General guide — confirm on the official site
Free zone vs mainland
ഫ്രീ സോൺ vs മെയിൻലാൻഡ്
Free zone companies are designed to operate within their zone and abroad; mainland companies trade directly in the UAE market. Choose based on how your business will operate.
Go to the official service Last updated: November 2026
This is general guidance. Fees and rules change — confirm on the official link and apply only there.
Who needs this?
Anyone planning to start a business.
Step by step
- Mainland (DET in Dubai): trade anywhere in the UAE, open shops, government contracts
- Free zone: 100% foreign ownership, quick setup, but trade mostly inside the zone/abroad
- Mainland also allows 100% foreign ownership for most activities now
- Compare licence cost, visa quota and office requirement
- Register for corporate tax with the FTA after setup
Fees
Free-zone packages from roughly AED 6,000–15,000 a year (e.g. SHAMS, IFZA, RAKEZ); mainland usually higher with office rent
Processing time
Free zone often 1–7 days; mainland 1–3 weeks
Online or in person
Online and in person
Where to go — useful links
Prices and timings are approximate and change — confirm on the official site before paying.
Responsible authority
Common mistakes
- Relying on 'all-inclusive' package prices — check visa, office and renewal costs.
Related questions
Can a free zone company run a shop in Dubai?
Not directly — a free zone licence doesn't let you open a shop outside the zone. You'd need a mainland licence (DET) or, in some cases, an extra DET permit for the free zone company.
Related guides
Official sources
MalluDubai is an independent information portal. We don't accept applications or represent the government.