Mainland company setup

Who it suits

• Businesses selling to customers in the UAE: shops, restaurants, contractors, clinics, agencies and service firms.
• Companies that want to bid for government contracts or work across several emirates.
• Owners who need an office of their own and plan to hire staff locally.¹

The nine steps

1. Choose the business activityThe activity decides the licence type and any extra approvals.
2. Choose the legal formUsually a limited liability company; the form must match the activity.
3. Pick the licence typeCommercial, professional or industrial.
4. Register the trade nameThe name must follow the emirate's naming rules.
5. Get the initial approvalThe government's no-objection to the business.
6. Sign the memorandum of associationFor an LLC; some forms need a local service agent agreement instead.
7. Lease the premisesIn Dubai the lease is attested by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA).
8. Get any extra approvalsSome activities need a ministry or regulator to sign off.
9. Pay the fees and collect the licenceThen register for tax and open the bank account.

Source²

Common legal forms

Source^3,2

After the licence

• Keep a beneficial owner register and file it with the registrar.
• Register for corporate tax, and for VAT once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000 over 12 months.
• Get the establishment card so the company can sponsor visas, then apply for residence visas.
• Open the corporate bank account with the licence and memorandum.^4,5,6

Timeline and timeframe

Each step in order, with the processing time the authority publishes. Green steps are handled by a government authority.

1. Trade name and initial approvalAbout 15 minutes online

   Reserve the name and get initial approval from the emirate's economic department, or register through the federal Basher platform.²

2. Office leaseVaries

   A mainland licence needs a registered business address in the emirate.²

3. Trade licence issuedAfter approvals and fees

   Some activities need an extra approval from another authority before the licence.²

4. Establishment card2 working days

   MOHRE issues the card that lets the company sponsor visas.⁸

5. Work permit and entry permitPermit valid 60 days

   For each employee, a MOHRE work permit, then an entry permit from immigration.⁷

6. Medical test40 minutes, result in 1 to 2 days

   The medical fitness test at an approved centre, then biometrics for the Emirates ID.⁹

7. Labour card and residence visaWithin 60 days of entry

   The residence is issued together with the Emirates ID application.⁷

8. Bank account3 business days

   Central Bank standard for a low-risk SME with complete documents.¹⁰

9. Corporate tax registration20 business days

   Federal Tax Authority processing time for a complete application.⁵

Questions