• In order to set up a mainland company in Dubai, an investor should either acquire a professional license or a commercial license.
• Minimum one director.
• Words like Dubai, UAE and other words that carry religious implications must be avoided.
• The physical presence of the investor or the shareholder in the UAE is mandatory at the time of initial approval.

• Benefit of office space – Mainland business can be accomplished anywhere in the country. Both freezone and offshore business entities are required to operate from certain geographical locations.
• Do business anywhere in UAE – You may carry out the business endeavour anywhere in the UAE and there are no restrictions of any kind.
• Favourable geographical location – UAE or Dubai serves as the gateway to the middle east. And hence there is scope for business diversification in the other GCC countries.
• Corporate tax exemption – Mainland companies can enjoy the benefit of corporate tax exemptions. In many countries, foreign investors are required to pay a considerable amount of money in the name of corporate tax.
• Income tax exemptions – Mainland companies are exempted from income tax.
• Capital Incentives – Being a pro-business government, UAE has so many concessions and incentives in store for investors. There is no restriction like a “minimum capital prerequisite” to set up a business in the UAE.
• No Currency exchange restrictions – Mainland companies in UAE need not go through currency exchange regulations.
• Improved business opportunity – Starting up your business concern in the UAE mainland means that you get international exposure. You have a better reach to international clients and markets. You can leverage the international exposure of the mainland to expand or diversify your business.
• Professional business ethos – Dubai has a professional business culture that gives due consideration to business enterprises of all types and nature. The professional work culture environment makes Dubai the favourite business destination of entrepreneurs, startups and seasoned professionals.
• Hassle-free business set up formalities – The mainland business set formalities can be accomplished easily by following the guidelines issued by the License issuance authorities and other governmental agencies. With professional assistance and guidance from experienced Dubai Business consultants, you may accomplish the entire Company Incorporation formalities in the mainland with ease.

Generally, four major licenses are issued for businesses operating in the UAE mainland. The licenses are issued based on the business endeavor and they are:

1. Professional License: License issued for firms that undertake service-oriented endeavors. Professional License are required for professionals who take part in any professional activity like consulting. Compared to other licenses the cost involved in the issuance of a professional license is less.
2. Commercial License: License issued for those business establishments that undertake buying and selling of goods or services or simply trading. Most traders opt for the general trading license in order to conduct more than one trading endeavour with a single license. Commercial licenses are very common in Dubai and the UAE mainland. The entire formalities connected with Professional License like issuance, amendment, cancellation can be accomplished easily.
3. Industrial License: License issued for firms that are involved in the manufacture of goods like factories, industries etc. When it comes to Industrial License, you may need to seek the approval of External Ministries and government departments depending upon the type of industrial activity.
4. Tourism Licence: All tourism related activities require a valid Tourism License. The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing DTCM has a major role in the issuance of Tourism licenses. A valid Tourism license is mandatory to conduct inbound and outbound tour related activities.

Mainland business setup has the advantage of selecting a wide range of locations. The most preferred business set up jurisdictions in Dubai are listed below.

Business Bay – Business Bay is a business hub ideal for service and hospitality sector business concerns. From small shops to big MNCs, Business Bay is an ideal location for a variety of business establishments. The region is located between Dubai Creek and Sheikh Zayed road.

Deira – Deira is one of the oldest parts of Dubai. Located in Dubai north, Deira shares the border with Sharjah and is an ideal location for establishing small shops and medium enterprises.

Al Quoz – Al Quoz is located in the South-west region of Dubai. The region is basically an industrial area. Both the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road run parallel to each other on either side of Al Quoz in the north-south direction. As an industrial area, Al Quoz is a preferred destination for setting up warehouses, industrial concerns and other related business activities.

Al Qusais – Located close to Dubai International Airport, Al Qusais is another well-known industrial area. The region has well-equipped residential complexes too. Al Qusais belongs to the suburbs of Dubai. Al Qusais is ideal for setting up commercial establishments, educational concerns, etc.

Jumeirah – Located in the west-coast, Jumeirah has a lot to offer for the real estate and tourism sectors. The resorts and restaurants in the region attract tourists from all over the world.