Question 1

Do I need a local Emirati sponsor to set up a Dubai DET mainland company?

Accepted Answer

For most activities, no. The UAE Companies Law (Federal Law No. 32 of 2021) abolished the mandatory 51% Emirati shareholding requirement for approximately 93% of commercial and professional activities. You can own 100% of your Dubai LLC or Sole Establishment for most trading, consulting, IT, and service activities. The remaining ~7% of activities — primarily in defence, oil, security, utilities, and specific regulated financial services — still require an Emirati majority shareholder. myHQ maintains a vetted local sponsor network for these cases.

Question 2

How much does a Dubai mainland company cost to set up?

Accepted Answer

For a Professional licence with a flexi-desk Ejari, first-year costs typically range from AED 18,000–28,000 (inclusive of DET licence fee, establishment card, Ejari, MoA notarisation, and myHQ professional fee). A Commercial licence with a dedicated office runs AED 35,000–65,000 depending on office size and activity category. Annual renewal is approximately 60–70% of the first-year total. Indian founders should budget an additional AED 2,000–5,000 for document apostille and attestation services.

Question 3

Can I set up a Dubai DET mainland company without visiting Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for getting your licence, the Invest in Dubai (IID) portal is fully digital. If your company has multiple shareholders or you are incorporating through an Indian company, a Power of Attorney (PoA) allows myHQ to represent you before the notary and at DET. The PoA must be executed before an Indian notary and apostilled. The visa step does require a physical visit to Dubai for biometrics and Emirates ID collection.

Question 4

What is the difference between Dubai mainland and Dubai free zone for a business?

Accepted Answer

A Dubai DET mainland licence allows you to operate anywhere in Dubai and the UAE, hire without a visa quota, bid for government contracts, and operate physical retail or consumer-facing premises. A Dubai free zone licence restricts operations to within the free zone or internationally — serving UAE-local B2C customers directly requires either a mainland licence or a local distributor arrangement. Free zone licences are typically cheaper and faster to obtain. The right choice depends on whether your revenue is primarily domestic UAE or international.

Question 5

How long does a Dubai DET mainland company setup take?

Accepted Answer

A Professional licence (sole establishment or civil company) typically takes 7–12 business days from initial submission to licence issuance via the IID portal. An LLC with a Commercial licence takes 10–20 business days, depending on MoA notarisation scheduling and DED activity approval timelines. Indian founders who need apostilled documents should add 3–7 business days for India-side document preparation.

Question 6

Which activities still require a local sponsor in Dubai mainland?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 7% of DET-licensed activities still require an Emirati majority partner (51%+). These are classified as strategic activities under the 2021 Companies Law and include: security and guard services, oil and gas exploration, utilities and power generation, certain defence-related manufacturing, and some regulated financial activities. The vast majority of trading, professional services, IT, real estate brokerage, hospitality, F&B, and construction activities are fully open to 100% foreign ownership.

Question 7

Is a Dubai mainland company better than a free zone for an Indian founder?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your revenue model. If your clients are primarily UAE-based businesses or consumers, especially in sectors like real estate, F&B, retail, or government contracting, a Dubai DET mainland licence is often more commercially effective, even at higher cost. If your revenue is primarily from international clients (India, Europe, North America) and you are billing in USD or EUR, a free zone licence at a lower cost point achieves the same legal structure. Many Indian founders run both: a free zone entity for international billing and a DET mainland entity for UAE local market access.

Question 8

What are my FEMA obligations when I set up a Dubai mainland company as an Indian resident?

Accepted Answer

Setting up a Dubai company from India is permitted under RBI's Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) framework under FEMA. Key obligations: (1) File Form ODI with your Authorised Dealer (AD) bank in India within 30 days of first investment. (2) File annual performance reports with RBI on the foreign entity. (3) All remittances must go through banking channels — personal and corporate funds must be kept separate. The LRS limit for personal remittances is USD 250,000 per financial year; ODI investments use a separate corporate route. myHQ provides a standard FEMA compliance note to every Indian founder client before setup begins.

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