Mainland Company Setup in the UAE
Mainland
Company Setup in the UAE
Why set up a mainland company?
If you are an aspiring business owner who wants to freely trade within the UAE and overseas, then a mainland company is a great option for you. Setting up a mainland company puts you in a position to reap a number of benefits that will help your business grow faster, whilst establishing a strong presence in the local market.
Advantages of a mainland company
- Enjoy the freedom to trade anywhere in the UAE and abroad.
- Get access to more than 3,000 business activities.
- Apply for an unlimited number of visas.
- Have the ability to submit tenders for government projects and contracts.
- Set up your office anywhere.
- Get exempted from standard 5% customs duty on imported goods.
Types of UAE mainland company structures
Limited Liability Company
For limited liability companies, the UAE Commercial Companies Law states that investors need to partner with a local sponsor. We understand that, as a business owner, you prefer to have 100% control and ownership of your company. That is why we provide you with a corporate nominee service, wherein ExpressPRO will take on the role of your local sponsor. Through our corporate nominee sponsorship programme, you can ensure to have 100% beneficial ownership and 100% operational and financial control of your mainland company.
Civil Company
Similar to a sole establishment, a civil company allows 100% foreign ownership by two or more individuals. A civil company can conduct professional activities in the Emirate where it is registered, including consultancy, healthcare and training services. The partners owning the civil company will have 100% liability of the business. Both sole establishment and civil company require a local service agent (LSA) to facilitate the paperwork and other requirements on behalf of the business owner(s). ExpressPRO will act as your local service agent to ensure a smooth and efficient company setup for you.
Sole Establishment
A sole establishment is a mainland company structure that allows 100% ownership by a single individual. The individual will have full control over the sole establishment’s operations, profits and liabilities. A sole establishment can carry out professional and commercial activities in the Emirate where it is registered.
Branch
Business owners or companies looking to establish their presence in the UAE can set up a branch office in the UAE mainland. A branch office guarantees 100% ownership of the business and acts as an extension of the parent company. Branch offices can only engage in business activities that are similar to that of their parent company.
Representative Office
A representative office also acts as an extension of an existing company, except that it is not licensed to generate profits. In addition, its activities are limited to promotions, marketing and research for the parent company.
Types of mainland licences
If you are planning to set up a mainland company, there are three licences you can choose from, depending on your business activity:
Commercial licence
Allows a mainland company to engage in general and specialised trading activities.
Industrial licence
Allows a business to conduct industrial and manufacturing activities.
Professional licence
Allows a business owner to provide professional, craftsman and artisan services.
Popular business activities in the UAE mainland
Consultancy
Entertainment
Event management
Food and beverage
General trading
Gyms and health clubs
Healthcare
Hospitality
Import and export
Manufacturing
Professional services
Retail
Applying for residence visas in the UAE
Requirements for sponsoring family residence visas:
- A monthly salary of at least AED 4,000. For UAE residents who want to secure residence visas for their parents, the minimum monthly salary is AED 20,000.
- Completed application form.
- A salary certificate for government employees and an attested work contract for private company employees.
- Bank statements covering the last 3 months. If you are a new resident, you can submit your most recent bank statement, but you will need a bank letter that verifies the salary transfer.
- Emirates ID, labour card (if applicable) and attested tenancy contract.
- An attested marriage certificate if you are sponsoring a spouse. The marriage certificate must be attested in your home country if you were married there, or by the UAE authorities if you were married in the UAE.
- Original and copies of the sponsor’s passport and that of their family member(s).
- Three passport photos of each family member.
- Medical report of the family member from an authorised clinic or hospital. Children below 15 years of age are exempted from this.
- To ensure that the residence visas of your family members remain valid, they must not stay out of the UAE for more than 6 months.
- If a Muslim expatriate has more than one wife, he is allowed to apply for only one residence visa.
