Mainland, free zone and company-owner visa planning
Dubai Business Setup
Business setup support for founders comparing Dubai mainland, free zone and corporate structures with residence, tax and document implications.
Direct answer
Dubai business setup starts with jurisdiction, activity and legal form. Mainland companies are licensed through Dubai DET, while free zone companies are licensed by the relevant free zone authority. We help compare setup paths, explain visa implications and prepare a clean checklist before filings begin.
Who this is for
Founders, consultants, ecommerce operators, investors and overseas companies planning a UAE presence.
Scope
What we help with
- Mainland versus free zone comparison based on activity, customers, ownership and visa needs.
- Trade name, activity, legal form and initial-approval checklist planning.
- Establishment card, owner or employee visa and renewal-step coordination.
- Corporate tax, VAT, banking and document-readiness signposting without giving tax or investment advice.
Clear limits
What we do not promise
- We do not guarantee bank account approval, tax treatment, licence approval or business revenue.
- We do not state a fixed setup cost until the authority, activity, office and visa needs are known.
- We do not recommend free zone or mainland setup before checking where the business will actually operate.
Process
A practical file sequence
Jurisdiction fit
We compare mainland, free zone and specialist-authority options against activity, customers, office, ownership and visa needs.
Licence checklist
We prepare the activity, trade name, legal form, passport, shareholder and approval requirements for the selected authority.
Post-licence setup
We map establishment card, visas, Emirates ID, tax registration signposts, bank-document preparation and renewal reminders.
Documents
Typical evidence to prepare
- Shareholder passport copies and current UAE status, if applicable.
- Proposed trade name, business activities and ownership structure.
- Lease, office, flexi-desk or free zone package details where required.
- Memorandum, articles, board resolution or corporate shareholder documents for company shareholders.
- External approval documents for regulated activities.
Official checks
Verify volatile rules here
Visa, work permit, residence, company and document rules can change. Use these official sources before relying on a threshold, fee, form or deadline.
FAQs
Common decisions before filing
Should I choose mainland or free zone setup?
It depends on your activity, customers, office needs, visa needs and whether you need direct mainland trading. Dubai DET handles mainland licensing, while each free zone has its own authority.
Can foreign investors own 100% of a Dubai company?
Many mainland and free zone activities allow full foreign ownership, but restricted or regulated activities can have special approvals or conditions. Confirm the exact activity before relying on an ownership structure.
Does business setup include residence visas?
Not automatically. Visa eligibility and allocation depend on the authority, licence, office or package, establishment card and the applicant's documents.
Related
Plan the connected steps
Start with a document-first assessment
Tell us the route you are considering and what documents you already have. We will map the likely authority path, missing evidence and practical next step.
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