SET UP IN DUBAI* 

>>MAIN LAND

Contact us

Key Advantages of Dubai Mainland Licenses

Freedom To Operate Anywhere

One of the greatest advantages of obtaining a Dubai Mainland License is the freedom to conduct business without geographic restrictions. UAE mainland companies can trade and operate within the country, in any free zones, and internationally. This flexibility makes a Mainland License highly valuable for business expansion and growth.

No Visa Limitations

UAE mainland companies have no restrictions on expanding their visa quotas under a business license. While additional physical space may be required as the business grows, scaling is much easier. This flexibility allows for smoother expansion compared to other licensing options.

No Currency Restrictions

Under a Dubai Mainland License, there are no currency restrictions. Companies can fully repatriate funds from both offshore and onshore bank accounts within the UAE.

Ability to Work with Government Bodies

UAE mainland companies have no restrictions on expanding their visa quotas under a business license. While additional physical space may be required as the business grows, scaling is much easier. This flexibility allows for smoother expansion compared to other licensing options.

Financial Viability 

Companies with a Dubai Mainland License enjoy similar benefits to those with a Free Zone license, such as tax exemptions. Additionally, there is no minimum capital requirement for setting up a company under a Dubai Mainland License. This flexibility makes it an attractive option for businesses.

Strong Market Presence

Obtaining a DED Mainland License allows you to establish your physical company anywhere in the UAE. This flexibility enhances your business presence and provides the freedom to expand your company’s branches across the UAE, offering greater opportunities for growth and visibility.

  • To practice architecture in Dubai Mainland, you need to obtain a Professional License. This license is issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and is necessary for individuals and firms offering professional services like architectural consultancy. The Professional License allows you to legally provide architectural services, ensuring compliance with local regulations and standards.

  • To conduct advertising activities in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license is required for individuals and companies engaged in advertising, marketing, and media-related services. It ensures that your business operates legally and meets all regulatory requirements within the UAE.

  • To conduct business consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license is necessary for individuals and firms providing expert advice and services in various business areas, including management, marketing, and financial consultancy. The Professional License ensures your consultancy operates legally and adheres to local regulations.

  • To offer design services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license covers various design-related activities, including interior design, graphic design, fashion design, and more. It ensures that your business can legally provide professional design services within Dubai Mainland, adhering to local regulations and standards.

  • To conduct e-commerce activities in Dubai Mainland, you need an E-Trader License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows individuals and home-based businesses to sell products and services online. For larger businesses, a Commercial License may be required to engage in broader e-commerce operations, including the establishment of an online store and fulfillment services. Both licenses ensure that your e-commerce business operates legally and complies with local regulations.

  • To conduct event management services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to legally organize, manage, and promote events, including corporate events, conferences, exhibitions, and social gatherings. The Professional License ensures your business complies with local regulations and standards, providing you with the legal framework to operate successfully within the UAE.

  • To offer fashion design consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to provide expert advice and services in fashion design, including consultations on fashion trends, clothing design, and related creative services. The Professional License ensures that your consultancy operates legally and adheres to local regulations and standards.

Business Activities Under Dubai Mainland Jurisdiction

  • To conduct food and beverage trading in Dubai Mainland, you need a Commercial License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to trade, distribute, and sell food and beverage products within Dubai and the UAE. It covers activities such as importing, exporting, and wholesaling food and beverages. The Commercial License ensures your business operates legally and complies with all health and safety regulations specific to the food industry.

  • To conduct general trading in Dubai Mainland, you need a General Trading License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to trade a wide range of goods and products, including import, export, and re-export activities. With a General Trading License, you can deal in multiple, unrelated product lines under a single license, providing flexibility and broad business opportunities. This license ensures your business operates legally and complies with all relevant regulations.

  • To offer HR consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to provide various HR-related services, including recruitment, employee training, and human resources management consulting. The Professional License ensures that your HR consultancy operates legally and complies with local regulations and standards.

  • To provide interior design services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to legally offer interior design consultancy, planning, and execution services. It ensures compliance with local regulations and standards, enabling you to operate your interior design business within Dubai Mainland.

  • To offer IT consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to provide various IT-related services, such as IT strategy development, systems integration, software development, and technology consulting. The Professional License ensures your IT consultancy operates legally and adheres to local regulations and standards.

  • To provide management consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to offer advisory services in areas such as business strategy, operations, organizational management, and other management consulting services. The Professional License ensures that your consultancy operates legally and complies with local regulations and standards.

  • To provide marketing services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to offer various marketing services, including market research, advertising, digital marketing, branding, and public relations. The Professional License ensures that your marketing services business operates legally and complies with local regulations and standards.

  • To practice architecture in Dubai Mainland, you need to obtain a Professional License. This license is issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) and is necessary for individuals and firms offering professional services like architectural consultancy. The Professional License allows you to legally provide architectural services, ensuring compliance with local regulations and standards.

