The Dubai mainland business set up has huge opportunities for entrepreneurs. The regulatory authority to issue mainland licenses is the Department of Economic Development (DED) of the United Arab Emirates.

Mainland license

An offshore license is also known as the mainland license which allows people to run internationally and inside businesses of UAE without any limitations. UAE has the regulatory authority for issuing licenses by the Department of Economic Development (DED). Based on the UAE company law, the mainland company set up in Dubai and the rest of UAE needs a local service agent or a local partner. The Dubai mainland business setup would determine either you need a local service agent or a local sponsor. 51% of the company shares are maintained by the local sponsor and the remaining goes to the business owner. The control of business is retained by an exchange for a set annual fee. The shareholding authority is not maintained by a local service agent, but they can act as the company representative in administrative dealings with the government departments.

Advantages

• Can rent commercial space in any area.
• Would conduct a wide range of business activities.
• Can trade internationally and anywhere in the UAE.
• Easy to open a corporate bank account.
• Can bid on government projects.

The license types of mainland company set up

• Can have a professional license with a wide range of service activities.
• Use of commercial license for a wide range of trading activities.
• The industrial or manufacturing license for a wide range of manufacturing activities.

The legal structures of a mainland company

• The sole establishment
• The civil company
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• The Branch
• The Representative office
• The Subsidiary

The process of mainland company setup

Choose your business activity

We have a team of company formation specialists to choose business activity and the right jurisdiction to set up your mainland company. They advise you the suitable and most economical options.

Plan your company structure

You can either choose an LLC or a sole establishment for your business activity. An LLC would have 51% owned by a local sponsor and a sole establishment would allow 100% shareholding.

Get approval of the trade name

Our team of experts secure the company name availability and registration on the decisive zone. We would advise you for suitable alternatives, when the company name is unavailable.

Get an initial license approval

The company formation specialist of Dubai will complete your license application process quicker and hassle-free.

If required get an external approval

Get your license issued

Your relationship manager can process your visas as well your employees by processing the labour file and an establishment card.

Open your company's bank account

Our expansive network of banking experts would assist you to open a corporate bank account in the decisive zone.

Get an establishment card

After obtaining an establishment card, the owner can apply for visas.

Processing of visa

Our visa specialist team would guide you with visa related queries.

The Labour file

The labour file is needed to hire the employees.

The exceptions of mainland company setup

When you are a non-gulf cooperation council national looking to set up a mainland commercial business or industrial license in the UAE, you have to partner with a local sponsor. If you set up a professional services license, a local service agent is enough.

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Formerly the Dubai South free zone was known as Dubai World Central. This can serve as the pivotal business zone for aviation and global trade with an impressive 140 square kilometres. The Jebel Ali Port has been included as the landmark for the free zone company registration of any business. This connects with a logistics corridor and Al Maktoum, where the larget International airport lays. The infrastructure and layout designed to render the sub-region an airport city status which supports six other districts integrates with Dubai World Central’s master plan for catering various activities. These include Commercial, Residential, Aviation, Exhibition, a golf, and Humanitarian District.

Reasons why the company formation at Dubai South Free Zone is the worthy investment

The Dubai Free Zone company formation has several advantages that make the business setup more attractive. You have the access to the Dubai By-pass, Sheikh Zayed freeway and the Emirates Road, while setting up a company at Dubai South Free Zone. This would present business opportunities into South Asia, Middle East and African markets. It spans the 200 km sq logistics corridor connecting to sea, air and land. The Dubai South surpasses the goods handling of current international standards. The advantages include to encourage business for investing in company formation of UAE’s free zone. Whether you are an industrial venture, trading start-up or established trading business who looks to set up a company at Dubai Free Zone, then the Dubai South Free Zone would make your business profitable and expand.

