Dubai Mainland License
Dubai Mainland License: What It Actually Costs and When You Need One
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Dubai Mainland License
A single-activity professional license on Dubai mainland runs around AED 12,500 all-in for year one; a commercial license is closer to AED 16,700; general trading licenses run to AED 33,000 or more once government fees, office costs, and Chamber of Commerce membership are included. If most of your revenue will come from UAE-based customers, mainland is usually the right call over a free zone — here is the actual math.
Mainland vs. free zone: the one question that decides it
Searching "Dubai trade license," "UAE company registration," or "how to start a business in Dubai"? Mainland is the structure most of those searches are actually pointing at. Here is how to know if it is the one you need.
We get asked "mainland or free zone?" more than almost anything else, and the honest answer is that it usually comes down to one thing: who are your customers. If they are mostly outside the UAE, or you are an e-commerce or consulting business selling internationally, a free zone is typically cheaper and sufficient. If most of your customers are UAE businesses or government entities, or you need to bid on UAE government tenders, mainland is very often the only structure that actually works, because free zone companies generally cannot sell directly to mainland customers without a distributor in between.
Since 2021, mainland companies can be 100% foreign-owned for most activities — the old requirement for a 51% UAE national partner is gone for the vast majority of commercial and professional activities. A short, defined list still requires Emirati participation or a special licence — security and investigation services, banking and currency exchange, insurance, and Hajj and Umrah operators among them; we will flag it immediately if your activity is one of them.
What it costs
| Item | Cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial approval | 235 | DED government fee |
| Trade name reservation | 735 | DED government fee |
| License issuance, first activity | 600 | Plus AED 280 per additional activity |
| Chamber of Commerce membership | 1,200 | Mandatory for commercial licenses |
| MOA notarisation | 1,500 – 3,200 | Varies by declared share capital |
| Tasheel typing service | 280 | Government-mandated document typing |
| Office / Ejari | 220 (virtual) – 9,000+ (physical suite) | Mainland requires a registered Ejari tenancy; virtual office products exist for some activities |
| Immigration establishment card | 2,000 | One-time, required before visa processing |
| Investor/partner visa | ~6,500 per person | Includes stamping, medical, Emirates ID |
| Employee visa | 3,500 – 7,500 per person | Varies by role and processing speed |
Note: Figures above reflect official government, DED, and third-party statutory fees as of October 2026. BizVibez professional service fees, document clearing, and custom setup packages are quoted individually in writing based on your exact license activity and office requirements before any payment is made.
Timeline & What you will need to provide
Timeline
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Activity selection and initial approval | 1–2 working days |
| Trade name reservation | Same day |
| MOA drafting and notarisation | 1–3 working days |
| Ejari registration | 1–2 working days, once office is secured |
| License issuance | 1–2 working days after all approvals |
| Visa processing (if applicable) | Additional 7–14 working days per visa |
A straightforward single-activity license without complications is usually issued within a week. The variable most likely to slow things down is not government processing — it is securing and registering an Ejari tenancy, since mainland licensing requires an actual registered address, not a virtual one, for most activities.
What you will need to provide
- Passport copies for all partners and shareholders
- Passport-size photos for visa applicants
- Proposed trade name (checked against DED naming conventions before submission)
- Description of intended business activities, matched to DED activity list
- Ejari tenancy contract for your registered office
- For foreign corporate shareholders: attested certificate of incorporation and board resolution
- No-objection certificate from current sponsor, if you are already on a UAE employment visa
Mainland vs. free zone vs. offshore
| Mainland | Free zone | RAK ICC offshore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell directly to UAE mainland customers | Yes | Limited, via distributor | No |
| Bid on UAE government tenders | Yes, for most | Rarely | No |
| Physical office required | Yes (Ejari) | Usually, varies by zone | No |
| Foreign ownership | 100% for most activities | 100% | 100% |
| Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 | 0% on qualifying income, 9% otherwise | Generally outside scope if no UAE income |
See our free zone license page and our offshore and RAK ICC Foundation page if either fits your customer base better.
How it works, step by step
- Activity consultation. We confirm your intended activities against DED classification and flag any that require local partnership or additional approvals (legal, medical, and education activities typically need extra sign-off).
- Trade name reservation. We check and reserve your name.
- Initial approval. DED confirms in principle that your activity and structure are permitted.
- MOA drafting and notarisation. For multi-shareholder companies, we draft and notarise the Memorandum of Association.
- Office and Ejari. We help you secure a suitable office and register the tenancy contract.
- License issuance. Once all approvals and payments are complete, DED issues the trade license.
- Visas and bank account. We process your establishment card, visas, and introduce you to suitable banking relationships — see our bank account opening page.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to move on this? WhatsApp us at +971 54 201 9999 or call directly — most first conversations take fifteen minutes and tell you exactly where you stand, with no obligation.
Official Sources & References
- Dubai Business Services (DBS): Dubai Mainland License Costs 2026 Breakdown
- UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA): Corporate tax scope and regulations
Government fees are set by the Department of Economic Development and Dubai Municipality and are subject to change. Figures above reflect published third-party market data as of the review date and should be confirmed against current DED schedules before publishing or quoting.