Activity and licence
We clarify the intended activity and identify the licensing route and any additional approvals to investigate.
Business structures
Build closer to
your UAE customers.
A considered route for entrepreneurs establishing operations and serving customers in the UAE market.
Discuss your plansMainland Company Formation
Local ambition.
A practical structure.
A Mainland company can be a suitable starting point for a business with local operations. The activity, legal form and licensing authority shape the setup requirements.
We help you work through ownership, premises, approvals and documentation before coordinating the formation process and its next steps.
What we help with
Practical support.
Considered at every stage.
Legal form and ownership
We coordinate the assessment of a suitable entity type and ownership structure, with specialist advice where the circumstances require it.
Premises and approvals
We help you understand the workspace and supporting documentation relevant to the application before commitments are made.
Incorporation and operations
We coordinate the application and help sequence residency, banking preparation and ongoing administration around the new company.
Licence categories
Start with the work your business will do.
We assess your proposed activities, the emirate of registration and any specialist approvals before selecting a licence category.
Commercial
For trading, retail, import and export, e-commerce and related commercial activities.
- Confirm the exact goods and activities
- Plan premises and any customs requirements
Professional
For consultancy, management, technical and other professional services.
- Review qualifications where required
- Check sector permissions and the suitable legal form
Industrial
For manufacturing, processing, assembly and production businesses.
- Assess premises and equipment needs
- Coordinate industrial and other relevant approvals
Tourism
For travel, tour operations and other eligible tourism services.
- Define the proposed tourism activity
- Confirm the relevant authority's requirements
Legal structure
Choose the entity around the business.
Ownership, liability, professional eligibility and future changes all matter. We review the available forms with your proposed activities in mind.
Limited Liability Company
A company structure to assess for commercial operations, multiple shareholders and a distinct corporate identity.
- Shareholding and management arrangements
- Constitutional documents and activity-specific conditions
Sole Establishment
An individual business form to consider where the owner's eligibility and the proposed activity permit it.
- Owner eligibility and professional requirements
- Personal responsibility and continuity planning
Civil Company
A structure to assess for eligible professional practices and partners providing specialist services.
- Professional qualifications and approvals
- Partner roles and the applicable legal requirements
Branch Office
A route to assess when an existing UAE or foreign company wants to establish a mainland presence.
- Parent-company documents and authorised activities
- Branch management, registration and approvals
Availability and ownership requirements vary by activity, legal form and relevant authority. We confirm the route before preparing the application.
The application journey
Six practical steps to your mainland setup.
Activity assessment
Agree the business activities, licence category, ownership and emirate of registration.
Name & initial approvals
Coordinate trade-name reservation, initial approval and the required constitutional documents.
Premises & registrations
Review suitable premises and the relevant tenancy registration, including Ejari where applicable in Dubai.
Licence issuance
Complete the final authority requirements, collect company records and coordinate relevant establishment registrations.
Visas & employment setup
Plan eligible investor or employee residency applications and the associated immigration and employment steps.
Banking & next obligations
Prepare the bank application and identify registrations, renewals and reporting matters that need ongoing attention.
A useful starting point
Start with where
and how you will operate.
- Your products, services and intended customers.
- The location and type of premises you expect to need.
- The proposed owners, team and first operating priorities.
What determines the ownership requirements?
Ownership and approval requirements depend on the activity and legal form. We check the position for the proposed business rather than applying a blanket assumption.
Do I need premises before applying?
Premises requirements vary with the licensing route and activity. We help identify the relevant requirements and when evidence will be needed in the application.
Can a company add activities later?
Changes may be possible through the relevant authority’s amendment process. New activities can also create additional approval, workspace or compliance requirements.
Is a local service agent the same as a shareholder?
No. An agent arrangement and an equity interest are different roles. Whether either is relevant depends on the legal form, activity and applicable requirements; we assess the proposed setup before recommending an arrangement.
Free Zone Company Formation
Choose a Free Zone around your activity, your operating needs and your plans for growth.
UAE Business Setup
Company formation, residency, banking preparation and ongoing support, coordinated around one plan for your business.
Regulatory Compliance & Corporate Support
Licence renewals, company administration and specialist coordination as your business evolves.
Your next chapter starts with a conversation