers and licenses Dubai mainland businesses. Start with your exact activity, legal form, ownership eligibility and any additional approvals. This guide covers the general decision process; costs, premises and applicant requirements need a scenario-specific check. - Canonical: https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland - Updated: 2026-09-05 - Regulator: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) - Method: https://dubaisetupindex.com/methodology ## Key facts - Licence estimate: AED 14,000 (Licence only · plus 5% of rent) - Licence issued in: Not published — An end-to-end formation timeline has not been verified for your activity and applicant profile. - Visas: Quota to confirm - Premises: Registered premises; suitability depends on the activity - Renewal: Not published — Renewal needs a current licence assessment, premises, membership and any permits or immigration renewals due that year. Historical fee schedules do not establish a current total. - Activities: 9 activity guides published ### May suit your business - Founders evaluating a DET activity for their intended Dubai operations - Businesses whose chosen activity or premises make a mainland route worth investigating ### Check before choosing - Choosing a licence before defining the actual activity and operating requirements - Comparing a quoted package without its premises, visa and renewal assumptions ## Official licence estimates Invest in Dubai calculates the normal licence estimate from the legal form and partner count, plus 5% of the rent entered. These examples use expat owners and an LLC. | Scenario | Licence estimate (AED) | At AED 30,000 rent (AED) | | :--- | ---: | ---: | | 1 owner · Single-owner LLC | 14,000 + 5% of rent | 15,500 | | 2 partners · LLC | 15,000 + 5% of rent | 16,500 | This is the official simulator’s average licence estimate, not a full setup total. The rent payment itself, visas, activity approvals and other applicable costs still need a separate assessment. Fee inclusions, VAT and renewal are not itemized in this estimate. No Dubai Setup Index service fee is added. Verify with Invest in Dubai: https://app.invest.dubai.ae/business-setup-recommendation ## Costs by business type Dated UPPERSETUP provider estimates for selected business types, including one owner visa where priced. Provider subtotals are not official fees or Dubai Setup Index packages. Full first-year and renewal totals remain unverified; these figures are not directly comparable with no-visa free-zone prices. ### Management consultancy AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Specific provider activity, not every service under the broad business label. Confirm the exact official activity code before applying. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial application (company): AED 120 - ejari registration (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment card (company): AED 750 - entry inside (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical (person): AED 320 - emirates id (person): AED 450 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - residence (person): AED 850 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Office eligibility and rent - Actual licensing invoice and rent/membership assessment - Exact legal form and shareholder assumptions - Applicable approvals for expanded scope - Insurance actual plan and term - Annual renewal invoice - Labour file/quota if hiring - VAT/deposits/channel inclusion ### Marketing management AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Specific provider activity, not every service under the broad business label. Confirm the exact official activity code before applying. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial application (company): AED 120 - ejari registration (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment card (company): AED 750 - entry inside (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical (person): AED 320 - emirates id (person): AED 450 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - residence (person): AED 850 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Office eligibility and rent - Actual licensing invoice and rent/membership assessment - Exact legal form and shareholder assumptions - Applicable approvals for expanded scope - Insurance actual plan and term - Annual renewal invoice - Labour file/quota if hiring - VAT/deposits/channel inclusion ### Software development AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Specific provider activity, not every service under the broad business label. Confirm the exact official activity code before applying. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial application (company): AED 120 - ejari registration (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment card (company): AED 750 - entry inside (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical (person): AED 320 - emirates id (person): AED 450 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - residence (person): AED 850 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Office eligibility and rent - Actual licensing invoice and rent/membership assessment - Exact legal form and shareholder assumptions - Applicable approvals for expanded scope - Insurance actual plan and term - Annual renewal invoice - Labour file/quota if hiring - VAT/deposits/channel inclusion ### Real estate buying and selling brokerage AED 28,250 third-party provider subtotal. Exact legal activity and scenario applicability require verification. