- Company Setup
- Mainland
- Free Zones
- Industry Licenses
- Visas
- Banking & Tax
- Resources
Complete Guide to Cost, Process, Documents & Setup in 2026
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a mainland company licensed by the Dubai Department of Economy & Tourism (DET/DED). It is by far the most popular business structure in Dubai and for good reason. It is flexible, scalable, highly respected by banks, and allows you to operate anywhere inside the UAE market.
Here's why LLCs dominate the UAE market and remain the top choice for entrepreneurs:
Sell directly to individuals and companies inside the country. No restrictions on where you can operate within the UAE.
The old rule requiring an Emirati partner is no longer applicable for most activities. You maintain complete control.
Hire as many employees as you need, based on your office size. Scale your team without restrictions.
Banks prefer mainland LLCs due to physical presence and legitimacy. Easier account opening process.
You can combine commercial, industrial, and service activities (depending on license). Flexible business operations.
LLCs can easily scale across the UAE. Open multiple locations as your business grows.
Costs vary depending on activity, visas, and location.
Note: Location significantly impacts office rental costs. Business Bay and DIFC are more expensive than Deira or Al Quoz.
Beyond setup fees, you should also be aware of the share capital requirements for an LLC. While there's no longer a mandatory minimum for most activities, banks and certain regulators do look at your declared capital. Read our full explanation of LLC capital requirements in Dubai before finalizing your company structure.
Here is exactly how we set up LLCs for clients:
There are 2,000+ DED activities. Picking the wrong one will lead to delays or rejection. We help you identify the exact activity code that matches your business model.
Must comply with UAE naming rules. Names with global brands, religious references, or improper abbreviations often get rejected. We ensure your trade name passes approval on the first attempt.
This confirms your eligibility to form an LLC. It's the government's preliminary green light that allows you to proceed with company formation.
A legally binding document that outlines:
We usually draft it and arrange notarization to ensure legal compliance. The MoA is one of the most legally significant documents in your company formation, errors here can cause disputes between shareholders down the line. Read our detailed guide on how to draft an LLC Memorandum of Association in Dubai to understand what must be included and how to get it notarized correctly.
Every LLC must have a physical address. Options include:
The Ejari (tenancy registration) is mandatory - no LLC can be formed without it.
DED reviews your complete file and issues the license. This typically takes 2-7 days with proper documentation.
Required for visa applications. This card allows you to sponsor employees and apply for residence visas.
Your LLC can now apply for visas based on office size. Investor visas are issued to owners/shareholders, while employee visas are unlimited based on your office space.
Banks will request documents like MoA, license, passport copies, contracts, and a business plan. Timeline: 5-15 days depending on compliance requirements.
✔ 100% foreign ownership allowed
Most activities now allow complete foreign ownership. The old requirement for an Emirati partner has been eliminated for the vast majority of business categories.
Some regulated activities may still require:
But 95% of business categories no longer require local shareholding.
Whether you have one shareholder or several, it's important that all parties understand their legal rights and obligations under UAE law. Our guide to LLC shareholder rights and responsibilities in Dubai covers profit distribution, voting rights, exit procedures, and what happens in a dispute.
Issued to owners/shareholders of the company. Allows you to live and work in the UAE.
Duration: Typically 2-3 years, renewable
Unlimited visas based on office size:
Unlike free zone companies with limited visa quotas, mainland LLCs can sponsor unlimited employees based on your office space. This makes LLCs the ideal choice for businesses planning to hire and scale teams.
An LLC must have a physical office with an Ejari (official tenancy registration). This is a non-negotiable requirement.
⚠️ Important: Ejari is mandatory. No LLC can be formed without proper office registration. Do not rent office space before your activity is approved to avoid unnecessary costs.
LLCs have one of the highest bank approval rates in UAE because they operate in the UAE market, have physical office space, and follow documented DED regulations.
5–15 days depending on compliance requirements and bank selection.
Note: Additional documents may be required for regulated activities such as finance, legal services, healthcare, media, and education.
Avoiding these mistakes can save you weeks of delay and thousands of dirhams:
One thing many new LLC owners overlook entirely is what happens after the license is issued. Renewal is annual, and missing deadlines triggers fines. Get ahead of it by reading the LLC renewal process in Dubai so you know exactly what's due and when.
If your business involves:
An LLC is always the smarter choice.
If you're unsure which category your business falls into, tell me your activity and I'll evaluate it instantly.
Tell us about your business and we'll provide everything you need to get started: