Mainland Business Activities in Dubai:
Licence Types, Ownership and Approvals
A Dubai mainland licence is issued for specific activities from the DET activity list, and the activity decides your licence type, your ownership and any approvals. Most commercial and professional activities allow 100% foreign ownership, while strategic impact activities and regulated sectors need extra approval. Maven& checks your activity before you pay a fee.
- Activity matched to the DET list
- Ownership and approvals checked first
- Transparent, itemised pricing
- Get your free setup quote
- Mainland activities partner
Foreign ownership for most activities
Strategic impact activities are the exception.
Licence types
Commercial, professional, industrial and tourism licences.
Team from start to launch
One consultant handles your application, approvals, visas and bank account introductions.
- Activity groups
Main groups of mainland activities
Trading and commerce
General trading, e-commerce, import and export, retail and wholesale.
Professional services
Consulting, design, IT, marketing and other service activities.
Industrial and manufacturing
Manufacturing, processing and assembly, usually with specific premises.
Tourism and hospitality
Travel, holiday homes, hospitality and related activities, often with tourism approvals.
Which mainland activities need extra approvals or a local partner?
The activity code decides your ownership and approvals. Check it before you pay a fee.
- Most commercial and professional activities: 100% foreign ownership with a DET licence.
- Strategic impact activities: a short list, including defence-related work, oil and gas exploration and certain media or banking activities, which needs Emirati participation or special approval.
- Healthcare, education and finance: need approval from the relevant authority as well as DET.
- Tourism activities: may need DET tourism approval.
- Combined activities: allowed within the activity list, subject to approvals for each.
- Licence types
Mainland licence types and typical activities
The licence type follows from the activity you choose.
| Licence type | Typical activities | Premises |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Trading, e-commerce, import and export | Office or shop with Ejari |
| Professional | Consulting, design, IT and other services | Office with Ejari |
| Industrial | Manufacturing, processing and assembly | Industrial premises and approvals |
| Tourism | Travel, hospitality and holiday activities | Premises and tourism approval |
See mainland company formation or read about the mainland trade licence.
- Activity setups
Three ways to structure your mainland activities
Activity
For a focused business
- One clear line of business
- Simplest approval path
- Lowest licence cost
- Add activities later
Final cost depends on your activity, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Activities
For related services
- Several related activities on one licence
- Each activity checked for approvals
- Extra activities can add fees
- Suits traders and consultants
Final cost depends on your activity, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Activity
For approval-led businesses
- Needs approval from another authority
- Longer timeline
- Qualified staff or premises may be required
- We map the approvals first
Final cost depends on your activity, premises and visas, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
How much does mainland business activities cost?
There is no single price, because the total depends on your activity, premises and number of visas. Maven& gives you an itemised quote that lists every government and service fee before you commit.
- Licence and activity fees
- Premises or tenancy costs, where required
- Establishment card and residence visas
- Extra approvals, if your activity needs them
- Annual renewal and accounting support
- PRO, bank account and tax registration support
- How it works
How to choose your mainland activity in 5 steps
Describe your business
We list what you will sell or provide and to whom.
Match activity codes
We match each activity to the DET activity list.
Check ownership and approvals
We check foreign ownership and any approvals for each activity.
Apply with the right licence
We apply with the licence type that fits your activities.
Amend later if needed
We amend the licence when you add or change activities.
Documents required for mainland business activities
Most applications need only a few documents to start. Send us what you have and we will tell you what is missing for your case.
- Passport copy of every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photograph on a white background
- UAE visa and Emirates ID copy, if you are a resident
- Three proposed names, in order of preference
- A short description of your business activities
- Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, MoA/AoA and board resolution, attested
- Source of funds details, where the authority or bank asks for them
- Approval documents, where your activity is regulated
- Why Maven&
Why choose Maven& for mainland business activities
One dedicated consultant
One consultant handles your trade licence, visas, Ejari and bank account introductions, so you never repeat yourself to a new team.
Transparent, itemised pricing
Every quote lists government fees, office, visa and service costs line by line, with no hidden extras after you sign.
Right activity, structure and authority
Rules differ by activity and authority. We check your activity, structure and approvals before you pay a fee.
Licence, visas and bank in one process
Company formation, residence visas, corporate tax registration and bank introductions are handled as one coordinated plan.
- FAQs
mainland business activities: frequently asked questions
An activity is the specific line of business your licence lets you carry out, such as general trading or management consulting. Each comes from the DET activity list and decides your licence type.
Usually yes. DET allows amendments to add or change activities, and extra activities can add fees or approvals. We check the rules first.
The number depends on the licence type and the activities chosen, and compatibility rules apply. We confirm what your licence can include.
Only a short list of strategic impact activities needs Emirati participation. Some professional licences may use a local service agent. See local service agent and sponsorship.
No. Most commercial and industrial activities do, but strategic impact activities and some regulated sectors do not. We check your activity first.
An activity code is the reference DET uses for each licensed activity. It decides your licence type, your ownership options and any approvals.
Sometimes. Commercial and professional activities fall under different licence types, so combining them depends on the rules. We check before applying.
The cost depends on your activity, premises, visas and approvals, so there is no single price. Maven& gives you an itemised quote before you commit. Try the cost calculator.
The timeline depends on your activity, authority, documents and approvals, and visas and the bank account follow the licence. We give you a timeline for your case before you start. See the 5-step process.
Yes. We confirm your activity and structure, prepare the application, manage approvals and follow the process through to licence, visas and bank account. Final approvals are always the authority\u2019s decision. Contact us for an itemised quote.
Reviewed by the Maven& corporate setup team. Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before you commit.
Ready to start with mainland business activities?
Get a clear, itemised quote and a plan built around your business. Talk to a Maven& consultant today.
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