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A practical 2026 guide to the Dubai mainland license: DET steps, documents, timeline, license types, and 100% foreign ownership rules made simple.
A Dubai mainland license is the trade licence issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly the DED) that lets a company operate commercially anywhere in the UAE, contract directly with government entities, and, under the 2021 amendments to the Commercial Companies Law, be 100% foreign-owned for most activities. This guide walks founders and investors through the end-to-end process, the document checklist, realistic timelines, and the four licence categories so you can plan your setup with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- DET issues four categories of Dubai mainland licences: commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism.
- Since 2021, amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law allow 100% foreign ownership for most mainland activities, except a limited strategic-impact list.
- A straightforward mainland LLC typically takes about three to four weeks from trade-name reservation to licence issuance, according to specialist setup advisors.
- Core documents include initial approval, an Arabic MOA, and an Ejari-registered lease; some activities also need external NOCs.
- DET’s Instant Licence service can issue a commercial licence in roughly five minutes for eligible activities, with a virtual office allowed for the first year only.
What a Dubai Mainland License Actually Is
A Dubai mainland license is a trade permit issued by DET that authorises a business to operate onshore in the Emirate of Dubai and across the wider UAE market. Unlike free zone permits, mainland licences do not restrict you to a designated economic zone, and they allow direct trade with the local market and government bodies.
Importantly, DET issues and regulates these licences across four categories: commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism. Each category maps to specific activity groups on the DET activity list, and your chosen activity determines the documents, external approvals, and capital arrangements you will need.
The Four Licence Categories
- Commercial licence: for trading activities, general trading, import/export, and most buying and selling of goods.
- Professional licence: for service providers, consultants, artisans, and individual practitioners relying on intellectual rather than capital input.
- Industrial licence: for manufacturing, processing, and assembly activities that physically transform raw materials.
- Tourism licence: for travel agencies, tour operators, and hospitality businesses regulated jointly by DET’s tourism arm.
For a broader view of structuring options before you commit, many founders also compare mainland against free zone and offshore vehicles with a corporate structuring review.
The 100% Foreign Ownership Position
Since 2021, amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law allow 100% foreign ownership for most mainland commercial and professional activities, removing the need for a UAE-national partner except in a limited list of activities with strategic impact. The federal position is published on the UAE Government Portal, and DET applies it through the Dubai activity list.
In practice, this means most foreign founders can now own a Dubai LLC outright. However, certain regulated and strategic-impact activities still require Emirati participation or a local service agent, so confirm your specific activity code before committing to a structure.
Civil establishments and companies fully owned by non-GCC nationals practising certain professional activities still need a duly attested service-agent contract, even where shareholding is 100% foreign. A short legal consultation can clarify which rule applies to your activity.
Step-by-Step: How to Get a Dubai Mainland License
The DET process follows a predictable sequence. First, you classify your activity and reserve a name. Next, you secure initial approval, sign the MOA, register a tenancy, and gather any external NOCs. Finally, you submit the full file and receive the licence. The table below summarises the flow with indicative timings reported by specialist setup advisors.
| Step | What happens | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Trade name and activity | Reserve the trade name and classify the business activity with DET | 1–2 working days |
| 2. Initial approval | DET confirms the legal form, activities and licence parties and issues an initial approval | 2–3 working days |
| 3. MOA and lease (Ejari) | Draft and notarise the MOA in Arabic, sign a commercial lease and register it on Ejari | 3–5 working days |
| 4. External approvals | Obtain sector NOCs (e.g. Civil Defence, health authority, RTA) where the activity requires them | Varies by authority |
| 5. Licence issuance | Submit the full file, pay the fees and receive the DET trade licence | 1–2 working days |
Step 1: Trade Name and Activity
A trade name distinguishes one business from another and reflects the nature and form of the business. Investors apply for the trade name through DET via its website or mobile application, and the same submission selects the activity code that drives the rest of the file.
Step 2: Initial Approval
Initial Approval is the DET service that fixes the company’s legal form, economic activities, and licence parties before the trade licence itself is issued. You can apply through the DET Request for Initial Approval service, either before or after the trade name reservation. This approval signals that the authority has no objection in principle, but it is not the licence.
Step 3: MOA, Lease and Ejari
Next, draft the Memorandum of Association in Arabic and notarise it before a UAE notary. In parallel, sign a commercial lease for physical premises and register the tenancy with the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) to receive an Ejari certificate. The lease must be attested by RERA for the file to progress.
