MAINLAND FORMATION
Accounting software, set up right.
DED-licensed company formation for LLC, sole establishment, civil company and branch office structures. Full support from name reservation through to licence issuance and bank account opening.
The right structure, for your business.
LLC Formation
Limited Liability Company formation for two or more shareholders. Ideal for trading, services and general commercial activities requiring full UAE market access. Up to 100% foreign ownership available for most activities.
Sole Establishment
Single-owner mainland business entity — simple, cost-effective and suitable for professional and commercial activities operated by one individual. The owner holds full liability.
Civil Company
Professional services entity for licensed practitioners — lawyers, engineers, accountants, doctors and consultants. Partners share profits and liability in proportion to their agreed share.
Name Reservation
Secure your preferred company name with DED before commencing the full formation process. We advise on naming rules, restrictions and availability to prevent delays.
Licence in hand, step by step.
Consultation
We assess your business activity, ownership structure and market requirements — recommending the right entity type and flagging any specialist approvals needed for regulated activities.
Name Reservation
We submit your preferred trade name to DED for initial approval — advising on UAE naming conventions, restricted words and the fastest route to an approved name.
Documentation
We prepare and notarise all formation documents — Memorandum of Association, partner agreements, activity approvals — and coordinate shareholder signatures and attestations.
Licence Issuance
We submit the complete application package to DED, manage all queries and collect your issued trade licence, share certificate and company documents. We then assist with bank account opening.
Questions about mainland formation.
Yes, in most cases. The UAE Commercial Companies Law amendments of 2021 removed the requirement for a local UAE national sponsor for most commercial and professional activities, allowing up to 100% foreign ownership on the mainland. Certain strategic sectors and specific activities may still require a UAE national partner or agent. We assess your specific activity and advise accordingly.
There is no longer a prescribed minimum share capital requirement for most mainland LLC formations in Dubai under DED. However, the share capital stated in your MOA should be appropriate for your business activity. Certain regulated activities — such as banking, insurance and real estate brokerage — carry their own minimum capital requirements set by the relevant regulator.
Yes, a registered physical address in the UAE is required for all mainland licences. This can be a dedicated office, a serviced office or in some cases a flexi-desk arrangement, depending on the nature of your activity. We advise on the most cost-effective compliant option and can recommend trusted office providers.
Standard DED mainland licences are typically issued within three to five business days from the time all documents are in order. Activities requiring specialist approvals from other ministries or regulatory bodies — such as healthcare, education, financial services or food and beverage — require additional time depending on the approving authority's processing timeline.
Ready to set up your mainland company?
Our DED experts are ready to guide you through every step — from activity selection to licence in hand.