Business Setup Across the UAE
Every emirate licenses businesses differently, and the right choice changes what you can sell, who you can sell to, and what you pay.Below is every mainland and emirate setup route we handle, from Dubai mainland through to the northern emirates. Pick your jurisdiction, or speak to us and we will match it to your activity.
Mainland Licensing
Trade anywhere in the UAE, serve local customers directly and bid for government contracts under a DED trade licence.
100% Foreign Ownership
Available for most commercial, professional, industrial and tourism activities under Federal Decree Law No. 32 of 2021.
Structure Selection
LLC, sole establishment, civil company or branch. We match the structure to your ownership plan and shareholder count.
Visas and Compliance
Visa quotas tied to office size, plus corporate tax, VAT, payroll and annual renewal support after your licence is issued.
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Which Emirate Should You Set Up In?
Dubai carries the strongest recognition with international banks and clients, and its licence and office costs reflect that. Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah offer materially lower setup and renewal costs while still giving full UAE market access through a mainland licence.
The decision usually comes down to three questions: who your customers are, whether you need to bid for government work, and how many visas you need to sponsor.
Seven emirates, one decision
Market access, cost and visa capacity are the three levers that decide your jurisdiction.
- Mainland licences allow unrestricted trading across all seven emirates
- 100% foreign ownership applies to most activities since the 2021 reforms
- A physical office with a registered tenancy contract is mandatory on the mainland
- Office size determines how many employee visas you can sponsor
- Government and semi-government tenders are open to mainland companies only
- Northern emirates offer significantly lower licence and office costs than Dubai
- Regulated activities need external ministry approval before the licence is issued
- Corporate tax registration is required regardless of emirate
Every Mainland Setup Route We Offer
Each emirate runs its own Department of Economic Development with its own fee schedule, activity list and office requirements. These are the mainland jurisdictions we handle end to end.
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Business Setup in Dubai Mainland
Business Setup in Dubai Mainland
Activity selection, trade name and approvals, licence documentation and setup cost guidance under Dubai DED.
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Business Setup in Ajman Mainland
Business Setup in Ajman Mainland
Licence fees from approximately AED 10,000, Chamber membership included, and processing in as little as 10 minutes for straightforward activities.
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Mainland Business Setup Fujairah
Mainland Business Setup Fujairah
Gulf of Oman coastline outside the Strait of Hormuz, strong for maritime, logistics, industrial and export businesses.
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Mainland Company Setup Umm Al Quwain
Mainland Company Setup Umm Al Quwain
Over 1,500 DED approved activities, with licences typically issued in 7 to 15 working days and costs from AED 12,000.
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Business Setup in Ras Al Khaimah
Business Setup in Ras Al Khaimah
RAKEZ licence types, facility options from flexi desk to warehouse and land, and full post-licence compliance support.
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Dubai LLC Business Setup
Dubai LLC Business Setup
The most widely used mainland structure, with 2 to 50 shareholders and AED 100,000 authorised share capital recorded in the MOA.
Compare Both Routes in Each Emirate
Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah each offer a mainland route and a free zone route. These pages compare them side by side so you can pick before you commit.
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Business Setup in Ajman
Business Setup in Ajman
Ajman DED mainland against Ajman Free Zone, covering market access, ownership, office requirements and starting cost.
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Business Setup in Umm Al Quwain
Business Setup in Umm Al Quwain
UAQ mainland against the UAQ Free Trade Zone, covering audit requirements, setup time and what each route is best for.
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Business Setup in Fujairah
Business Setup in Fujairah
The Fujairah emirate overview covering licence categories, legal structures and the full eight step DED process.
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Dubai Free Zones
Dubai Free Zones
Every Dubai free zone compared, from DMCC and IFZA to JAFZA and DIFC, with activity selection and licensing across the emirate.
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Offshore Company Formation in Dubai
Offshore Company Formation in Dubai
JAFZA, RAK ICC and Ajman offshore compared for holding, international trade and asset protection structures.
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UAE Free Zones
UAE Free Zones
Over 45 free zones across the UAE, including DMCC, IFZA, JAFZA, SHAMS and RAKEZ, with 100% ownership and lower costs.
Not Sure Which Emirate Fits Your Business?
Tell us what you plan to sell and who you plan to sell it to, and we will confirm the right emirate, licence type and structure before you spend anything. Book a free consultation today.
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