Mainland company setup steps in the UAE

Last verified: 2026-10-06

Summary

A mainland company is licensed by the economic department of the emirate in which it will operate. The official UAE portal (u.ae) sets out a standard process of nine steps, and notes that online routes also exist. This guide follows that sequence and adds Dubai-specific points from the Dubai government portal (dubai.ae).

Licensing authorities by emirate

According to u.ae:

• Abu Dhabi: Department of Economic Development
• Dubai: Department of Economy & Tourism (DET)
• Sharjah: Economic Development Department
• Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah: Department of Economic Development
• Fujairah: Fujairah Municipality

Online options

u.ae mentions the Basher platform, which connects federal and local government entities, and the Abu Dhabi Instant Licence, offered by the Department of Economic Development without visiting a service centre. The nine-step process below is described as the standard process.

The nine steps

1. Identify the business activity. u.ae states there are more than 2,000 business activities and a business may have more than one.
2. Select the legal form. u.ae lists five: general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company (LLC), public joint stock company (PJSC) and private joint stock company (PrJSC). It states the legal form must match the business activity. dubai.ae also lists civil company and sole proprietorship among the options in Dubai.
3. Apply for the trade licence. The licence types are described in the separate guide on UAE licence types.
4. Register the trade name. u.ae says the name must include the legal form acronym, must not violate public morals or public order, must be compatible with the activity and legal status, must not include the name of any religion or governing authority, and must not already be registered. Trade name certificates are renewable.
5. Obtain initial approval. u.ae describes this as confirmation that the UAE government has no objection to the business being established; it does not authorise the business to operate. Foreign investors need the approval of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs first. Some activities need other approvals before initial approval, including activities relating to legal affairs, security affairs, and financial securities and commodities.
6. Sign the Memorandum of Association (MoA) and, where required, the Local Service Agent (LSA) agreement. u.ae states the MoA is required for limited partnerships, LLCs, PJSCs and PrJSCs, and that an LSA agreement is mandatory for businesses 100% owned by non-GCC nationals. Both are prepared or attested by UAE law firms, courts or a notary public.
7. Select the business location. u.ae requires a physical address that complies with the economic department’s requirements and municipal planning rules. A rental agreement for the office or warehouse is needed and may require attestation. In Dubai the agreement must be registered with Ejari.
8. Obtain additional government approvals. u.ae lists bodies by sector, including TDRA, the Central Bank of the UAE, the Securities and Commodities Authority, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the National Media Council.
9. Collect the business licence. u.ae lists the documents: initial approval receipt, a copy of the lease contract (attested by RERA in Dubai), the signed MoA, any required government approvals and the service agent contract if applicable.

Time limit

u.ae states that the trade licence must be paid for within 30 days of receiving the payment voucher, or the application is cancelled.

Foreign ownership

u.ae states that companies may be established with full foreign ownership in accordance with the lists published by local authorities, except for sectors deemed Activities with Strategic Impact, where full ownership is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities overseeing those sectors. dubai.ae likewise states that most activities allow 100% foreign ownership while certain strategic sectors require Emirati partners.

Documents commonly needed in Dubai

dubai.ae lists the licensee’s passport or Emirates ID copy, residence permit or visa documents and articles of association, with a feasibility study for private and public joint stock companies. Foreign documents need UAE embassy attestation, counter-attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a legal Arabic translation attested by the Ministry of Justice.

What it costs

Fees vary by emirate, licence type, activity, premises and approvals. This guide quotes no figures; use the comparison tool on this site for setup costs and rules, and confirm fees with the economic department.

Common pitfalls

• Treating initial approval as permission to trade.
• Missing a sector approval that must be obtained before initial approval.
• Forgetting the Local Service Agent agreement where it is mandatory.
• Letting the 30-day payment window lapse.
• Using a trade name that breaches the naming rules.
• Not registering the Dubai lease with Ejari.

Check the authority

Figures and rules change. Check the current requirements with the relevant economic department or the u.ae portal before applying.

Figures and details in this guide are as stated on the cited official pages as of 6 October 2026.

Sources

• https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business/Doing-business/doing-business-on-the-mainland/steps-to-start-a-business-on-the-mainland
• https://www.dubai.ae/starting-a-business
• https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/Investment/foreign-direct-investment

This information is general; rules and fees can change. Check current details with the relevant authority.

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