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 790 - initial approval (company): AED 290 - ejari registration (company): AED 525 - moa signature (company): AED 400 - rera approval (company): AED 5,020 - licence issue (company): AED 16,000 - rera certificate (company): AED 1,000 - immigration card (company): AED 750 - entry inside (person): AED 1,180 - status change if applicable (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical test already paid (person): AED 0 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence issue (person): AED 850 - id delivery step (person): AED 0 - bank application (company): AED 0 No reconciled provider timeline is published for this scenario. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Owner insurance absent unlike the three service calculators - Office rent and brokerage premises approval - Broker course/exam/card/clearance - Actual licensing additions - Renewal invoice ### General trading Quote required — no usable provider price captured. Exact legal activity and scenario applicability require verification. No reconciled provider timeline is published for this scenario. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - No matched UPPERSETUP Dubai mainland calculator found - Products and legal activity route - Unbundled provider-free current licence invoice - Premises/customs/product approvals - Owner route and employee quota - Renewal ### Product-specific online store Quote required — no usable provider price captured. Exact legal activity and scenario applicability require verification. No reconciled provider timeline is published for this scenario. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - No matched UPPERSETUP Dubai mainland calculator found - Products and legal activity route - Unbundled provider-free current licence invoice - Premises/customs/product approvals - Owner route and employee quota - Renewal ### Technical Services Works AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Installation and finishing trades; project-specific permits and worker qualifications remain unresolved. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Accounting and Bookkeeping AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Accounting systems and bookkeeping; provider explicitly excludes examining or auditing accounts. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Restaurants Management AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Managing restaurants owned by others and already licensed; not formation of an operating restaurant. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Logistics Consultancy AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Supply-chain advice and improvement; not freight forwarding, transport or warehouse operations. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Food Consultant AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Food advisory and safety solutions; not food preparation, catering or restaurant operations. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Shoe Trading AED 21,040 third-party provider subtotal. Specific footwear resale; no inference of general-trading or online-selling authorization. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 14,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - insurance allowance (person): AED 1,150 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 29 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Women Salon AED 23,510 third-party provider subtotal. Beauty and hair services; provider states microblading requires separate DHA permit. Premises, fit-out and operating readiness are not priced. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 16,620 - municipality noc (company): AED 1,000 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 33 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ### Travel Agency AED 29,030 third-party provider subtotal. Outbound ticket sales and related services. Confirm the activity scope, aviation approval, premises and qualifications for your business. Observed component amounts may cover different selections. They are not an additive quote. - trade name (company): AED 620 - initial approval (company): AED 120 - ejari (company): AED 525 - moa (company): AED 400 - licence (company): AED 16,620 - civil aviation approval (company): AED 6,520 - establishment (company): AED 750 - entry (person): AED 1,180 - status change (person): AED 675 - medical application (person): AED 320 - id application (person): AED 450 - medical attendance (person): AED 0 - biometrics (person): AED 0 - residence (person): AED 850 - id receipt (person): AED 0 Provider displayed 28 days excluding bank review; calendar versus business days is unconfirmed. Still to confirm before a complete budget: - Actual premises rent, deposit, VAT and fit-out - Operational equipment, inventory, staff and transport - Unverified licensing additions and memberships - Required health insurance where absent - Professional qualifications, project permits and other scope-specific approvals - Bank charges and balances - Renewal ## Setup steps and timing 1. **Define your activity.** List the services or products you will sell and where you will operate. Use the official activity description to check the scope. Prepare: A short business description, intended customers and operating locations. Outcome: An activity shortlist, with any scope or approval questions recorded. 2. **Choose the company structure.** Confirm which legal forms and ownership arrangements fit the activity. The LLC licence examples cover one or two expat owners; other structures need their own assessment. Prepare: Owner count, nationalities, individual or company shareholders and UAE residence status. Outcome: A legal form and ownership arrangement confirmed for your activity. 