Mainland Company Setup
in Dubai
About Mainland:
Mainland is the area outside of the free zones with the Department of Economic Development (DED) being the regulatory authority for the issuance of mainland licenses. Mainland companies are allowed to carry out business without restrictions throughout the UAE and internationally.
A local sponsor is no longer needed to get a Dubai mainland license for around 1000 commercial and industrial activities.
Advantages:
- Freedom to rent commercial space in any area
- Ability to conduct a wide range of business activities
- Option to trade anywhere in the UAE and internationally
- 100% foreign ownership
- No currency restriction
- Easy employment visa processing
- Advantage of bidding on government projects
- Ability to open a corporate bank account easily
Popular Licenses
- E-Commerce
- Technical Services
- Salon
- Restaurant
- Digital Marketing
- Travel Agency
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Why Should You Set Up Your Business on the Mainland?
The reasons can be many. All we can tell you is that there is a best-fit for every business, and your business could potentially benefit from having an office in the mainland of the United Arab Emirates, as opposed to setting it up in a designated free zone or as an offshore company.
If you are an advertising company, your clients will definitely appreciate being able to reach you in an easy-to-access location. It is much easier than travelling to a free zone on the outskirts of the city, plus you can scale up more easily as you grow. Some legal advisory firms pay a lot of attention to the privacy of their clients, and having an office on the mainland enables them to achieve this objective. There are just a few examples of the advantages of locating your business on the mainland.
How to Establish Your Company on the Mainland
The first step involves identifying what the commercial activities you plan to undertake are. Based on this, the right company structure that is beneficial for your business can be determined. For instance, you could set up your company as a Sole Establishment, a Legally Limited Partnership, a Legally Limited Company, or a Private Limited Company.
Registering a company on the mainland requires you to have a Local Sponsor who will own 51% of the company. The Local Sponsor can be a male or female above the age of 21. In addition, the Local Sponsor must be a UAE national or an Emirati.
Having a Local Sponsor who owns 51% of your company does not mean the Local Sponsor takes home 51% of the profits. Things work differently in the UAE. The Local Sponsor needs to be paid a Sponsor Fee according to a predetermined agreement, and this could be done on a monthly / quarterly / half-yearly / annual basis. In some cases, the Local Sponsor takes a percentage of the sales.
The Local Sponsor is legally responsible for the functioning of your company. But the Local Sponsor can sign over a Power of Attorney relinquishing his/her control over your company, and this way, you will in charge of everything.
The Local Sponsor can be an individual, or it could also be another company incorporated in the United Arab Emirates. The latter still functions in the same way, putting you in full control over your business.
Need the Help of a Professional Company Setup Specialist?
This is where we come into the picture Bsp Hub Llc, we have a track record of matching companies with the right Local Partner. Our business setup experts are all informed of the latest changes in legislation and can tell you that if you are a professional planning to offer professional services, then what you need is a Local Service Agent and not a Local Partner.
Examples include a doctor planning to open his/her consulting clinic, a lawyer planning to open his legal consulting firm, an engineer planning to offer engineering consultancy services and so forth.
A Local Service Agent, unlike a Local Partner, does not own 51% of your company. He/She is still legally responsible for your business and will represent you in all Government-related matters, including when it comes to getting a Business License.
Our team also consists of legal professionals who will go the extra mile to ensure that everything is above board and in order. We also have expert auditors who can take care of the annual audit, which is mandatory for companies established on the mainland.
Mainland
Company Setup
Benefits of Setting Up a Company on the Mainland
- Benefits of Setting Up a Company on the Mainland
- Stable business climate and regulatory framework
- Access to a truly global pool of talent from around the world
- Freedom to choose the location of your office
- Unrestricted flexibility to scale up or down, depending on business needs
- Ability to operate in both local and international markets at the same time
- Presence of major banks and audit services to fuel your growth.
- Ease of doing business, simplified by international conferences and trade expos
License types and activities
A Mainland company formation offers more than 3000 business activities listed in the UAE. The business activity, company structure and jurisdiction of operation will determine the license and other applicable requirements.
For more details on business activities, reach out to us.
A Commercial License is required in the UAE for businesses involved in trading and supplying of goods such as:
- Mobile phones & accessories trading
- Building material, cleaning and safety equipment trading
- Oil & gas, chemicals trading
- Automobiles, spare parts trading
- Gold & precious metals trading
An Industrial license is required in the UAE for manufacturing or other types of industrial activities such as:
- Garments, uniforms manufacturing
- Meat, dairy products manufacturing
- Animal & birds feed manufacturing, fishing net making
- Pastry & sweets manufacturing, mineral water bottling
- Fabrics & textiles embroidery, carpets manufacturing
A Professional License is required in the UAE for individuals or business groups that deliver expertise as a service to the public such as:
- Computer, IT infrastructure consultancies
- Insurance, tax, legal consultancies
- Marketing consultancies, public relations management
- Auditing & accounting
- Waste management & recycling consultancy
Process for mainland
license
- Choose business activity
- Choose company structure
- Get trade name approval
- Get initial license approval
- Get external approval (if required)
- License issuance
- Open company bank account
- Get establishment card
- Labour file
- Process visa