What is the difference between a commercial and professional mainland licence?

A commercial licence covers businesses trading physical goods such as import, export, retail and e-commerce. A professional licence covers expertise-based services such as consultancy, IT, legal and healthcare. The specific DET activity code determines which type applies, not a general category assumption.

What is the minimum share capital for a UAE mainland LLC?

AED 300,000 stated minimum for a standard LLC, declared in the Memorandum of Association but not required to be deposited in a bank account. Regulated activities such as financial services and healthcare have their own higher minimums set by the relevant authority.

Mainland Company Setup UAE | DET Licence

Mainland Company Setup in the UAE.
Full market access.

A mainland DET licence gives you full UAE market access, government tender eligibility and the freedom to operate across all seven emirates. Getting there means the right activity code, the right ownership structure and the right legal form, confirmed before anything is filed. Connect Group has done exactly this for 15,000+ businesses in the UAE.

Our Specialist Brands

This service is delivered through our dedicated group subsidiaries, ensuring niche expertise at every stage.

Businesses set up
in the UAE

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Working days,
standard mainland setup

DET business
activities covered

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Foreign ownership,
most activities

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Why choose a Mainland Company over a Free Zone?

Free zones work for international trading. Mainland works when your market is the UAE. These are the five specific advantages that only a DET mainland licence provides.

Trade freely across all seven Emirates

A mainland licence carries no geographical restriction on where you operate or who you sell to within the UAE. Free zone companies need a distribution agreement or a separate mainland entity to sell directly to UAE clients.

Eligibility for government and semi-government contracts

UAE government tenders require a mainland DET licence as a standard prerequisite. Free zone and offshore entities are explicitly excluded from most public sector procurement processes, regardless of their activity.

Unlimited visa quota based on office size

Mainland companies can sponsor as many visas as their registered office space allows. Free zone packages typically cap visa allocations at three to six per package tier, requiring an upgrade or additional packages for larger teams.

Stronger banking relationship

UAE banks report significantly more comfortable KYC positions with mainland-licensed companies than with free zone or offshore entities. Mainland status correlates with better banking access, higher transaction limits, and shorter account opening timelines.

100% foreign ownership across most activities

Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020, effective June 2021, extended full foreign ownership to the majority of commercial and industrial activities on the mainland. The Local Service Agent requirement now applies only to specific professional licence categories.

Multiple activities on a single licence

DET allows multiple business activities to be listed under one mainland licence where they fall under compatible licence types. This flexibility lets businesses diversify without the cost of holding separate licences for each function.

Three Mainland licence types.
One determines everything.

DET issues three core mainland licence categories. Your activity code determines which one you need, and the wrong choice means a costly amendment after the fact. Connect Group confirms the correct type before filing.

Licence Type 01

Commercial Licence

For businesses whose primary activity involves the trading of physical goods, whether import, export, wholesale, retail, or e-commerce. 100% foreign ownership available for most commercial activities.

Licence Type 02

Professional Licence

For businesses providing expertise, consultancy or intellectual services. May require a Local Service Agent (UAE national) for certain foreign-owned activities. The LSA holds no ownership stake.

Licence Type 03

Industrial Licence

For businesses that manufacture, process, assemble, or package physical products. Requires a facility in a designated industrial zone plus approvals from Dubai Municipality, Civil Defense and MoIAT.

Minimum capital

AED 250,000 under Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2022. Industrial zone facility required.
MoIAT registration is mandatory from January 2023.

Not sure which licence type fits?

Which legal structure is right for your Mainland company?

DET recognises several legal forms for mainland companies. Three cover the majority of business cases. Connect Group determines the right structure for your activity, ownership, and liability requirements before any documents are prepared.

LLC
Limited Liability Company

The most widely used structure for expatriate investors. Shareholders are liable only for the value of their shares. 100% foreign ownership available for most commercial and industrial activities. Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2025 (effective December 2025) introduced new share class options and a statutory re-domiciliation pathway for companies converting from a free zone to the mainland.

