Dubai Mainland (DET)
Trade anywhere in the UAE with no free zone restrictions. Unrestricted UAE market access, government contract eligibility and no visa quota ceiling tied to a zone.
- Retail
- Local services
- Government contracts
- Restaurants
At a glance
Smartgic jurisdiction brief
- Emirate
- Dubai
- Type
- Mainland
- Relative cost
- Mid-range
- Best suited to
- Retail, Local services
Is DET the right fit for you?
A mainland licence is issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and carries no restriction on where in the UAE you can trade. You can sell directly to UAE customers, open retail premises, take on government contracts and hire without a zone-imposed visa ceiling.
Most commercial and professional activities now permit 100% foreign ownership, which removed the historical reason founders defaulted to free zones. The main requirement is a physical tenancy registered through Ejari.
Ideal for
- Retail, restaurants and customer-facing businesses
- Contractors and service providers working on UAE projects
- Companies bidding for government tenders
- Businesses whose customers are UAE-based
What DET actually gives you
The advantages that matter commercially — not a feature list. If none of these apply to your business, we will point you somewhere cheaper.
Unrestricted UAE trade
Sell directly to customers anywhere in the UAE with no distributor or agent requirement.
100% foreign ownership
Available for most commercial and professional activities — we confirm it for yours.
Government contract eligibility
Mainland companies can bid for public-sector tenders.
No zone visa ceiling
Visa eligibility is driven by your office space rather than a fixed free zone package.
Licence types & workspace options
Your licence category follows your activity, and your workspace drives your visa allocation. We match both to what you actually need.
Commercial licence
Trading, retail, import, export and general commercial activity.
Professional licence
Consultancy, services and skilled professional activities.
Industrial licence
Manufacturing and industrial activity with facility requirements.
Tourism licence
Travel, tourism and hospitality activities, subject to additional approvals.
Workspace options
- Registered office with Ejari tenancy
- Retail premises
- Warehouse
- Business centre office
Visa allocation is tied to your workspace selection. We size it to your hiring plan so you do not pay for unused quota.
From first call to licence in hand
The same six steps apply across jurisdictions. What changes is the authority, the approvals and the documentation — which is the part we handle.
- 01
Activity & structure review
We confirm the business activities you need, the legal form that fits them and whether this jurisdiction is genuinely the best match for your plan.
- 02
Trade name reservation
We check your preferred names against authority naming rules and reserve the one that clears.
- 03
Office or flexi-desk selection
We select the workspace package that satisfies the licence requirement and unlocks the visa quota you need.
- 04
Application & initial approval
We compile the application, submit it to the authority and manage every clarification until initial approval is granted.
- 05
Documentation & signing
Incorporation documents are prepared, signed and — where the jurisdiction requires it — notarised.
- 06
Licence issuance & next steps
Your licence is issued and we move straight on to establishment card, visas and your corporate bank account.
What you need to get started
This is the standard document set. Regulated activities and corporate shareholders carry additional requirements — we confirm the exact list for your case before you start gathering anything.
Get my document checklist- Passport copy for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photographs (white background)
- Two to three proposed trade names
- Chosen business activities
- Shareholding split between partners
- UAE entry stamp or residence visa page, if already in the country
- For corporate shareholders: attested certificate of incorporation, MoA and board resolution
Services you will need alongside the licence
A licence on its own does not make you operational. These are the pieces that usually follow.
Founders worldwide trust Smartgic
From first-time entrepreneurs to established groups relocating to the UAE — here's what our clients say about working with us.
“Smartgic set up my DMCC company and processed my investor visa in under two weeks. The most seamless experience I have had in Dubai.”
“Their team handled my Golden Visa and corporate bank account end-to-end. Professional, responsive and genuinely transparent on fees.”
“I relocated my e-commerce business from Europe to an IFZA free zone with zero stress. My relationship manager replied within minutes.”
DET questions answered
The questions founders actually ask us about this jurisdiction — answered straight.
For most commercial and professional activities, no — 100% foreign ownership is permitted. A small set of strategic activities still requires an Emirati partner or a Local Service Agent. We confirm the position for your exact activity before you proceed.
Yes. Mainland licences require a registered tenancy through Ejari. The space required scales with your visa count. We arrange compliant options at the smaller end.
Usually yes once tenancy is included — but if your customers are in the UAE, a free zone licence that cannot serve them is not cheaper, it is unusable. The decision should follow your sales model.
There is no fixed free zone cap. Eligibility is driven by your office size and activity, which means it scales with the business.
Other jurisdictions worth considering
Most founders shortlist two or three before deciding. These are the closest alternatives to this one.
Independence & accuracy notice
Smartgic Immigration Business Set Up Services EST. is a privately owned business setup and immigration consultancy licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (DET) under licence 1394564. We are not a government entity and are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of any UAE government authority, free zone authority or their agencies. Information on this website is general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice. Government fees, processing times, visa eligibility and approvals are determined solely by the relevant authorities, vary case by case and are not guaranteed. Always confirm current requirements for your specific circumstances with us or with the relevant authority before acting. All third-party names, free zone names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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