Quick answer: Dubai mainland company formation cost in 2026 is roughly AED 12,000–18,000 for the licence alone (trade name, initial approval, DET licence fee, market fees, MOA notarisation and admin fees). Add office space and one visa and a realistic all-in total is AED 15,000–25,000+. Government fees are set by DET and immigration authorities and can change without notice.
Key takeaways
- The DET licence subtotal is AED 12,000–18,000 before office and visas.
- The single biggest cost after the licence is office/Ejari (AED 6,000–25,000+), which varies by location more than anything else.
- Before any visa can be issued, you need an immigration establishment card (AED 1,200–2,000) — a separate document from the MOHRE labour card.
- Each investor or employee visa costs roughly AED 3,500–6,000, medical and Emirates ID included.
- A professional service fee from your consultant sits on top of government fees and should always be quoted separately.
What is Dubai mainland company formation?
Dubai mainland company formation is the process of registering a business directly with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) so it can trade anywhere in the UAE and take on UAE government contracts. Unlike a free zone company, a mainland licence is not tied to a single economic zone — it can rent an office anywhere in Dubai, open branches across the emirates and deal with the local market without a service agent for most activities.
The most common structure is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), which is what this cost breakdown is built around. If you are still deciding between routes, our guide on mainland vs freezone explains the trade-offs before you commit money.
What does Dubai mainland company formation cost in 2026?
The realistic Dubai mainland company formation cost in 2026 is AED 15,000–25,000+ all-in with an office and one visa, and around AED 12,000–18,000 for the licence on its own. The wide range is real, not vague — it moves mostly with your chosen activity, your office type and how many visas you need.
Here is the full component breakdown, taken straight from the DET fee structure our team quotes daily:
| Component | AED | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | 620 – 735 | One-off DET fee to lock your company name |
| Initial approval | 120 – 235 | DET pre-approval to proceed |
| Trade licence fee (DET) | 8,000 – 12,000 | The core annual licence |
| Market fees | 1,000 – 2,500 | ~5% of your Ejari rent value |
| MoJ / MOA notarisation | 900 – 1,500 | Notarising the LLC Memorandum of Association |
| Administrative & knowledge/innovation fees | 500 – 1,000 | Fixed DET add-ons |
| Licence subtotal | 12,000 – 18,000 | Before office and visas |
| Ejari / flexi-desk / office | 6,000 – 25,000+ | By location and office type |
| Establishment card (immigration / GDRFA) | 1,200 – 2,000 | Required before any visa is issued |
| Establishment card (MOHRE labour file) | 300 – 700 | Separate labour card — not the same as the immigration one |
| Per investor or employee visa | 3,500 – 6,000 | Medical, Emirates ID and stamping included |
A note on the two establishment cards: people often assume they are one fee. They are not. The immigration (GDRFA) establishment card lets your company sponsor residence visas, and the MOHRE labour file card lets it hire staff under UAE labour law. Most trading LLCs need both.
For a broader view that includes free zone and offshore comparisons, see our Dubai mainland licence cost page — this article deliberately drills into the formation line items rather than repeating that summary.
Why is the licence fee a range and not a fixed number?
The DET trade licence fee is AED 8,000–12,000 rather than a single figure because it depends on your business activity and the number of activities on the licence. A single professional or consulting activity sits at the lower end; a general trading licence carrying multiple commercial activities sits higher. Some regulated activities (health, education, financial services) also require external approvals that add their own fees on top.
Market fees are the other moving part. They are charged at roughly 5% of your annual Ejari rent value, so a cheaper office genuinely lowers your government bill — not just your rent. This is why two identical LLCs can have different licence costs purely because one leased a smarter address.
The office cost is the swing factor
Office space is the line that turns an AED 15,000 setup into an AED 25,000+ setup. In 2026 you can budget:
- Flexi-desk / shared desk: from around AED 6,000 — the cheapest compliant option, suits consultants and small teams.
- Small private office: roughly AED 15,000–25,000+, depending on the tower and area.
- Prime Sheikh Zayed Road or DIFC-adjacent space: well above that range.
A valid Ejari tenancy contract is mandatory before your licence is issued and before you apply for visas, so this is not a cost you can skip. Our office solutions team can match a compliant address to your budget and visa quota — the number of visas your licence allows is often tied to your office size.
How to set up a Dubai mainland company: step by step
Here is the actual process, in the order it happens:
- Choose your activity and legal form. Your DET activity determines the licence fee, approvals and visa eligibility. Most SMEs register an LLC.
- Reserve your trade name. Pay the DET name reservation fee (AED 620–735) and get initial approval (AED 120–235).
