Hi Oliver,

I’m Sagar from DhanGuard. Mainland company formation in the UAE starts with selecting the right business activity and legal structure, followed by trade name registration, approvals and arranging the required business premises.

Here are the main requirements:

Core Requirements

• Choose a Business Activity: Select your activity from the approved economic activities listed by the relevant emirate's economic department. Your choice determines the type of licence you need, such as commercial, professional or industrial.
• Select the Legal Structure: Choose an appropriate structure, such as an LLC or sole proprietorship, based on your ownership and business requirements. Many mainland activities now allow 100% foreign ownership, although certain regulated activities can have additional requirements.
• Reserve a Trade Name: Register a unique business name with the relevant economic department. The name should comply with UAE naming regulations and correspond with the company's legal structure and activity.
• Arrange Office Space: Secure an approved business premises and obtain the required tenancy documentation. In Dubai, this generally involves registering the tenancy through Ejari.
• Obtain Initial and External Approvals: Apply for initial approval from the relevant economic authority. Businesses operating in regulated sectors may also need approvals from additional government departments or specialist regulators.

Key Documents

You will generally need:

• Valid passport copies of shareholders and the appointed manager.
• Completed company registration/application forms.
• Memorandum of Association (MOA) for structures such as an LLC.
• Valid tenancy contract for the registered business premises.
• NOC, where applicable, if a shareholder or manager is already sponsored under another UAE residence visa.

One thing I would recommend is confirming the business activity before arranging the licence or office. The activity affects your licence category, approval requirements, ownership structure and sometimes even the type of premises you need.

Once these requirements are in place, you can complete the final registration, pay the applicable government fees and receive your mainland trade licence.