3. **Arrange the name and initial approval.** Prepare the application documents and proposed trade names. Name reservation and initial approval are separate steps; the name can be reserved first. Prepare: Proposed names and the applicable identity and company documents. Outcome: Name reservation and initial approval as required by your selected route, with conditions understood. 4. **Confirm premises and permissions.** Check activity-specific approvals and premises suitability before committing to rent or fit-out. Arrange the tenancy and Ejari documentation required for your route. Prepare: Premises type, location, rent budget and the list of additional approvals to check. Outcome: The premises documentation and approvals required by your selected route. 5. **Complete the licence application.** Submit the final documents and applicable approvals. Review the current fee assessment against your exact activity and structure before payment. Prepare: Initial approval, constitutional documents where applicable and additional approvals. Outcome: The company licence, with its permitted activities and conditions checked. 6. **Plan residency and banking.** If you need residence visas, confirm the owner or employee route, company registrations and applicant steps separately. Ask your chosen bank for its business-account checklist. Prepare: Visa needs, current UAE status and questions for the immigration provider and bank. Outcome: Separate residency and banking plans, with appointments and documents identified. 7. **Prepare for the first renewal.** Ask for a renewal breakdown alongside the setup quote. Record licence, tenancy, membership, permit and immigration renewals that apply to your business. Prepare: Recurring fee lines, due dates and the person responsible for each obligation. Outcome: A renewal calendar and recurring budget to review before committing. ## Required documents ### Initial approval - Passport or Emirates ID copy and applicant residence permit/visa copy, as listed in the official overview; confirm applicability to your profile. - Company constitutional documents and any legal-form-specific attachments; confirm the exact checklist for your structure. ### Branches - Foreign and free-zone branches: parent company licence. Other-emirate branches: parent board resolution, managing-director authorisation, commercial registration and memorandum. - Foreign documents require attestation and Arabic legal translation; confirm the route for the issuing country. ### Premises - Ejari trustee channel: original unified tenancy contract, applicant Emirates ID and power of attorney when represented. - Confirm the company tenant's eligible channel: the service page's app terms and company-document wording differ. ### Final licence - Initial approval receipt, memorandum where applicable and any additional approvals. Confirm the checklist for your legal form and activity. ## Licences and activities ### Licence types - Commercial - Professional - Industrial ### Business activities We publish 9 activity guides for this jurisdiction. This is our guide coverage, not the authority’s full activity list. - [Accounting & Bookkeeping](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/accounting-and-bookkeeping) - [Businessmen Administrative Services](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/businessmen-administrative-services) - [Computer Systems Consultancies](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/computer-systems-consultancies) - [Ecommerce](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/ecommerce) - [General Trading](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/general-trading) - [Information Technology Consultants](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities/information-technology-consultants) ## Official activity scopes Official activity descriptions help you choose the right scope. The route notes use one expat owner and a single-owner LLC; approvals and professional permissions remain activity-specific. ### Computer Systems & Communication Equipment Software Design (6201001) Design, implement and maintain computer software, including mobile applications. Professional activity · Normal and Instant Licence routes appear in this scenario. ### General Trading (4690018) Import, trade and re-export permitted goods. Commercial activity · Normal and Instant Licence routes appear in this scenario. - Goods requiring special approvals need an NOC from the competent authority. ### Accounting & Bookkeeping (6920003) Set up accounting systems, documents, records and bookkeeping processes for businesses. Professional activity · Normal and Instant Licence routes appear in this scenario. - This activity does not permit examining or auditing accounts. ### Management Consultancies (7020003) Advise organizations on performance, processes, structure, policies and strategy. Professional activity · Normal and Instant Licence routes appear in this scenario. - The official activity description lists a bachelor's degree in business or economics and three years of practical experience. - Field surveys and questionnaires require approval from the competent authority. ### Marketing Management (7320002) Advise and assist businesses with marketing, pricing, distribution and digital promotion. Professional activity · Normal and Instant Licence routes appear in this scenario. - This activity does not permit selling the products or services being promoted. ### Real Estate Buying & Selling Brokerage (6820004) Act as an intermediary between property owners and buyers for an agreed