  • To conduct advertising activities in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license is required for individuals and companies engaged in advertising, marketing, and media-related services. It ensures that your business operates legally and meets all regulatory requirements within the UAE.

  • To conduct business consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license is necessary for individuals and firms providing expert advice and services in various business areas, including management, marketing, and financial consultancy. The Professional License ensures your consultancy operates legally and adheres to local regulations.

  • To offer design services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license covers various design-related activities, including interior design, graphic design, fashion design, and more. It ensures that your business can legally provide professional design services within Dubai Mainland, adhering to local regulations and standards.

  • To conduct e-commerce activities in Dubai Mainland, you need an E-Trader License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows individuals and home-based businesses to sell products and services online. For larger businesses, a Commercial License may be required to engage in broader e-commerce operations, including the establishment of an online store and fulfillment services. Both licenses ensure that your e-commerce business operates legally and complies with local regulations.

  • To conduct event management services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to legally organize, manage, and promote events, including corporate events, conferences, exhibitions, and social gatherings. The Professional License ensures your business complies with local regulations and standards, providing you with the legal framework to operate successfully within the UAE.

  • To offer fashion design consultancy services in Dubai Mainland, you need a Professional License issued by the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED). This license allows you to provide expert advice and services in fashion design, including consultations on fashion trends, clothing design, and related creative services. The Professional License ensures that your consultancy operates legally and adheres to local regulations and standards.

Types of Mainland Business Licenses

Dubai Mainland offers three types of business licenses. The following is a detail about the Mainland Business Licenses:

  • Commercial License: Commercial License is issued to those businesses that are dealing with trading activities.

  • Professional License: This type of license is provided for service-based businesses, such as legal, accounting, and consulting companies.

  • Industrial licenses: This license is issued to companies dealing in industrial sectors. Those companies that engage in any form of manufacturing or processing should acquire this license.

Before you start doing business in Main land Dubai, you should choose an appropriate business license for your business. These documents will allow you to operate businesses within Mainland Dubai.

Costs and Fees of Mainland License in Dubai

As for cost and fees, when it comes to holding a mainland license in Dubai, here are some of the major costs incurred during the setting-up process:

  • License Issuance Fee: The issuance fees from DED vary according to the business activity under consideration. Commercial licenses come with different costs as opposed to professional or industrial licenses.

  • Trade Name Reservation Fee: Before you obtain your mainland license, a trade name has to be reserved for your business. There is a separate fee, payable to the DED, for this privilege.

  • Sponsorship Fee: You have to pay a sponsorship fee if you obtain a local sponsor. The payment is usually annual; there is variation in the amount payable, depending on your agreement with the sponsor and on the nature of your business.

  • Office space rental: An office space for your business is usually an added cost. This often depends on location, size, and facilities provided.

  • Administrative and Legal Fees: Most of the setup will incur various administrative and legal fees, such as attestation of documents, translation, and visa processing fees. It all depends on how one appointed a service provider.

Key Advantages of Dubai Mainland Licenses

The mainland business setup in Dubai, it offers various advantages to secure a future for your entrepreneurial ventures. Here are the primary advantages, which leave mainland company setup as one of the popular choices:

  1. Unrestricted Trade and Location Freedom
    FreedomMainland companies enjoy free trade with no boundaries and may conduct their business activities freely anywhere within Dubai. Business-to-business business-to-government and business-to-consumer relations across the UAE have no such restrictions. In addition, the flexibility of having more than one branch significantly enhances a business's market presence.

  2. Diversification of Business Activities
    They can offer a diversified palette of services. In case you want to increase your business activities, the new venture registration process is very smooth with the Department of Economic Development (DED). This flexibility can easily open doors into different sectors and markets.

  3. Access to Lucrative Government Contracts
    ContractsDubai and the UAE invest highly in government projects, thus providing enormous business opportunities. With registration on the mainland, you position yourself more competitively to win some of the high-value tenders by the government. The access can therefore make all the difference for business growth and sustainability.

  4. Complete ownership control
    This is an advantage in mainland company formation, offering entrepreneurs absolute ownership control. This facility was previously available only through the free zones or specific professional services companies. Today, with the availability of mainland setup, entrepreneurs can have absolute control over all their business entities and increase, therefore, decision-making autonomy and strategic planning.

  5. Flexibility in Business Activities
    The major corporations are free to participate in almost any form of business. Thus, whatever would be the case, be it manufacturing or trading or services, the scope is limitless. It becomes easy and tends to push your business toward adaptability and innovation to adjust or expand offerings for market demands.
    The mainland company setup in Dubai has an open gateway to a fast-changing business landscape where entrepreneurs are provided with unlimited freedom and prospects for growth and success.

Next
Next

Freezone