Shareholders: 2 to 50
Min capital: AED 300,000 stated
Best for: Trading, services, most commercial activities

Sole Establishment
Individual Business

A single-owner structure typically available to UAE and GCC nationals, or to specific
professional service categories. Full personal liability applies as there is no separation between the owner and company assets.

Shareholders: 1
Min capital: No minimum
Best for: UAE/GCC nationals, specific professional licences

Branch Office
Foreign Company Extension

A UAE branch of an existing foreign company. The branch can carry out the same activities as the parent company. Liability is not limited and sits with the parent entity. Requires a Local Service Agent.

Shareholders: Parent company
LSA: Required
Best for: Multinationals extending into the UAE

The LLC is the most versatile and legally secure structure for foreign investors on the mainland. It separates personal assets from business liability and allows multiple shareholders up to 50 under UAE Commercial Companies Law. Connect Group defaults to recommending the LLC for most commercial and professional setups unless your specific situation requires otherwise.

What Is a Local Service Agent and do you need one?

A Local Service Agent (LSA) is a UAE national required for certain professional licence categories held by foreign investors on the mainland. The LSA is not a business partner and does not own any shares. They have no management role, no access to company funds and no share of revenue or profit.

The LSA’s sole function is to fulfil a regulatory requirement. Connect Group identifies whether your specific activity requires an LSA before any filing begins and can assist with sourcing a qualified agent.

LSA is not required for

LSA is required for

Activities that require external approvals beyond DET

DET issues the base mainland licence. Certain regulated sectors require additional clearance from sector-specific authorities before the licence is finalised. Missing these approvals is one of the most common reasons mainland setups are delayed.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Healthcare, clinics, medical devices, pharmacies

Dubai Tourism (DET Tourism)

Tour operators, travel agencies, hospitality

UAE Central Bank (CBUAE)

Financial services, insurance, money exchange

Dubai Municipality (DM)

Food, industrial, engineering, environmental

TDRA

E-commerce and telecommunications activities

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)

Vehicle rental, transport and logistics

Ministry of Industry and Advanced Tech (MoIAT)

All industrial and manufacturing licences

Knowledge and Human Dev. Authority (KHDA)

Education, training centres, tutoring

For restricted activities, external sector approval and DET licence issuance must be in place simultaneously; you cannot obtain the DET licence first and the sector approval later. Activities requiring external approvals add 3 to 8 weeks with additional fees from AED 1,000 to AED 10,000 or more. Connect Group identifies all required approvals before the first form is filed and submits to both authorities in parallel where possible.

How Connect Group sets up your Mainland Company

Seven steps from initial consultation to fully operational. Your only required input is at Step 1. Connect Group manages every submission, follow-up and government interaction after that.

Activity and structure confirmed

We review your business model against DET's 3,000+ activity list, identify the correct licence type (commercial, professional or industrial), confirm ownership eligibility under the 2021 FDI reforms and determine whether an LSA is needed for your specific activities.

Trade name reserved

We submit your preferred trade names through the DET portal, confirm compliance with UAE naming conventions and reserve the approved name. Reservation takes 1 to 3 working days. We prepare three to five name options to avoid rejection delays.

Initial approval obtained

We file for initial approval with DET, confirming that your proposed activity is permitted and that the ownership structure is accepted. This is the formal green light to proceed with office registration and MOA preparation. Typically 3 to 5 working days.

Documents prepared and notarised

We draft the Memorandum of Association, prepare all shareholder documentation and arrange notarisation through a registered UAE notary.

Office secured and Ejari registered

Every mainland licence requires a registered physical address with a valid Ejari tenancy contract. We arrange your office, serviced workspace or flexi-desk and register the Ejari through the Dubai Land Department. The Ejari registration number is a mandatory field in the final licence application.

External approvals obtained (Where required)

For regulated activities, we file simultaneously with the relevant sector authority (DHA, KHDA, RTA, TDRA and so on) to minimise sequential delays. We track each application directly and follow up with the authority rather than waiting for you to chase.