Step 4: External Approvals (Where Required)
Some economic activities require external approvals from competent authorities, such as the health authority, the Roads and Transport Authority, and the telecommunications regulator, before the trade licence is issued. Healthcare, transport, education, and financial services typically attract these NOCs. Build in extra time when your activity falls inside these regulated buckets.
Step 5: Licence Issuance
Once initial approval, the notarised MOA, and the Ejari-registered lease are in place, submit the file through DET’s Request to Issue Trade License service. After paying the fees, DET issues the electronic trade licence, which you can verify on the UAE Government Portal licence verification page.
For founders who want a guided end-to-end process, our Mainland Company Formation Dubai service manages every stage above, including coordination with notaries, landlords, and DET counters.
Documents You Will Need
The standard DET file for a Dubai mainland license includes the initial approval receipt and all previously submitted documents, a lease contract attested by RERA in Dubai, a duly attested memorandum of association, approvals from other government entities where required, and a duly attested service-agent contract for civil establishments and companies fully owned by non-GCC nationals.
In addition, founders should prepare:
- Passport copies and entry stamps or UAE residence visas for all shareholders and managers.
- Specimen signatures of the authorised signatories.
- Board resolution and certificate of incorporation if a shareholder is a corporate entity, attested up to the UAE embassy chain.
- NOC from the current sponsor for shareholders already on a UAE residence visa, where required.
- Manager’s appointment letter, where the manager is not a shareholder.
Corporate shareholders should plan attestation early because legalisation across multiple jurisdictions can be the slowest part of the file. A coordinated attestation workflow avoids resubmissions.
Realistic Timeline and the Instant Licence Option
Specialist setup advisors report that a straightforward Dubai mainland LLC typically takes about three to four weeks from start to licence issuance: trade-name reservation in 1–2 days, initial approval in 2–3 days, MOA notarisation in 2–3 days, lease and Ejari in 3–5 days, and licence issuance in 1–2 days after submission. Investor visa processing then adds around 7–14 working days afterwards.
For eligible activities, DET also offers an Instant Licence service that issues a commercial licence in one step within five minutes, with the option to issue an electronic MOA and use a virtual office for the first year only. After year one, the company must move to a physical premises with a registered Ejari tenancy.
What Slows Files Down
- Activities that trigger sector NOCs from health, transport, or telecom regulators.
- Corporate shareholders whose documents need consular attestation abroad.
- Trade name rejections due to conflicts with reserved or sensitive terms.
- Lease contracts that landlords have not registered correctly on Ejari.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Dubai mainland trade license?
A Dubai mainland trade license is the permit issued by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) authorising a company to operate onshore in Dubai and across the UAE. DET regulates four categories: commercial, professional, industrial, and tourism, and the licence permits direct trade with the local market and government bodies.
What are the steps to get a Dubai mainland license?
The five core steps are trade name and activity reservation, initial approval, MOA notarisation with an Ejari-registered lease, external NOCs where required, and final licence issuance by DET. The DET process is sequential, and each step produces a document needed by the next stage of the file.
What documents do you need for a Dubai mainland license?
You need the initial approval receipt and all previously submitted documents, a RERA-attested lease contract, a duly attested memorandum of association, approvals from other government entities where required, and a duly attested service-agent contract for civil establishments and companies fully owned by non-GCC nationals. Corporate shareholders should also provide attested constitutional documents and board resolutions.
How long does it take to get a Dubai mainland license?
A straightforward Dubai mainland LLC typically takes about three to four weeks from start to licence issuance, according to specialist setup advisors. Investor visa processing adds around 7–14 working days afterwards, while regulated activities requiring sector NOCs can extend the overall timeline.
Can foreigners own 100% of a Dubai mainland company?
Yes, since 2021 amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law allow 100% foreign ownership for most mainland commercial and professional activities. A limited list of activities with strategic impact still requires Emirati participation, so confirm your specific activity code before finalising the shareholding structure.
Do you need a physical office and Ejari for a Dubai mainland license?
Yes, a Dubai mainland license generally requires a physical commercial lease registered on Ejari with RERA. DET’s Instant Licence allows a virtual office for the first year only, after which the company must move to physical premises with a registered tenancy.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Rules and fees in the UAE change frequently. Before acting on anything you read here, speak to a qualified advisor — we are happy to help.