• The world-class facilities
• Complete foreign Ownership
• Has tax-free operations
• Allowance of 100% repatriation of profits and capitals for foreign owners
• Export and import duty exemptions
• The lease terms for commercial facilities are flexible
• The facilities and a wide range of business activities are permitted
• Minimum paper works and company formation documentation
• No requirements for the proof of share capital
• No currency restrictions
• Has direct access to Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Sea Port
• Has the license options for Company formation in Dubai South Free Zone
• License available for a Dubai Free Zone business setup are myriad that has opportunities for various business to benefit from aviation centre and leading global trade.

Designated logistics services can be performed from the logistics license holders. Services were these companies undertake are transportation, storage, forwarding, sorting, inventory management, distribution and order management. These license holders cannot sell products in the UAE, but can only handle them. With this license the industrial activities can have processes like blending, assembling of products, repacking, mixing, purifying and wrapping. The activities that include are import, storage and distribution of products, export and selling as stated in the license. Distributors and licensed local agents are the business allowed for marketing finished products or goods. With service license, the business are allowed for training, consulting, insurance, human resources and catering services. The education license is used for education, training, social services and educational consultancy.

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If anyone searches to do a civil company formation in Dubai would face many choices. You can choose to form in one of the Dubai many free zones that benefit from zero percent corporate along with personal taxes. You could also set up the LLC in Dubai mainland. No need to hand over a 51% stake of your business to a local sponsor, it offers complete access to the UAE market that free zone businesses don’t. There is a third option for overseas entrepreneurs of the civil company formation in Dubai. This includes 100% ownership, access to the local market, and involves unrestricted liability. The Dubai mainland company set up is open for qualified professionals, who are in specialist sectors like lawyers, doctors, accountants, consultants and engineers. The civil company allows you to hold 100% ownership of your company. There is a rule to have a Local Service Agent (LSA) in the UAE, that is needed to form this type of a company in Dubai mainland. The Local service agent does not hold any stake in your business. LSAs would communicate with the government on your behalf, assisting the license approvals, work permit and visa applications, for which they have a percentage of company profits or an agreed fee.

The civil company formation in Dubai

If you are a professional and looking to make a name in the local market, then it is mandatory to understand whether the Civil company formation in Dubai serves the best option for you.

Easy and quick setup

The good news is that the set up of a civil company or civil company formation in Dubai is both easy and quick. You have to apply to the DED for your license. The government has taken the step to make the process more simple, you just need to meet the eligibility criteria.

Work with a local service agent (LSA)

Civil companies do not require to work with a local or corporate sponsor. You have to involve the LSA services to liaise with the government departments on your behalf. The LSA does not hold any company's stake or on your business decisions. Trustworthy LSA can be found by the company formation specialist to ensure the whole process goes without a hitch.

Liabilities

The civil companies do have a 100% liability, this is important when you make the choice. You are not personally accountable for any debts of the company when you go for an LLC company formation in Dubai. This makes a great layer of protection. The civil company has 100% liability, that means creditors can go after your assets and possessions. The two different company types share certain similarities in terms of structure, like the event of liquidation and hence the difference becomes clear.

Ease to sponsor dependents

Will you be able to sponsor your employees for their visas? As a shareholder of the civil company would sponsor their dependents for residence visas. To meet your application criteria, you can sponsor the visa for staff like your drivers, spouse and other dependents. The process is easy, you have to apply for the entry permit, medical fitness test, change of status, Emirates ID registration, and visa stamping. Get advice from an expert regarding this.

Affordability

New expat gets delayed due to the apparent cost of doing business, but it is possible to establish a business in the Emirates for a minimal outlay. You have to apply for your professional license in Dubai to form your civil company, this costs around AED 17,000. There is no requirement to provide the paid open share capital, while setting up a new civil company and total startup costs are low.

Multiple shareholders

This allows you to form your firm with more than one shareholder. The civil company formation in Dubai needs a minimum of two shareholders as well the maximum being 50. It can be either individuals or the corporate entity.

