When mainland is chosen
A mainland licence is needed if you work directly with local clients, take part in tenders, or open a retail outlet, restaurant, clinic or other business with a physical presence.
What to know
- For most activities 100% foreign ownership is permitted
- A physical office under a lease agreement is usually required
- Some regulated activities require additional approvals
- In Dubai the licence is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism
Stages
- We define the activity and the licence type
- We select an office and prepare the lease agreement
- We obtain initial approval and the necessary clearances
- We arrange the licence, visas and Emirates ID
- We assist with the bank account
Mainland or free zone?
If your main market is outside the UAE, a free zone is often simpler and cheaper. If your clients are in the UAE, we look at mainland. For a comparison with examples, see the article Free Zone or Mainland.