Company Formation in Dubai & the UAE — Mainland, Free Zone & Offshore
Trade licence, establishment card, investor visas and bank account — handled end-to-end in 5–15 working days. One WhatsApp message gets you the cheapest suitable jurisdiction and a fixed all-in quote.
How do I set up a company in Dubai?
Setting up a company in Dubai takes 4 steps: choose your business activity and jurisdiction (mainland DED, one of 40+ free zones, or offshore), reserve a trade name, get the licence issued, then open your immigration file for residence visas and a corporate bank account. A free zone licence takes 3–5 working days and starts around AED 12,000; a mainland licence takes 7–15 working days. Foreigners can own 100% of most companies with no local sponsor. ApplyUAEVisa's PRO team handles the entire filing with a fixed quote upfront.
- Free zone licence
- 3–5 working days
- Mainland licence
- 7–15 working days
- Foreign ownership
- 100% most activities
- Starting cost
- from ~AED 12,000
Source: ApplyUAEVisa, a licensed private visa-processing agency in Dubai, UAELast reviewed: August 2026
Choose your company structure
Mainland (DED) licence
Trade anywhere in the UAE, take government contracts and open offices in any emirate. 100% foreign ownership now allowed for most activities — no local sponsor needed for the majority of licence types.
Best for: Retail, restaurants, construction, consulting, contracting, e-commerce with local delivery
Ask about mainland (ded) licenceFree zone licence
100% ownership, 0% personal income tax, full profit repatriation and fast setup — often 3–5 working days. Choose from 40+ UAE free zones; we match your activity to the cheapest suitable one.
Best for: Consultants, freelancers, tech startups, trading, media, e-commerce, holding companies
Ask about free zone licenceOffshore company
RAK ICC or JAFZA offshore entities for international business, asset holding and global invoicing. No UAE residence visa attached, lowest maintenance cost, full confidentiality.
Best for: International trading, holding assets, IP ownership, global consulting
Ask about offshore companyWhy set up your business in the UAE?
Most mainland activities and every free zone now allow full foreign ownership — no local sponsor required.
No personal income tax, full profit repatriation, and 9% corporate tax only above the small-business threshold.
Free zone licences in as little as 3–5 days; mainland in 7–15 days including establishment card.
Investor/partner visas for owners and employment visas for staff — we process the full chain.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, UAQ — we compare costs so you don't overpay.
Government fees passed at cost, our service fee agreed upfront. You approve everything before we file.
Business activities we license — 2,000+ options
Every UAE trade licence covers one or more activities. We bundle related activities on a single licence wherever possible so you don't pay for extras.
Trading & retail
- General trading
- E-commerce & online stores
- Import / export
- Food & beverage trading
- Electronics trading
- Textiles & garments
- Building materials
- Auto spare parts
- Jewellery & precious metals
Professional & consulting
- Business & management consultancy
- Marketing & advertising
- IT services & software development
- Accounting & bookkeeping
- Legal consultancy support
- HR consultancy
- Project management
- Event management
- Education & training institutes
Construction & real estate
- Building contracting
- Real estate brokerage
- Property management
- Interior design & fit-out
- Maintenance & facilities
- Electrical & plumbing works
- Landscaping
Services & lifestyle
- Restaurants, cafés & catering
- Salons, spas & fitness centres
- Cleaning services
- Logistics & courier services
- Travel & tourism agency
- Car rental
- Healthcare clinics & medical centres
- Media production & photography
Finance, tech & industrial
- Fintech & payment services (regulated)
- Crypto & Web3 (VARA / free zone)
- Manufacturing & industrial licences
- Packaging & assembly
- Printing & publishing
- Freight forwarding & shipping
- Agriculture & food processing
Don't see your activity? Message it to us — with 2,000+ DED and free-zone activities, it's almost certainly licensable.
From message to licence in 4 steps
Tell us your activity
One WhatsApp message with your business idea, number of partners and visas needed. We reply with the cheapest suitable jurisdiction and a fixed all-in quote.
Name approval & licence
We reserve your trade name, prepare the MOA/LSA if required, and file with DED (mainland) or the chosen free zone authority.
Establishment card & visas
We open your immigration file, get the establishment card, and process investor/partner and employee visas with medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
Bank account & PRO support
Bank account introduction, VAT/Corporate Tax registration if applicable, and optional monthly PRO retainer so renewals never lapse.
Dubai company formation FAQs
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
Free zone licences start from around AED 12,000–15,000 all-in for a single-visa package; mainland DED licences typically start from AED 15,000–25,000 depending on activity and office requirement. We give you a fixed written quote after a free assessment on WhatsApp — government fees at cost, no hidden charges.
Mainland vs free zone — which is better for my business?
Choose mainland if you need to trade directly with the UAE local market, open a physical shop or take government contracts. Choose a free zone if you work internationally or online, want the cheapest setup, and don't need a local storefront. Send us your activity and we recommend the lowest-cost option that legally covers it.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Dubai company?
Yes. Since 2021, most mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor, and free zones have always allowed 100% ownership. A few regulated activities (e.g. some legal, security and oil-related fields) still have specific requirements — we check your exact activity before quoting.
How long does Dubai company formation take?
Free zone: 3–5 working days for the licence. Mainland: 7–15 working days including trade name reservation, initial approval, MOA notarisation, licence issuance and establishment card. Investor visas add roughly 5–7 working days.
Which business activities can I register in the UAE?
Over 2,000 licensed activities across trading, e-commerce, consulting, IT, marketing, real estate, construction, restaurants, salons, logistics, tourism, healthcare, education, manufacturing and more. Many licences allow multiple related activities on one licence — we bundle them so you don't pay for extra licences.
Do I need an office to open a company in Dubai?
Not always. Many free zones include a flexi-desk or virtual office in the licence package. Mainland licences normally need a tenancy contract (Ejari), but affordable business-centre options qualify — we arrange whichever your licence type requires.
Do I get a UAE residence visa with my company?
Yes. Your licence comes with a visa allocation — typically 1–6 visas depending on the package, expandable. We process the full investor or partner visa: entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID and residence stamping.
Can you open a corporate bank account for my new company?
Yes — we prepare the bank-ready file (licence, MOA, shareholder documents, business plan where needed) and introduce you to banks that actively onboard your activity and nationality, which avoids the most common rejection reasons.
What documents do I need to start?
A passport copy, a passport photo, and (if you're in the UAE) your current visa or entry stamp page. For corporate shareholders, the parent company's incorporation documents. Everything can start from a WhatsApp message — no office visit needed.
Is ApplyUAEVisa a government body?
No. ApplyUAEVisa is a private business setup and PRO services agency based in Dubai. Government fees are paid to DED, free zone authorities, GDRFA, ICP and MOHRE at cost and always shown separately on your quote.
Ready to launch your UAE company?
Send your business activity on WhatsApp and get the cheapest suitable jurisdiction, timeline and a fixed all-in quote — free, within working hours.
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