Ingenious Corporate Services – Company Set-up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Businesses can do wonders when they operate like a free bird! You want maximum freedom and flexibility to run your business. That’s what onshore or mainland company formation in Dubai does.
Some of the most preferred mainland locations for business setup in Dubai are Business Bay, Al Quoz, Al Karama, Deira, Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road and Bur Dubai.
Ahead, we will unlock the answers to the questions that are frequently asked by aspiring business persons before hopping on the roads to mainland business formation in the UAE.
Maybe the 100% foreign ownership, maybe the global reach or maybe just the flexibility of doing business that the Mainland jurisdiction in the UAE offers, a host of entrepreneurs from the world over can be seen taking the mainland route to establish their presence in Dubai. Especially after the latest amendment to the UAE Federal Commercial Companies Law (CCL) came into effect, granting foreign investors full ownership of specific businesses without the need of involving Emirati national sponsor/s. If you are also looking to set up your first or next business in the mainland area of Dubai, then you can’t be wrong. Here are some of the key benefits of setting up a mainland company in Dubai you would want to know before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey in Dubai.
With a mainland business in Dubai, you are free to trade with anyone and anywhere – all across the UAE.
With a mainland business in Dubai, you are free to trade with anyone and anywhere – all across the UAE.
Unlike freezone companies in Dubai, mainland businesses can rent an office premise anywhere in Mainland Dubai.
It’s easy to expand your brand’s presence globally with a Dubai mainland business licence.
Depending on the economic activity chosen, expats business owners can now enjoy full ownership of their company without the need of local sponsor/s. Thanks to the new UAE CCL implemented on June 1, 2021.
Unlike freezone companies in Dubai, mainland businesses can rent an office premise anywhere in Mainland Dubai.
It’s easy to expand your brand’s presence globally with a Dubai mainland business licence.
Depending on the economic activity chosen, expats business owners can now enjoy full ownership of their company without the need of local sponsor/s. Thanks to the new UAE CCL implemented on June 1, 2021.
If you already have a mainland company in the UAE, you can also open a branch office keeping its 100% holding.
This simply means you may grow your team in line with the 100 square feet space per visa rule.
The administrative process is smoother, faster, and less restrictive compared to your free zone counterparts.
If you already have a mainland company in the UAE, you can also open a branch office keeping its 100% holding.
This simply means you may grow your team in line with the 100 square feet space per visa rule.
The administrative process is smoother, faster, and less restrictive compared to your free zone counterparts.
One can establish a mainland business in Dubai by obtaining any of the three licence types mentioned below.
One can establish a mainland business in Dubai by obtaining any of the three licence types mentioned below.
To be able to establish a mainland company in Dubai, one must possess a relevant trade licence issued by the local DED. In a common scenario, the process of registering a mainland business in Dubai involves the following steps
• Select the primary and related business activities covered by single trade licence
• Decide an appropriate legal structure
• Think of a unique trade name for the business in line with UAE trade name guidelines and have it registered
• Rent an office anywhere in Mainland Dubai and receive RERA-registered commercial lease papers
• Apply for an initial approval with DED in Dubai
• Draft a Memorandum of Association (MoA) and/or Local Service Agent Agreement (LSA) and have them attested
• Get additional or special government approvals (only if applicable)
• Gather all the relevant documents and submit them all with the duly filled trade licence application
• Pay the application fees and collect the mainland business licence when approved
• Process visa applications for yourself and others including family members, domestic help and employees
• Open a corporate bank account in Dubai
• Purchase a business insurance
Whether mainland or free zone, small or big, no business can be set up in Dubai without paperwork. Here is an estimated list of documents you need to arrange for your business setup in Dubai Mainland. Be informed that the authority (in this case DED) may ask for more documents if required.
• Completed trade licence application form
• Initial approval receipt and all the previously-submitted documents
• Duly attested MoA (applicable to all company types)
• Duly attested LSA (for civil establishments and
companies that are 100% owned by non-GCC nationals)
• Additional approvals from other government/
semi-government bodies concerned, as may be required
• NOC from the current sponsor (if the applicant is already in Dubai on a resident visa)
• Commercial tenancy contract or EJARI registration certificate
• Copy of NOC from partners
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Registration
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Registration
If the submitted documents and the licence application have no discrepancies, the licence can be issued just within a matter of 3-5 business days.
Whether mainland or free zone, small or big, no business can be set up in Dubai without paperwork. Here is an estimated list of documents you need to arrange for your business setup in Dubai Mainland. Be informed that the authority (in this case DED) may ask for more documents if required.