- Sign the Memorandum of Association (MOA). For an LLC, this is notarised at the Ministry of Justice (AED 900–1,500).
- Secure your office and Ejari. Lease a flexi-desk or office and register the Ejari contract — this feeds directly into your market fees.
- Pay the DET licence fee and collect your trade licence. This is your licence subtotal of AED 12,000–18,000 in full.
- Apply for the immigration establishment card. AED 1,200–2,000 — this must be done before any visa.
- Process visas. Each investor or employee visa runs AED 3,500–6,000, including medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
- Open your corporate bank account. With the licence and visa in hand, you can now open a business account.
Steps 6 to 8 are where most first-timers lose time, because the paperwork order matters. Our PRO services and visa services teams handle these government steps end to end so your file is not bounced back.
Documents checklist
You will typically need:
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- Passport-size photographs (white background)
- Proposed trade names (two or three options)
- Emirates ID and visa copies for any UAE-resident shareholders
- No-objection certificate (NOC) if a shareholder is currently on a UAE employment visa
- Signed and notarised MOA for the LLC
- Ejari tenancy contract for your office
- Initial approval receipt from DET
Mainland vs Dubai free zone — a quick cost comparison
Some entrepreneurs quote a free zone against mainland and find the free zone cheaper. That is often true at the entry level, but the two are not interchangeable — mainland lets you trade freely across the UAE local market and bid for government work, which a free zone company generally cannot do without a distributor.
| Route | 2026 AED (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Northern Emirates free zone, no visa | 5,500 – 9,000 |
| Dubai free zone (IFZA, Meydan) | 12,000 – 20,000 |
| Dubai mainland (DET), office + 1 visa | 15,000 – 25,000+ |
If cross-emirate trading and local-market access matter to you, the mainland premium is usually worth it. If you sell online or serve clients remotely, a free zone may be enough. To model your own numbers, use the cost calculator or read our full business setup Dubai mainland service page.
What the "from AED X" banners leave out
The advertised low numbers you see online almost always quote the licence only, no office and no visa. That is why a headline of "from AED 12,000" turns into AED 20,000+ once your Ejari and one investor visa are added. There is nothing dishonest about the licence-only figure — it is simply not the number you actually pay to be a trading, visa-holding business.
DBM quotes government fees and its own professional service fee separately, so you can see exactly what goes to the authorities and what goes to us. The service fee is not published as a fixed price because it depends on your activity, structure and visa count — but it will always be stated on its own line, never buried inside a rounded "package" figure.
FAQ
How much does it cost to open an LLC in Dubai mainland?
Opening an LLC on the Dubai mainland costs roughly AED 15,000–25,000+ all-in in 2026, including the DET licence (AED 12,000–18,000), office/Ejari (from AED 6,000), the immigration establishment card (AED 1,200–2,000) and one visa (AED 3,500–6,000). Government fees are set by DET and can change without notice.
What is the DET trade licence fee for a Dubai mainland company?
The DET trade licence fee is AED 8,000–12,000 per year for most activities. The exact figure depends on your business activity and how many activities appear on the licence — a single consulting activity sits at the lower end, while a multi-activity general trading licence sits higher. External approvals for regulated activities add further fees.
Do I need an office to register a Dubai mainland company?
Yes. A valid Ejari tenancy contract is mandatory before DET issues your licence and before you can apply for visas. The cheapest compliant option is a flexi-desk from around AED 6,000 per year; a private office typically runs AED 15,000–25,000+ depending on location. Your office size can also cap how many visas your licence allows.
What is the difference between the two establishment cards?
The immigration (GDRFA) establishment card (AED 1,200–2,000) lets your company sponsor residence visas, while the MOHRE labour file card (AED 300–700) lets it employ staff under UAE labour law. They are separate documents with separate fees, and most trading LLCs that hire and sponsor visas need both.
How many visas can a Dubai mainland company get?
A Dubai mainland company's visa quota is tied mainly to its office size — larger physical space allows more visas. A flexi-desk typically supports a small number of visas, while a private office supports more. Each investor or employee visa costs roughly AED 3,500–6,000, including medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
Is a Dubai mainland company more expensive than a free zone?
Usually yes at the entry level — a Northern Emirates free zone licence can start around AED 5,500–9,000, versus AED 15,000–25,000+ for a mainland LLC with office and one visa. But mainland lets you trade freely across the UAE and bid for government contracts, which most free zone companies cannot do directly.
Ready to see your exact number? DBM has formed 1,000+ companies over 10+ years and holds a 4.9-star Google rating from 126 reviews. We will give you an itemised quote with government fees and our service fee stated separately — no hidden extras. Book a free consultation via our contact page or message us on WhatsApp at +971 50 504 6228.