Mainland and free zone company setup in Dubai — jurisdiction comparison, licence issuance, visas, Emirates ID and banking, without the package-selling.
Dubai has more licensing options than any city in the region, and most enquiries we receive start with a free zone package someone was sold before anyone asked what the business actually does.
The right answer follows your customers. Selling to UAE-based companies, consumers or government bodies generally points to a DED mainland licence. Serving regional and international clients from a Dubai base, or operating in media, technology, logistics or commodities, often points to a free zone aligned with that sector.
We compare two or three genuinely suitable options on total first-year cost — licence, immigration file, office solution, visas, medicals and Emirates ID — rather than the headline package price.
What Dubai setup includes
Licensing in Dubai is fast when the file is complete. The work that determines your experience is the sequencing of immigration and banking around it.
Jurisdiction shortlist with costed comparison
Trade name reservation and initial approval
Licence issuance, establishment card and immigration file
Flexi-desk, office or warehouse arrangement matched to visa quota
Investor and employee visas, medicals and Emirates ID
Bank account introduction with a prepared compliance pack
Corporate tax registration and VAT where applicable
Banking in Dubai: setting expectations
No consultant can guarantee a bank account. Banks assess your shareholder chain, source of funds, expected flows and local substance independently of your licence.
What we control is the quality of the file: group structure chart, business plan, contracts or letters of intent, residency documents and a coherent explanation of your transaction profile. Clients who arrive prepared are onboarded materially faster.
Getting visible in the Dubai market
Dubai is a competitive, high-cost advertising market. Winning here usually means being precise rather than loud: tight audience definition, strong landing pages, fast lead response and search visibility for commercial-intent terms.
Our marketing team builds the website, the Arabic and English content, and the Google and Meta campaigns, and reports on cost per qualified lead rather than impressions.
Free zone, mainland and doing both
Many founders start in a free zone and later need to trade directly with local customers. Some free zone companies can add a Dubai mainland licence or work through a mainland arrangement, but availability and conditions depend on the free zone and the activity, so we confirm them with the relevant authority before you buy a package.
The UAE has a federal corporate tax regime and VAT, and the treatment of free zone and mainland companies differs. Registration deadlines apply, and some structures need to show real substance in the country. We register your company for the taxes that apply and coordinate with a licensed tax adviser for positions that carry a tax consequence.
We outline the compliance calendar at handover, so filings, renewals and visa-related dates are in one place from the first month.
Corporate tax and VAT registration where applicable
Ultimate beneficial owner and substance filings
Licence, establishment card and visa renewal dates in one calendar
Referral to a licensed tax adviser for planning questions
After the licence: launch support
A licence does not bring customers. Our digital marketing agency in Dubai team builds the website, Arabic and English content and the Google and Meta campaigns for new Dubai companies, with reporting on cost per qualified lead.
How we work
1Fit assessmentActivity, customers and visa needs mapped to jurisdiction options.
2Costed comparisonTwo or three options priced on true first-year cost.
3LicenceName approval, licence issuance and establishment card.
4VisasInvestor and staff visas, medicals and Emirates ID.
5Banking and launchCompliance pack, account opening and campaign go-live.
Frequently asked questions
How much does business setup in Dubai cost?
It depends on jurisdiction, activity, visa count and office type, and authorities revise fees regularly. We issue a written comparison of suitable options with current fees rather than quoting a headline number.
Can I trade in the UAE market with a free zone licence?
Free zone companies typically serve clients outside the mainland directly and reach mainland customers through a distributor or an appropriate dual arrangement. If most of your revenue is UAE-domestic, mainland is usually simpler.
How many visas will my licence allow?
Quotas are tied to jurisdiction and to the office space attached to the licence. We size the package to your hiring plan rather than the cheapest option.
Do I need to visit Dubai?
Licensing can largely be handled remotely, but visa medicals, Emirates ID biometrics and most bank onboarding require attendance. We compress this into one planned trip where possible.
Can I run a Dubai company from another country?
Licensing can largely be handled remotely, but residency visas, medicals and Emirates ID biometrics require a visit, and banks often prefer to meet directors. Many owners run the business remotely once these steps are complete, with a local manager or service provider handling day-to-day filings.
What documents do I need to start?
Passport copies and proof of address for each shareholder, a short description of the planned activity, and, for corporate shareholders, a certificate of incorporation, articles and a board resolution. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and we confirm the exact list before you pay any fees.
Talk to us
Ready to move forward? Tell us about your project.
Share a few details about your business and what you need. A senior member of our team will get back to you with next steps — usually within one working day.