Multiple visas

The civil company formation in Dubai is popular with a larger firm. This allows the owner to apply for more visas, there is no upper limit for the mainland firm. The more visas you apply for, the more office space you must have. The rule of thumb is 100 sq feet of office space per visa. This visa rule can be negotiable with the DED. For instance, if you have a remote workforce of 500+ employees, then it requires more than 50,000 sq feet of the office space.

Your corporate bank account

Once obtaining your professional license and forming your civil company, it is speedy as well easy to open your bank account. The company formation expert advises the best bank to suit your requirements and also arrange meetings in-branch for you. You can even approach any local or international bank on your own.

Ways to set up a civil company in Dubai

The civil company holds a professional license in Dubai, the civil company formation in Dubai is the only company set up option that is made for professionals. To get a civil company in the UAE is a jump to a market, for which you get qualified and hope to enter. The benefits are 100% foreign ownership and full access to the local market. The approach also comes with a risk compared to an LLC. In this type of setup, you hold the large responsibility of your company share. You have to be serious, if you go for a not plain closing, as the owner of the firm you would lose much more than your company. The advice of the consultant is the key and this needs to be taken as an account of a serious issue. If you are aware of all the hurdles that come your way of being an owner of the firm, then nothing can stop you to fulfill your dream. Ensure to get advice from Black Swan Business Setup Service team to start your firm smoothly.

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The cabinet of UAE released a resolution under cabinet resolution No. 16 by March 2020 which determines a Positive List of the economic sectors and economic activities. A total of 122 categories are given full ownership in the UAE mainland under the law FDI – Foreign Direct Investment. This positive list of activities and economic sectors would permit almost all Foreign Direct Investment and they can own 100%, a full ownership.

Foregoing 2018, foreign investments can own up to 49% only in UAE Mainland under Law no. 19 of Federal decree law. This fell under the structure foreign investors can hold up to 100% shares but provided a big negative list of activities. So that, taking full ownership was a complete impossibility.

Moving towards the year 2019, the UAE has passed a law in which foreign investors can hold 100% ownership in the positive list of sectors in mainland entities outside free zones. This law by committee FDI persisted some unsatisfied criteria too. Manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, transport & storage, food services, science and technology, information and communications, education, construction, healthcare and arts are the positive list covered areas in 2019.

With reference to UAE cabinet resolution No. 16, taken recently in 2020 gives 100% ownership to foreign companies which come under three main sectors

-           Service sector | 52 activities

-           Agriculture | 19 activities

-           Manufacturing | 51 activities

These sectors have taken place in the positive list and are fully eligible to hold complete ownership with some conditions. This resolution has set some requirements and conditions for these companies to meet. They are contributions to research and technology, modern technologies, employee headcounts and other activities for the approval of license. 

Some interesting activities in the new positive list are manufacturing sports goods, toys, consulting services, electrical equipment, photography, building constructions, education, health care, music bands and advertising agency.

UAE's new cabinet resolutions provide more flexibility, more choices in share hold dealings and greater texture for ownership. FDI committee requires every emirate based firm to streamline licensing and its implementation structures.

Raju Menon, the chairman of Kreston Menon noted that, Even though manufacturing makes the backbone of any country, it didn’t take front row due to legal ownership restrictions and capital intensive project’s nature. Setting up a manufacturing unit and operating it is quite a difficult process. He also added, running up a unit in free zones can permit us 100% ownership but operating costs in free zones are expensive.

Managing partner of Chartered House Tax Consultancy – Mr. Anurag Chaturvedi commented, this full ownership system creates positive effects in job creation, productivity enhancement which results in less importation as goods are being produced in domestic economies. He also added, FDI will do compensation in Covid- 19 decrease in domestic investments and helps in kick starting the economy upliftments.

Due to the present economic effects by covid-19, the release of resolution no.16 of 2020 emerges as an initial welcome move for existing as well new investors and makes the UAE – A investment hub.

