Overview
Mainland company formation
Umm Al Quwain is a quieter, lower-cost emirate that appeals to niche and small businesses wanting a straightforward onshore licence without big-city overheads.
Foreign ownership
Up to 100%
Market access
UAE-wide + government
Office
Required
Visas
Scalable
Why Choose It
Why choose Umm Al Quwain mainland
Low setup and renewal costs.
Simple licensing suited to small and niche activities.
Access to fishing, trading, and light-industrial sectors.
Full foreign ownership on most commercial activities.
The Process
How the setup works
A clear, advisor-led path from first call to a live company.
Consultation & activity
We confirm your business activity and the right legal form — LLC, sole establishment, or civil company.
Trade name & approval
We reserve your trade name and secure initial approval from the Department of Economic Development.
Documentation & office
We arrange your office tenancy and Ejari and notarise your Memorandum of Association.
Licence issuance
We settle the licence fees and collect your commercial trade licence.
Visas & bank account
We issue your establishment card and process investor and employee visas.
What it costs
Mainland costs depend on your activity, the number of visas you need, and your office solution. Because government fees vary by emirate and activity group, we quote a fixed, itemised figure once your requirements are clear.
Is Umm Al Quwain mainland right for you?
Umm Al Quwain mainland works for small trading, services, and niche businesses prioritising low cost. A Marhaban Group advisor will confirm the right fit for your activity, ownership, and visa needs on a free call before you commit to anything.
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.