Independent TPA guide

Mainland business licensing in Dubai & the UAE: The regulatory guide

A mainland licence is issued by the economic department of the emirate where you operate — in Dubai that is the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), formerly known as Dubai Economy or DED. This guide explains how mainland licensing works, who regulates it, and the questions to settle before you apply.

By Two Pillars Advisory. Sources checked 2026-10-24.

A professional reviewing an official trade licence certificate and stamped documents with the Dubai skyline behind — illustrative context for mainland business licensing — Original AI-generated editorial illustration · Not a photograph of TPA staff or a government office

At a glance

Licensing authority: The economic department of each emirate — DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi, SEDD in Sharjah.
Market access: Trade directly with customers anywhere in the UAE, subject to your licensed activity.
Ownership: Many activities allow 100% foreign ownership; some activities and legal forms still require UAE national involvement.
Premises: A physical address is normally required. In Dubai the tenancy is registered through Ejari; other emirates have their own systems.

Licensing authorities

DET — Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (Dubai): Formerly Dubai Economy / DED. Issues mainland commercial, professional and industrial licences in Dubai and approves trade names and activities.
ADDED — Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Abu Dhabi): Economic regulator for mainland Abu Dhabi, with its own activity list, licence types and sector approvals.
SEDD — Sharjah Economic Development Department (Sharjah & other emirates): Sharjah’s economic authority for mainland licensing. Other emirates — Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain — operate their own economic departments.

Legal forms & ownership

Mainland companies take legal forms such as a limited liability company (LLC), sole establishment or civil company, and the form affects liability, ownership and documentation. Following amendments to the Commercial Companies Law, many commercial and industrial activities no longer require a UAE national shareholder, and 100% foreign ownership is common.

It is not universal. Certain activities — and some legal forms — still require a UAE national partner or a local service agent (LSA). Whether your activity qualifies for full foreign ownership is confirmed against the current activity list of the relevant economic department before any application is filed.

Mainland entities may bid for UAE government tenders and contracts, subject to each tender’s own procurement rules, classification and registration requirements. Eligibility is never automatic and is assessed per tender.

Sector approvals & premises

The economic department issues the licence, but many activities also need a conditional approval from a sector regulator — for example the health authority for clinics, the municipality for food businesses, or education and transport regulators for their sectors. Sequencing these approvals correctly is where most mainland applications are won or lost.

Mainland businesses normally need a physical address. In Dubai the tenancy contract is registered through Ejari, which is a Dubai system — Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates operate their own tenancy registration. Office size and type can affect visa eligibility, so premises are planned alongside the licence, not after it.

Cost components

We do not publish fixed package prices for mainland setup because the total depends on the emirate, activity, approvals and premises. Every quote is built from these line items and confirmed against current authority fee schedules before you commit.

Authority fees: Licence issuance, trade name reservation and initial approval fees set by the economic department of the chosen emirate.
Premises: Office or shop lease and tenancy registration — usually the largest variable, driven by location and size.
Sector approvals: Fees charged by sector regulators where your activity needs a conditional approval.
Visas & establishment: Establishment card, entry permits, medicals, Emirates ID and visa stamping per person.
Documentation: Notarisation, attestation and translation where shareholder documents originate outside the UAE.
Professional fees: TPA’s advisory and application-management fee, quoted in writing after the scope is confirmed.

Setup pathway

Define the activity. Your licensed activity determines the authority, the approvals, the ownership options and the premises you need. We map your actual business model to the official activity wording first.
Choose the emirate & legal form. Dubai (DET), Abu Dhabi (ADDED), Sharjah (SEDD) or another emirate — plus LLC, sole establishment or civil company — based on where you will operate and who owns the business.
Reserve the name & initial approval. Trade name reservation and initial approval from the economic department, confirming the authority has no objection to the proposed business.
Secure premises & sector approvals. Tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) and any conditional approvals from sector regulators, sequenced so nothing expires while waiting on another step.
Submit the licence application. Final submission with the memorandum, tenancy, approvals and shareholder documents; the authority reviews and issues the licence.
Post-licence setup. Establishment card, residence visa applications and corporate bank account opening. Bank approval and visa issuance are separate decisions by the bank and immigration authorities and are never guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions

Is DED still the licensing authority in Dubai?

The department historically known as the Department of Economic Development (DED) is now the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). You will still see “DED” on older documents and websites, but DET is the current formal name of Dubai’s mainland licensing authority.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a mainland company?

For many commercial and professional activities, yes — amendments to the Commercial Companies Law removed the general requirement for a UAE national shareholder. However, some activities and legal forms still require a UAE national partner or a local service agent. The answer depends on your exact activity and is confirmed with the economic department before applying.

Can a mainland company bid for government contracts?

Mainland entities may participate in UAE government tenders, but eligibility is governed by each tender’s procurement rules, supplier registration and classification requirements. It is not automatic, and we assess it tender by tender rather than promising access.

Do I need a physical office for a mainland licence?

Normally yes. Mainland licensing expects a physical address, and in Dubai the tenancy must be registered through Ejari. Other emirates run their own tenancy registration systems. The size and type of premises can also affect how many visas the company can apply for.

How long does mainland licensing take?

It varies with the activity, the emirate and whether sector approvals are needed. A straightforward professional licence with no external approvals moves faster than a regulated activity requiring inspections. We give you a realistic sequence and timeline after the activity and approvals are mapped — not a generic promise.

What is the difference between this guide and your mainland formation service?

This page is an independent regulatory guide explaining how mainland licensing works. Our mainland company formation page describes the paid advisory service where we manage the application for you. The guide stays informational; the service page is where engagement starts.

Sources & editorial review

Dubai DET: Business licensing — Official mainland licensing information from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. (checked 2026-10-24)
Invest in Dubai: Business setup — Dubai’s official investment platform for company set-up options and activity information. (checked 2026-10-24)
UAE Government: Steps to start a business on the mainland — Federal overview of mainland setup and the economic departments of each emirate. (checked 2026-10-24)
UAE Government: Corporate tax — Official corporate tax guidance: the standard rate applies to taxable income above the threshold, subject to conditions and exemptions. (checked 2026-10-24)

Connected guides & services

Mainland Company Formation — Our managed mainland formation service — the commercial counterpart to this guide.
Dubai Business Setup Guide — Compare mainland, free zone, DIFC and offshore routes into Dubai.
Free Zone Company Formation — When a free zone structure fits better than a mainland licence.
Business Setup by Activity — Browse 38 activity guides across 17 sectors with jurisdiction notes.
Dubai Company Formation Cost — How setup budgets are built, line by line.

Two Pillars Advisory FZCO is an independent consultancy. It is not a government entity, a licensing authority or a free zone, and is not endorsed by DET, ADDED, SEDD or any other authority named here. Activity wording, ownership rules, fees and approvals are confirmed with the relevant authority before any application is filed; outcomes and timelines are not guaranteed.