Licence issued. Establishment card and visas filed

We collect the DET trade licence, verify every activity code and detail against your brief, then simultaneously file your GDRFA establishment card, MOHRE registration and investor visa applications. Bank account introductions to partner institutions are made in parallel.

Pricing

Priced around Your activity. Not a fixed package.

Every mainland setup is different. Your licence type, activity, office size, visa count and whether your sector needs external approvals all determine the final cost.

Connect Group builds the full picture for your specific brief and confirms it in writing before anything is filed. Government fees are passed through at cost, fully itemised. Nothing moves until you have approved every line.

Licence fee depends on

Activity type and emirate

Government fees

Passed through at cost

Your commitment

After you approve the quote

Who sets up a UAE Mainland Company through Connect Group?

Six types of businesses, all with one thing in common: they needed genuine UAE market access, not just a licence that looks right on paper.

Retail and trading businesses

Businesses selling physical goods to UAE consumers need a commercial DED licence. Free zone entities cannot sell directly to mainland UAE clients without a distribution agreement.

Government tender applicants

UAE federal and emirate-level government procurement requires a valid mainland licence. Free zone and offshore entities are excluded from most public sector tenders by default.

International companies entering UAE

A mainland branch or LLC gives an international company full trading rights inside the UAE from day one, without needing a distributor, agent or middleman for local sales.

Regulated sector businesses

Healthcare, education, food, finance and construction businesses all require mainland DED licences alongside sector-specific approvals from DHA, KHDA or the relevant authority.

Growing businesses hitting Free Zone limits

Businesses that started in a free zone often need UAE market access or unlimited visa capacity. They usually add a mainland entity rather than lose their free zone structure entirely.

Professional service firms

Consultancies, agencies, IT firms and service providers often find mainland professional licences give them stronger client relationships and simpler banking than equivalent free zone setups.

From brief to licence. Three real stories.

No two mainland setups are the same. Here is what each one looked like from first conversation to licence in hand.

Case 01

Trading Company, Dubai

Problem: Two years in a free zone, locked out of government tenders.

The company had a valid free zone licence but kept being disqualified from UAE government procurement because mainland DET registration is a prerequisite for most public sector tenders. Two years of lost bids and they had not known this was the reason.

We identified the correct commercial activity codes for their trading categories, prepared the full DET filing and had the commercial licence issued in nine working days. No external approvals were required for their specific activities, keeping the timeline clean.

“We had been operating through a free zone for two years but kept losing government tenders because we had no mainland licence. Connect Group confirmed the right activity codes and had our commercial DED licence in nine working days. We won our first government contract three months later."

K. Nair

CEO

Case 02

Healthcare Consultancy, Abu Dhabi

Problem: Two external approvals needed. Two other providers said eight weeks minimum.

Healthcare consultancy activities in the UAE require both a DET professional licence and clearance from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Department of Health (DOH) depending on the emirate. Most providers file these sequentially, which means waiting for DET approval before approaching DHA, adding four to six weeks to the timeline.

We filed both simultaneously. DET initial approval and DHA application went in on the same day. Total elapsed time from first brief to both approvals received: 14 working days. Two other providers the client had spoken to quoted eight weeks as their standard for this type of dual-approval setup.

“Our activity needed both a DET professional licence and DHA clearance. Connect Group filed both simultaneously and had the full approval in 14 days. We had been told by two other providers it would take two months.”, S. Al Rashid, Director

S. Al Rashid

Director

Case 03

Retail Business, Dubai

Problem: Free zone entity could not open a UAE bank account for local trade.

The founder had a free zone licence for their retail business but discovered that UAE banks are significantly more reluctant to open accounts for free zone entities trading locally than for DET mainland-licensed companies. Local retail clients also expressed preference for dealing with a mainland-registered entity.