Agriculture sector

	ISIC4	Business activity	Minimum Capital	Conditions and controls for foreign direct investment
1	01111	Grain cultivation (wheat, corn, barley, etc.)		- use of modern technology- achievement of high added value- contribution in the research and development field- satisfaction of the requirements of the licensing entities in the state
2	01112	Cultivation of bean crops
3	0113	Cultivation of vegetables, melons, roots and tubers
4	0114	Cultivation of sugar cane
5	0116	Cultivation of fiber crops
6	0119001	Flowers and Flower Buds Cultivation
7	0121	Growing of grapes
8	0123001	Fruits and Citrus Cultivation
9	0124	Growing of pome fruits and stone fruits
10	0125	Growing of other tree and bush fruits and nuts
11	0126	Growing of oleaginous fruits
12	0127	Growing of beverage crops
13	01289	Growing of aromatic, drug and pharmaceutical crops
14	0161	Support activities for crop production	10
15	0162	Support activities for animal production
16	0163	Post-harvest crop activities
17	0164	Seed processing for propagation
18	0210	Silviculture and other forestry activities
19	0240	Support services to forestry

Manufacturing sector

	ISIC4	Business activity	Minimum Capital	Conditions and controls for foreign direct investment
20	10	Manufacture of food products (except):1071- Manufacture of bakery products105 - Manufacture of diary products108 - Manufacture of prepared animal feeds	15	- use of modern technology- achievement of high added value- contribution in the research and development field- satisfaction of the requirements of the licensing entities in the state
21	10	Manufacture of beverages (except):1101 -Distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits1102 -Manufacture of wines1103- Manufacture of malt liquors and malt	15
22	14	Manufacture of wearing apparel (except):14109 - Tailoring and Sewing of Wearing Apparel1410122 - Military Garments Manufacturing	15
23	15	Manufacture of leather and related products	15
24	16	Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials	15
25	2012002	Straight or Complex Fertilizers Manufacturing	15
26	2013	Manufacture of plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms	15
27	2021	Manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products	15
28	2022	Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics	15
29	2023	Manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes and toilet preparations	15
30	2029006	Glues and Prepared Adhesives Manufacturing	15
31	2029008	Manufacture of dyestuffs and pigments	15
32	2029009	Textiles and Leather Finishing Used Chemical Materials Manufacturing	15
33	2029013	Manufacture of photographic plates, films	15
34	2029019	Gelatine and Its Derivatives Manufacturing	15	- use of modern technology- achievement of high added value- contribution in the research and development field- satisfaction of the requirements of the licensing entities in the state
35	2029021	Essential Oils Manufacturing (Essence)	15
36	2029022	Extracted Natural Aromatic Products Manufacturing	15
37	2029023	Aromatic Distilled Waters Manufacturing	15
38	2029024	Matches Manufacturing	15
39	2029025	Welding Powders and Pastes Manufacturing	15
40	2030	Manufacture of man-made fibres	15
41	2100	Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products	15
42	22	Manufacture of rubber and plastics products	15
43	23	Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products	15
44	24	Manufacture of basic metals (except):242 Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals2432 Casting of non-ferrous metals	20
45	25	Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (except)2529 Manufacture of weapons and ammunition	15
46	26	Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products	15
47	27	Manufacture of electrical equipment	20
48	28	Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. (except)28259 Tobacco Processing Machinery Manufacturing	100
49	29	Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers	100
50	3011101	Building of Commercial Vessels	100
51	3011103	Ships and Floating Structures Sections Manufacturing	100
52	3011905	Construction of Drilling Platforms, Floating or Submersible	100
53	3011906	Construction of Floating Structures	100
54	3011907	Building of Hovercraft	100
55	3012	Building of pleasure and sporting boats	15
56	3020	Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock	20
57	3030	Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery (except):3030006 Military Ballistic and Guided Missiles Manufacturing	100
58	3090	Manufacture of transport equipment n.e.c.	20
59	31	Manufacture of furniture	15
60	3220	Manufacture of musical instruments	2
61	3230	Manufacture of sports goods	3
62	3240	Manufacture of games and toys	3
63	3250	Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies	20
64	3290	Other manufacturing n.e.c.	3
65	3312001	Repair and maintenance of train engines	15
66	3312002	Repair and maintenance of engines ship	15
67	3315001	Repair and maintenance of ships	15
68	3315004	Repair and maintenance of trains and railway equipment	15
69	3315005	Maintenance and Repair of Aircrafts Engines	15
70	3315006	Repair and maintenance of aircraft	15