• Completed trade licence application form
• Initial approval receipt and all the previously-submitted documents
• Duly attested MoA (applicable to all company types)
• Duly attested LSA (for civil establishments and
companies that are 100% owned by non-GCC nationals)
• Additional approvals from other government/
semi-government bodies concerned, as may be required
• NOC from the current sponsor (if the applicant is already in Dubai on a resident visa)
• Commercial tenancy contract or EJARI registration certificate
• Copy of NOC from partners
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Registration
• Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Registration
If the submitted documents and the licence application have no discrepancies, the licence can be issued just within a matter of 3-5 business days.
The exact answer to this question depends on a number of factors including the choices you make during the course. However, if you are interested in knowing the ballpark figure, the cost of obtaining a mainland licence in Dubai and setting up a full-fledged company can easily reach AED 50,000+. However, if you work with an experienced business setup advisor like us then it is possible to work around your budget.
Even if you are confident enough to start your business setup journey under your own steam, the first step to business setup in Dubai always starts with consulting a reputed business setup firm such as Ingenious Corporate Services.
Taking expert advice not only helps you make the right decisions every step of the way but also keeps you from unnecessary hassles and the spadework involved in completing the paperwork while saving you a fortune today and in the future. With our mainland business formation specialists in Dubai by your side, you don’t have to worry about a single thing regarding your new mainland business setup in any
part of the UAE – from deciding the most favourable economic activity and business location to
obtaining initial and special approvals to finally applying for the trade licence and visas.
Save your time and effort and do a zoom meeting with any of our business setup consultants in Dubai to know why we are your right business setup buddy!
The exact answer to this question depends on a number of factors including the choices you make during the course. However, if you are interested in knowing the ballpark figure, the cost of obtaining a mainland licence in Dubai and setting up a full-fledged company can easily reach AED 50,000+. However, if you work with an experienced business setup advisor like us then it is possible to work around your budget.
Even if you are confident enough to start your business setup journey under your own steam, the first step to business setup in Dubai always starts with consulting a reputed business setup firm such as Ingenious Corporate Services.
Taking expert advice not only helps you make the right decisions every step of the way but also keeps you from unnecessary hassles and the spadework involved in completing the paperwork while saving you a fortune today and in the future. With our mainland business formation specialists in Dubai by your side, you don’t have to worry about a single thing regarding your new mainland business setup in any
part of the UAE – from deciding the most favourable economic activity and business location to
obtaining initial and special approvals to finally applying for the trade licence and visas.
Save your time and effort and do a zoom meeting with any of our business setup consultants in Dubai to know why we are your right business setup buddy!
Here's what our clients think about our company formation services.
Here's what our clients think about our company formation services.
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T&C Applied*
Includes:
T&C Applied*
Includes:
T&C Applied*
Includes:
T&C Applied*
Get an expert consultation from one of the reputed business setup advisory companies in Dubai, like Ingenious Corporate Services, to analyze your needs and design a solution fit for your business purpose. Our company setup package includes business registration, professional PRO services, visa, labor & immigration services, banking account opening assistance, and all other spadework involved in obtaining the relevant trade license.
The journey starts with the parent company Shareholders or Directors must pass a board resolution mentioning their intention to set up a branch of foreign company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Also, appoint a manager or legal representative who will act on behalf of the company to sign the company incorporation documents.
Finding a genuine Local Service Agent. It is mandatory for a foreign company to make a contract with a Local Service Agent (LSA) that can be either a UAE national or a company owned 100% by UAE nationals. The appointed LSA will then complete the trade name registration procedure with the local Department of Economic Development (DED).
Receive approval from the Ministry of Economy (MOE). The application includes company information such as details about the head office, the nature of the business, share capital, the name of the general manager in UAE, and so on. The supporting documents that much go to MOE along with the application are listed below:
The above documents must then be notarized and attested by the UAE Consulate/ Embassy in the country of origin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Depending on the jurisdiction, the attested documents must be translated to English/ Arabic by a sworn translator to be submitted to the relevant Authority.
Ready the following documents and submit them to Dubai DED to acquire the trade license
Make the application payment and collect your branch office license
Apply for all the required visas and complete other tasks to become a full-fledged branch company in Dubai, such as hiring staff, applying for employee labor cards, and opening a bank account. The banks will require complete UBO information of the Parent company and additional corporate and shareholder structures of the Parent company. Be informed that all foreign documents must be attested, legalized, and translated into Arabic for use in the UAE.
Obtain MOE License (within one month) by doing Ministry of Economy (MOE) registration online. For this, you have to pay a certain fee. If not for MOE registration Within the specified time, you will be subject to paying a penalty of AED 1,000 monthly with a maximum limit of AED 10,000 annually. After the MOE registration, the branch company will receive a username and password to upload the requested documents via the portal. One of them is Bank Guarantee. Each Foreign Branch in Dubai, UAE, has to pay a refundable security deposit of AED 50,000 to the MOE (until the license is valid) through a local UAE bank which cannot be withdrawn or used as working capital.