Rather than closing the free zone entity, We added a mainland commercial licence alongside it. The free zone structure was retained for international operations while the mainland licence opened local banking relationships and removed the credibility friction with UAE clients.

“Setting up our business was easier than we imagined. Connect Group guided us through every step. The mainland licence gave us the banking access and the local client credibility we had been missing from our free zone entity.”

Fatima A.

Founder

After your Mainland licence. Still Connect Group.

A trade licence opens the door. Connect Group manages everything your mainland company needs to operate compliantly from day one through the same team that set you up.

Visa and Immigration

Investor visas, employee work permits, Emirates ID and dependent sponsorship through Connect Group's licensed PRO team.

Corporate Bank Account

Introductions to UAE banking partners pre-screened against your DET licence activity and shareholder profile to reduce account rejection risk.

PRO and Government Services

DET renewals, MOHRE filings, establishment card renewals and government liaison managed continuously. No deadline missed, no lapse unaddressed.

Corporate Tax and Accounting

FTA corporate tax registration, VAT setup and ongoing accounting compliance. All mainland businesses must now be registered for corporate tax regardless of profitability.

Frequently asked questions about UAE Mainland Company Setup

The questions every client asks before filing. Answered directly, without preamble.

How long does mainland company setup in Dubai take in 2026?

A standard mainland licence with no external approvals takes 7 to 14 working days from initial submission to licence issuance. Regulated sectors requiring additional authority clearance from DHA, KHDA, RTA or similar bodies extend this to 4 to 8 weeks.

Connect Group files external approvals simultaneously with DET applications where possible to compress these timelines.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a UAE mainland company?

Yes, for most activities. Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020, effective June 2021, extended 100% foreign ownership to the majority of commercial and industrial activities on the UAE mainland. Professional licence categories may still require a Local Service Agent for certain activities.

Connect Group confirms your specific activity’s ownership eligibility before filing, not after.

What is the difference between a commercial and professional licence?

A commercial licence covers businesses that trade in physical goods: import, export, retail, wholesale and e-commerce. A professional licence covers businesses providing expertise and services: consultancy, IT, legal, accounting and healthcare.

The determining factor is the specific DET activity code, not a general category assumption. Some service activities fall under commercial licences and some product activities fall under professional licences. Connect Group confirms the correct type for your specific activity.

Do I need a physical office for a mainland company?

Yes. Every mainland company needs a registered address with a valid Ejari tenancy contract. Flexi-desk options start from around AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 annually. The Ejari number is a mandatory field in the DET application, without it, the submission fails.

What is the minimum share capital for a mainland LLC?

AED 300,000 stated minimum for a standard LLC, declared in the MOA but not deposited in a bank account. Regulated activities such as financial services, insurance and healthcare have their own higher minimums set by the relevant authority.

What does Connect Group actually do that I cannot do myself?

The DET portal is accessible to individuals, but the decisions that determine whether a setup goes smoothly happen before you reach it. Choosing the wrong licence type, missing an external approval requirement, selecting an incompatible legal structure or using an incorrect activity code results in rejections, amendments and additional fees.

Connect Group has processed over 15,000 UAE business setups and identifies these issues before filing, not after. The process itself is not difficult. Getting it right the first time is where experience matters.

Can Connect Group help after the licence is issued, or is the relationship limited to setup?

Most clients continue with Connect Group after setup. The same group manages PRO services for visa renewals and MOHRE filings, HR and payroll through the workforce division, bank account introductions through banking partners, and corporate tax registration through the tax advisory team.

You do not need to find new providers for each function. The people who set your company up already know your file.

Do I have one dedicated contact throughout the setup or does my file move between people?

You have one named specialist who owns your file from the first brief to the day the licence is in your hands. That person coordinates every submission, follows up with every authority and keeps you updated at each stage. You are not chasing Connect Group for updates. Connect Group is chasing the government on your behalf.

Set up your UAE Mainland Company the right way.

Still have a question not covered here? Our setup specialists answer within 4 hours.

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Mainland Company Setup in the UAE. Full market access.