Our Services
Mainland Company Formation
Full UAE market access with a mainland trade license — ideal for businesses trading directly with the local market and government.
A mainland licence lets you trade anywhere across the UAE without restrictions — now with 100% foreign ownership available on most commercial and professional activities.
Why choose mainland
- Trade freely across the entire UAE market.
- 100% foreign ownership on most activities.
- Eligibility for government and semi-government contracts.
- No cap on the number of visas, subject to your office space.
How the company setup process works
- Choose your business activity — trading, manufacturing, services, or consultancy.
- Select a jurisdiction — mainland, free zone, or offshore.
- Choose a business structure — sole proprietorship, LLC, branch office, industrial, commercial, free zone, or offshore company.
- Register your trade name in line with the UAE's naming conventions.
- Obtain initial approvals from the Department of Economic Development or the relevant free zone authority.
- Prepare legal documents — Memorandum and Articles of Association and shareholder agreements, with notarisation.
- Lease office space — a physical office, free zone facility, or virtual office.
- Apply for your licence based on your activity and jurisdiction.
- Complete company establishment and immigration registration.
- Process visas for you and your employees.
How Marhaban Group helps
- Business advisory and consultancy
- Company formation and registration
- PRO services
- Visa processing and documentation
- Office space leasing and virtual offices
- Bank account opening assistance
- Licence liquidation and cancellation
Why set up in the UAE
- 100% foreign ownership options
- No personal or income tax
- Highly competitive corporate tax
- A strategic location at the centre of regional markets
- World-class infrastructure
- A business-friendly environment
Business Legal Structures in the UAE
Like any other country, the UAE offers various legal corporate structures for businesses. Selecting the appropriate structure is crucial as it affects ownership rights, liability protection, and operational capabilities in the Emirates market.
Sole Proprietorship
This type of company is 100 percent owned by one person - meaning they control the company and the profits. All nationalities are allowed to set up sole proprietorship company, but only UAE and GCC nationals are allowed to set up a commercial or industrial company.
Civil Company
Civil company businesses in UAE can perform work in certain profession such as doctors, accountants, lawyers, etc. A civil company has to have at least 51 percent of the business owned by an Emirati national.
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A limited liability company can have between 2 and 50 shareholders, which means each shareholder is liable up to their share percentage. Profits and losses are also divided among the shareholders based on their holdings. Once again, 51 percent must be owned by a UAE national. There must be a company board of directors if there are more than seven partners with atleast three shareholders in the board.
Branch of a Foreign Company
A foreign company may establish a branch office in the UAE. In this instance, the company is 100% owned by the parent company. However, the raw materials must be imported through a domestic trading company.
Free Zone Company
Companies established in a Free Zone can have anywhere from two to five stakeholders. Although the incentives for establishing companies in the UAE Free Zones are plentiful, you will want to be aware that these companies cannot sell products to the UAE market directly. This might cause you to have different requirements to establish a business in a Free Zone.
Freelancers
It is surprising easy to establish a freelance company in the UAE. You will need to set up in a Free Zone, provide an application, CV, a bank reference and completed Registry Identification Code Form (which must be notarized). You will also be able to apply for a visa at this time.
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Business Setup in UAE
End-to-end guidance to launch your company in the UAE — from structure and licensing to visas and banking.
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Free Zone Company Formation
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Offshore Company Formation
Asset protection, international trading, and holding structures through UAE offshore jurisdictions.
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