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Mainland business setup

Mainland business setup

If you want to set up a mainland business in Dubai, Dubai Visa and Investment Centre is here to help you. We are an experienced business setup company in Dubai and have assisted many people to start a mainland business. Our mainland business setup services will ensure you achieve your desired goal.

You can choose to set up your business for local or international trade. Our mainland business setup options allow you to easily start and run your business easily. We will ensure you have the authority to operate freely from the business.

Types of mainland trade license in Dubai

  • Commercial trade license
  • Tourism trade license
  • Industrial trade license
  • Professional trade license

Mainland business in Dubai is lucrative and attracts investment options from local and international businessmen and investors. A mainland business setup in Dubai allows businesses to operate business activities in the country and internationally.

Other types of economic jurisdictions are available in Dubai that allow operations within commercialised regions.

The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai handles the new Dubai Mainland company establishment. They also give the Dubai Mainland license that allows performing any business activities anywhere in Dubai, providing the utmost flexibility and opportunity for growth. The cost of Dubai's mainland company formation is easily affordable to small and big investors.

Mainland business setup process

A mainland business setup in Dubai is relatively easy, but it may be confusing to start a company. The DED has mandated appointing a manager for your business. You can have up to five managers.

The steps for setting up mainland business in Dubai include

  1. Selecting business activity

Our consultants are experienced and knowledgeable in mainland company setup in Dubai and can advise you on the ideal business activity or activities to meet your current requirements and plans. We will guide you to the jurisdiction suitable for your chosen activities and offer cost-effective options for your budget.

We make getting a professional mainland license for your business in Dubai easier. The licences may include

  • E-commerce license
  • Consultancy license
  • Manufacturing license
  • Real estate license
  • Dubai health authority (DHA) license
  • Knowledge and human development authority (KHDA) license
  • Road and transport authority (RTA)
  • Ministry of Economy license
  1. Finalise company structure

The most common option for mainland business set up in Dubai is the Limited Liability Company (LLC), but other options are available.

Our professional management consultants and lawyers will conduct feasibility studies, corporate structuring or restructuring, and due diligence to help you set up the right Dubai Mainland company.

Your options include:

  • Civil company
  • Sole proprietorship
  • Public joint stock company (PJSC)
  • Single-family offices
  • Private limited company (PLC)
  • Limited liability company (LLC)
  • Branches, regional headquarters and representative offices of foreign companies
  1. Register a business trade name

Your business trade name must reflect your activity and get approval from the authorities before formal usage. The approval will be available if someone isn't already using the business name or hasn't been previously registered. Ensure your trade name isn't offensive to the public order or public morals.

You can check the availability of trade names on the DED’s website in every emirate except Fujairah, where trade names are listed on the Fujairah Municipality Rukhsati app. You can find licensed trade names on the UAE Ministry of Economic Unified Commercial Registration System and the National Economic Register.

You can also shortlist the trade names reflecting your business activity, and our team will check for those available and register them. When approved, your trade name will have the acronym of your legal structure, like PJSC, PLC or LLC.

  1. Get the necessary approval and mainland license

You will get a dedicated company formation specialist to handle your paperwork and complete the processes for initial approval. This early approval is necessary before other steps.

Depending on your business structure, you may need other government approvals and translations of the approvals and different notarisations and attestations. Concluding these tests will ensure a final approval of your mainland business license.

  1. Confirm workspace

You may have a preference for your office location, but if you do not or are new in UAE, we can have our real estate consultants assist you to find, confirm and buy or lease a workspace.

Different options are available for new mainland businesses to suit your budget and needs. They include

  • Fully owned office
  • Workshop
  • Virtual office
  • Office building
  • Leased office
  • Warehouse
  1. Comply with labour rules

If you don’t want to undergo the stress of getting visas yourself, our immigration team will handle the process:

  • Open an official government file
  • Process your establishment card
  • Apply for the required number of employment and residence visas for family and staff members.

This will include attestation, translation and verification of the documents.

  1. Open bank account

A corporate bank account is a vital part of the mainland license in Dubai. Businesses are legally mandated to separate professional and personal funds. Different corporate bank accounts are available, from international banks to local bands and digital-only banks.

Each option offers advantages to large foreign corporations, small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs.

We will help you make the right choice and complete the required documentation.

Documents for mainland business setup

The documents for setting up a mainland company vary for corporate and individual shareholders.

Document for individual shareholders

  • Copy of the National ID card of the Emirati sponsor or partner
  • Copies of the visa page, passport and stamp page (from when the person entered the UAE) of foreign directors, managers and shareholders
  • A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the employer if the individual is on an employment visa in any UAE company

Documents for corporate shareholders

  • If the company is a shareholder in the proposed LLC, the No Objection Certificate (NOC) and a list of shareholders (in Arabic language) from the offshore authority or free zone is necessary.
  • A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and the legalised Memorandum and Articles of Association from the UAE Embassy
  • The Original Board Resolution from establishing the company with the Power of Attorney that has been legalised and notarised by the UAE Embassy

Benefits

Mainland company setup has several benefits to the free zone businesses, which have certain restrictions that may limit the business profit.

These benefits include

  • Freedom to conduct business anywhere in Dubai and outside Dubai
  • After some amendments, local agents or sponsors aren’t needed for a mainland business
  • Both professional and commercial license holders can have full ownership of the business in the mainland business, except for certain businesses like oral and gas
  • Finding an office space on the mainland is easy
  • Mainland businesses can take lucrative government contracts
  • Mainland businesses can lease or rent warehouses, showrooms and offices without restrictions
  • Mainland business owners can sponsor visas

Cost of company formation in UAE

Many people assume that the cost of company formation in the UAE is high, but we can design a business plan for you, analyse the cost and help you establish your company, depending on your budget.

The tax laws in UAE offer several privileges to both international companies and SMEs. We will handle all government payments for a hassle-free and quick process.

Our services include an all-inclusive package and comprehensive UAE company formation costs. We aim to create solutions to ensure your business complies with UAE commercial law.

Dubai Visa and Investment Centre can assist you if you need a mainland business setup. You can call us today on 00971 544563095 or locate us at office No. 4108, 41st floor, Churchill Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

How can I start a company in mainland Dubai?

You need to follow some steps from the Department of Economic Development (DED) to start a Dubai mainland company. The DED handles any new mainland company formation in Dubai. You can complete the steps and processes yourself or get business setup experts to assist you.

We offer business setup services in Dubai and can help you get a business trade license for your mainland business setup.

How much is tax for a mainland company in Dubai?

From June 2023, only branches of foreign-related businesses and banks will pay a corporate tax. The tax varies based on the sector.

What is a Dubai mainland license?

The Dubai mainland license is a trade license from the DED and removes any restrictions on commercial activities on the mainland.

What is mainland company formation in Dubai?

Dubai mainland company formation is a business setup in the onshore region, registered after the DED approval.

How can we assist in registering a mainland company in Dubai?

Setting up a mainland business in Dubai may be challenging. It requires approvals and documentation to get a business license. We can help speed up the process as we are affiliated with the Dubai government agencies.

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