Service sector

	ISIC4	Business activity	Minimum Capital	Conditions and controls for foreign direct investment
71	6910002	Legal Consultancy Offices	As per the applicable regulations	-          Not to advocate before the UAE courts.-          Not to carry out any judicial procedure before courts, arbitral tribunals, and judicial and administrative committees.-          Not to carry out attestation activities-          To obtain the approval of the relevant entities in charge of licensing such activities in the State-          To be a natural or legal person known for its excellence in this field
72	692	Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy	As per the applicable regulations	Only permissible for tax planning for businesses and consultancies, preparing and reviewing taxes on businesses
73	711	Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy	As per the applicable regulations	To be a natural or legal person known for its excellence in this field
74	862	Medical and dental practice activities
75	75	Veterinary activities
76	620	Computer programming, consultancy and related activities	As per the applicable regulations	To provide a technical team of no less than 5 specialized programmers by the end of the first year of the company
77	72	Scientific research and development	As per the applicable regulations	As per the applicable regulations
78	7730-77300	Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment and tangible goods
79	471	Retail l sale in non-specialized stores (except Cooperative Societies 4711001)
80	731	Advertising
81	732	Market research and public opinion polling
82	702	Management consultancy activities
83	712	Technical testing and analysis
84	331	Repair of fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment (except ships or aircrafts and other transport equipment)
85	8121-81210	General cleaning of buildings
86	742	Photographic activities
87	8292-82920	Packaging activities
88	823	Organization of conventions and trade shows
89	741	Specialized design activities
90	7490005	Legal Translation Services
91	7490006	Translation services, movies and television programs
92	7490012	Translation Publications Services
93	8299002	Translation Services
94	41	Construction of buildings	As per the applicable regulations	Only permissible for large-scale infrastructure projects such as airports, highway roads, sport facilities and projects whose value exceed AED 450,000,000
95	42	Civil engineering
96	432	Electrical, plumbing and other construction installation activities
97	433	Building completion and finishing
98	431	Demolition and site preparation
99	439	Other specialized construction activities
100	7730009	Construction and Building or Demolition Machines and Equipment Renting
101	851	Pre-primary and primary education	As per the applicable regulations	Public education excluded.To obtain the approval from the entities in charge of education to license such activities and to comply with such standards and controls as may be determined by them.To comply with the conditions and standards of school facilities and to ensure a high level of education quality
102	852	Secondary education
103	853	Higher education
104	854	Other education
105	370	Sewerage	As per the applicable regulations	As per the applicable regulations in this regard
106	382	Waste treatment and disposal
107	3900001	Pollution Consequences Treatment and Environment Protection
108	861	Hospital activities	100	Subject to the approval of the relevant authorities in light of the economic need taking into account the number of hospitals, medical and health centers in a specific area.Dubai Healthcare City is excluded from the above condition.
109	869	Other human health activities	70	As per the applicable regulations
110	8211001	Hotel Management	As per the applicable regulations
111	8211004	Restaurants Management
112	90009	Creative activities and presentation of arts drama (theater)	Permissible only for theater activities and live bandsAs per the applicable regulations
113	9000104	Music Band
114	9000110	Circus
115	8130002	landscape and gardening services
116	9103-91030	Botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserves activities	Permissible only for public garden services and specialized garden services.
117	5012-50120	Sea and coastal freight water transport	As per the applicable regulations
118	5022001	Internal Water Transportation of Goods
119	7730016	Commercial Ships Rental
120	5222002	Ship Piloting and Towing
121	5222007	Marine towing of boats and jet sk
122	New	Activities of holding companies in intellectual property

As everyone hopes this will be a better investment structure.

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