Dubai mainland — built for the local market.
A mainland company is licensed by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism and can trade directly across the UAE market and with government. We help you form it on the right legal structure.
- Licensed by
- Dubai DET
- Market
- UAE-wide + government
- Ownership
- Up to 100%
- Premises
- Ejari office
Onshore, and open to the whole market.
Mainland (onshore) companies are licensed by the emirate's economic department — in Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Their defining advantage is reach: a mainland company can trade directly with customers across the UAE and contract with government entities, without a local distributor.
When mainland makes sense
Signals that point towards an onshore structure — not a determination, which always depends on your activity.
Signals to weigh
- You'll sell directly to the UAE local market
- You want to work with government or semi-government entities
- You need a physical office and on-the-ground presence
- Your activity isn't well served by any free zone
- Your customers are mostly international or within a sector cluster
- You want the leanest possible early footprint
- 100% foreign ownership certainty matters for your activity
- You don't need direct local-market sales yet
What shapes a mainland licence.
Four decisions define your setup — taken in order, with us.
Activity decides the licence
Commercial, professional, or industrial — your activity sets the licence type and any approvals.
Foreign ownership
100% foreign ownership now applies to many activities; a defined list of strategic activities still carries conditions — verify per activity.
Legal form
LLC, sole establishment, civil company, or branch — chosen to fit your activity and goals.
Premises & Ejari
A registered office (Ejari) is generally required, and your visa capacity is tied to it.
The common structures.
Common mainland legal forms — the right one depends on your activity, ownership, and plans. Exact requirements should be confirmed with DET.
Most common
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Sole Establishment
- Civil Company (certain professional activities)
Branches & groups
- Branch of a foreign company
- Branch of a local company
- Other forms recognised under the Commercial Companies Law
Legal forms and ownership conditions vary by activity and change — verify current requirements with DET.
Office & premises
Mainland companies generally need a registered physical office (an Ejari-registered tenancy), and your premises connect directly to how many residence visas you can sponsor. Virtual-only arrangements typically don't support mainland staff visas — so office choice is a strategic decision, not just a cost line.
- 01A registered physical office is generally required
- 02Premises tier interacts with visa capacity
- 03Choose the office around your hiring plans
Visa implications
A mainland company can typically sponsor investor and employee residency visas, with capacity tied to your office and activity. We plan ownership and visas together — including the Golden Visa route where an owner's profile fits.
- 01Investor / partner residency for owners
- 02Employee visa capacity linked to office and activity
- 03Golden Visa considered where the owner profile fits
Who mainland usually suits.
Common starting points — illustrative, not a rule.
Local retail & F&B
Shops, restaurants, and consumer businesses serving the UAE market directly.
Professional services
Consultancies and service firms with UAE-based clients.
Government contracting
Businesses that contract with government or semi-government entities.
Established operations
Companies needing a physical footprint and broad activity scope.
Common mainland mistakes.
The avoidable missteps we most often see — and plan around from the start.
Mainland questions, answered.
If your question isn't here, a consultation is the most direct way to get a precise answer for your situation.
Ask an advisorFor many activities, yes — the 2021 reform permits full foreign ownership across most legal forms. A defined list of strategic activities still carries conditions, and some professional activities may involve a local service agent. The position depends on your activity and should be verified with DET.
Mainland companies generally require a registered office (Ejari), and your visa capacity is tied to it. We help you choose premises that match your plans.
Yes — typically investor/partner and employee residency visas, with capacity linked to your office and activity.
Related advisory
Form on the mainland, properly.
We confirm the activity, ownership, legal form, and visas before anything is registered.