UAE Business Setup: Trade Licence, Free Zone vs Mainland & Corporate Tax

You can set up one of two types of company. A mainland company is licensed by the emirate Department of Economic Development. In Dubai, this is Dubai DET. A free-zone company is licensed by a free-zone authority, such as DMCC. The mainland route follows a 9-step process. The free-zone route goes through the authority you choose. That authority issues the licence within 14 working days, per u.ae. Costs depend on the emirate, your activity, and your legal form. u.ae does not publish one fixed fee list.

9 steps · 15 minutes (Basher) to 14 working days (free zone); mainland varies · Varies by emirate, activity & legal form (no fixed official schedule)2026-Latest

Opening a personal bank account — your main, or primary, account in the UAE — is easy once you have a residence visa and an Emirates ID, whether you open it in Dubai or any other emirate. Choose a bank. Prepare your documents. Then apply at a branch, or set up your bank account online in the bank app. Approval usually takes a few hours to a few days. Central Bank rules say accounts must be opened within 2 complete business days of application, unless financial-crime checks require more time. In that case, the bank must explain the delay and record the reason. Many banks ask you to keep a minimum balance every month. If your balance falls below it, the bank may charge a monthly fee.

6 steps · A few hours to a few days · Varies by bank (minimum-balance fees may apply)2026-Latest

You must renew a Dubai mainland trade licence before it expires. This keeps your business legal. Renewal is done through the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED). You can renew online through DET e-services or the Invest in Dubai platform. You can also use the DED Business app, or go to an approved service centre. You need three main things. First, a valid Ejari-registered tenancy contract. Second, the filled BR/1 renewal form. Third, payment of the renewal fees shown on the payment voucher. Fees and late-renewal fines change by licence type and activity. The DET portal confirms them when you apply.

6 steps · Same day once documents are in order · Varies by licence type and activity — confirm on the DET portal2026-Latest

A free-zone company gets its licence from a free-zone authority, such as DMCC, JAFZA, or RAKEZ. It does not get it from the emirate DED/DET. The steps are simple. Pick your sector and your zone. Choose a legal form. Reserve a trade name. Then apply online to the zone authority. The authority checks your application. After approval, your licence is issued within about 14 working days. Costs change by zone, activity, legal form, and office package. Check the current fees with the authority you choose before you set a budget.

7 steps · About 14 working days for licence issuance (after approval) · Varies by zone, activity, legal form & office package — confirm with the zone authority2026-Latest

You open a business (corporate) bank account with a UAE bank after your company is licensed. The bank runs Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. It checks the company, its shareholders, and the people allowed to sign for it. The main documents are your trade licence, your Memorandum of Association, ID documents for the shareholders and signatories, and proof of address. Every bank has its own checklist, minimum-balance rules, and timelines. Check these with the bank before you apply.

6 steps · Varies by bank — corporate KYC can take longer than personal accounts · Varies by bank (minimum-balance fees may apply)2026-Latest