commission. Professional activity · Normal Licence appears in this scenario; Instant Licence is not applicable. - Confirm the separate DLD/RERA company and individual permissions before operating. ## Visa and office options ### Facility options - 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. - Ejari registration: DLD publishes AED 177.75 through the app/website and AED 220 through a trustee. Confirm company-tenant channel eligibility; rent, deposits and fit-out are separate. - The trustee fee components total AED 219.75 with 5% VAT on the partner fee, while DLD prints AED 220. Confirm the payable amount. ### Remote paperwork Not published — Remote setup eligibility and any in-person steps depend on the activity and applicant; not verified here. ### Visa options - Visa eligibility, quota, documents and fees have not been verified for your scenario; confirm separately from company licensing. ## Renewal costs Not published — Renewal needs a current licence assessment, premises, membership and any permits or immigration renewals due that year. Historical fee schedules do not establish a current total. ## Practical considerations - DET is the mainland registration and licensing authority. - The official setup sequence includes activity/licence selection, legal form, ownership eligibility and additional approvals. - Most activities allow full foreign ownership, with exceptions requiring an activity-specific check. - Initial approval and trade-name reservation are distinct steps; the name may be reserved before initial approval. - A service transaction time is not a complete business setup timeline. ## Alternatives - [IFZA](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ifza) — Dubai free-zone alternative · [compare side by side](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/ifza-vs-dubai-mainland) - [Ajman Free Zone](https://dubaisetupindex.com/free-zones/ajman) — Ajman free-zone alternative · [compare side by side](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare/ajman-vs-dubai-mainland) ## Preparation checklist - I have described my business and shortlisted the activities to confirm. - I have listed the owners and the legal-form questions to resolve. - I have proposed trade names and identified the initial-approval documents. - I have recorded my premises needs and additional-approval questions. - I have requested an itemised licence and setup budget for my scenario. - I have listed visa needs and the questions for my chosen bank. - I have requested renewal costs and listed recurring obligations to confirm. ## Sources | Claim | Access | Source | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | identity | Published page | https://www.dubai.ae/starting-a-business | | premises | Published page | https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/eservices/register-renew-ejari-contract/ | ### Known gaps - Activity-specific provider breakdowns and official fee components are available. A complete first-year total still needs your activity, legal form, premises and visa requirements. - Renewal needs a current licence assessment, premises, membership and any permits or immigration renewals due that year. Historical fee schedules do not establish a current total. - A complete owner-residency timeline still needs confirmation for the selected visa route, applicant status, medical and biometrics appointments. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does the observed mainland subtotal include? The activity breakdowns show dated provider calculator selections, including an owner-visa sequence where priced. They are not authority invoices. Rent, fit-out, approvals, insurance and other scenario costs may remain unpriced; obtain an itemised quote and renewal breakdown. ### Can I use an employee visa fee for an owner visa? Confirm the exact residence route and term. Employee permits do not establish an ordinary owner or partner visa price. Count company establishment registrations once, then separate each person's processing, medical, ID and insurance costs. ### Is mainland always better than a free zone? Compare the exact activity, operating locations, permissions, premises and total recurring costs. We have not established that either route is universally cheaper or faster. ### Do I need a local sponsor? Dubai's official setup overview says most activities allow full foreign ownership, with exceptions. Verify the exact activity and structure before deciding that a partner is or is not required. ### Does a licence cover every approval? Some activities require additional authorisations. Separate the company licence from permissions for people, premises, products or particular operations; confirm which apply to your business. ## Related - [Compare setup routes](https://dubaisetupindex.com/compare) - [Business activities](https://dubaisetupindex.com/activities) - [How company setup works](https://dubaisetupindex.com/how-it-works) ## Machine-readable - [Dubai mainland record (JSON)](https://dubaisetupindex.com/data/mainland.json) ## Citation Required when quoting any figure from this page. Copy one of these verbatim — the link is not optional. Dubai Setup Index. “Dubai mainland company setup.” Updated 2026-09-05. https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland [Dubai Setup Index](https://dubaisetupindex.com/mainland). “Dubai mainland company setup.” Updated 2026-09-05. Quoting any figure from this record requires a resolvable link to url. Keep the figure's unit, what it covers (licence only, package, government fee) and the updated date with it. A starting price is not a total setup cost, and an unknown amount stays unknown.