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Free zone or mainland?

The difference usually comes down to a short list of things a free-zone licence cannot do directly. We check those points and give you a clear answer.

Mainland licensingEconomic-department context
Free zonesZone-authority licensing
ICP / GDRFAEstablishment & visa capacity
BanksAccount-readiness context

Do you need a mainland licence?

A mainland route is usually relevant if you need to operate, sell, or contract directly in the UAE.

Mainland may be needed

  • Invoice UAE customers directlyDirect UAE invoicing usually needs a mainland route.
  • Run a public-facing locationRetail, clinics, showrooms, and branches generally need mainland licensing.
  • Have staff working on the mainlandSales, delivery, and on-site roles often need the right mainland work arrangement.
  • Carry out regulated activitySome health, legal, engineering, and finance work follows mainland rules.
  • Bid for government workPublic tenders often require a mainland licence class or eligible local partner.

Free zone is usually enough

Non-UAE clients, digital products, holdings/IP, and imports handled through a distributor.

The recommendation you get

Before anything is filed, we send a clear route recommendation with the authority, visa range, and cost view.

  • A recommended route
  • A shortlist of suitable authorities
  • Activity, visa, and cost checks
Example route briefWhat your brief contains
  1. Recommended routeThe structure that fits your activity and customers
  2. Authority shortlistAuthorities that can support the setup
  3. Activity fitHow your activity sits on each shortlisted authority's list
  4. Visa capacityVisa quota against the workspace you need
  5. Cost viewPublished package cost against your budget

Selected routes by business type

Selling in the UAE and beyond

Government buyers and mainland customers can push the route toward mainland.

Route
Mainland operating company + Free Zone holdco
Structure
Dubai mainland operating company with a Free Zone holding company
Sales route
Direct UAE contracting, including government buyers
Visa capacity
Planned around workspace requirements
Indicative budget
Confirmed after scope review
  1. Week 1Route review, written scope, initial approvals
  2. Week 2Trade licence issued
  3. Week 3Establishment card and first visa steps
  4. After licensingBanking referral and tax registration

Relocating for client work and residence

If the work is desk-based and billed abroad, a low-cost free-zone setup is often enough.

Route
Free-zone licence on a desk-based workspace
Structure
Single-founder Free Zone setup
Client base
Overseas clients and remote delivery
Visa capacity
One founder visa
Indicative budget
Confirmed after scope review
  1. Week 1Activity confirmed, scope agreed, name approved
  2. Week 2Licence and establishment card issued
  3. Week 3Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, residence
  4. After licensingBanking referral and tax registration

Building a regional base for enterprise sales

Institutional buyers, local hiring, and procurement needs can make a mainland route the better fit.

Route
Dubai mainland operating company
Structure
Foreign-owned mainland company with leased premises
Sales route
Enterprise sales and institutional procurement
Visa capacity
Planned around the local team and office
Indicative budget
Confirmed after scope review
  1. Week 1Route review, written scope, parent legalisations
  2. Week 2Initial approval, trade name, tenancy registered
  3. Week 3Commercial licence issued, immigration file opened
  4. After licensingVendor onboarding, banking referral, tax registration

Importing, storing, and selling into the UAE

Warehousing, customs, and fulfilment requirements usually matter more than the headline licence cost.

Route
Free-zone trading licence with bonded warehousing
Structure
Industrial Free Zone company with customs registration
Operations
Import, storage, and UAE fulfilment
Premises
Warehouse sized around stock and fulfilment needs
Indicative budget
Confirmed after scope review
  1. Week 1Route and warehouse requirements agreed
  2. Week 2Trade name, initial approval, warehouse agreement
  3. Week 3Licence, customs code, and import setup
  4. After licensingBanking referral and marketplace onboarding

Holding assets across jurisdictions

Structure, banking acceptance, and ownership clarity usually drive the route more than setup speed or cost.

Route
Offshore holding company + financial Free Zone vehicle
Structure
Two-tier holding structure across complementary registries
Ownership
Consolidated ownership and succession planning
Banking fit
Matched to the asset profile and expected activity
Indicative budget
Confirmed after scope review
  1. Week 1Structure design and written scope
  2. Week 2Entity documents and ownership records prepared
  3. Week 3Company registration and corporate records issued
  4. After licensingBanking referral and ongoing compliance setup

Banks we can help you approach.

Bank suitability depends on your activity, ownership, documents and transaction profile.

See our banking partners

Free zone or mainland?

Tell us the activity and headcount. We’ll shortlist the route that actually fits.

  • A dedicated specialist reviews your case.
  • Fixed scope in writing before any work begins.
  • Avg reply 3 minutes on WhatsApp, 24 × 7.

Request your route recommendation

A specialist will review your case and point you to the best-fit setup.

Talk to a UAE specialist

What clients say

Frequently asked

Is mainland better than a free zone?
Not by default. Mainland and free-zone structures solve different problems. The right choice depends on the activity, target customers, contracting model, office and visa needs, tax position, banking profile, and whether the company needs a particular regulator or market-access route.
Can a free-zone company sell to UAE customers?
It can, but the correct route depends on the activity, where goods or services are supplied, the contracting model, customs position where relevant, and any licensing or regulatory requirements. Do not assume that every free-zone licence supports every mainland sales model without a specific review.
Does mainland ownership require a local shareholder?
Many mainland activities can now be structured with foreign ownership, but the answer still depends on the activity and any sector-specific conditions. Regulated or strategic activities can follow different rules. We confirm the current position for the intended licence activity before incorporation.
Is a free-zone company cheaper?
The entry price can be lower for some free-zone packages, but the full cost depends on visas, office or facility requirements, renewals, banking needs, activity approvals, customs, accounting, and the route needed to operate. The cheapest licence is not always the cheapest workable structure.
Can I move from a free zone to mainland later?
A later change may be possible, but it is not always a simple conversion. The practical route can involve a new entity, a branch, transfer of contracts or assets, additional approvals, or winding down the original company. It is better to assess the likely operating model before formation.
What is dual licensing, and do I need it?
Dual licensing can allow a company to operate across a free-zone and mainland framework in certain circumstances. It is not a universal shortcut and depends on the authority, activity, customer model, location, contracts, and required approvals. We assess whether it creates a genuine operating advantage before recommending it.
What is an Ejari or tenancy document, and when do I need one?
An Ejari or equivalent tenancy record evidences a compliant premises arrangement in the relevant authority system. Whether it is required depends on the jurisdiction, activity, office type, visa plan, and licensing route. A registered address is not always the same as a premises arrangement that supports a mainland licence, visas, or customer-facing operations.
Professionals discussing a client referral partnership

Refer a client. Get paid.

Send the case. We do the work. You get paid.

Earn up to AED 5,500 per client

More clients onboarded, higher payout.

Paid within 30 days of completion

Straight to the account.

Tiered rewards as you scale

More referrals unlocks higher payouts.

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