Dubai MainLand
. Mainland company
Better if the main objective is to sell services/products directly across the UAE and work with mainland customers.
The basic process is: choose activity → legal form → trade name → initial approval → licence → premises → any required additional approvals. The UAE currently allows 100% foreign ownership for most mainland commercial activities, although strategic activities have exceptions
Free zone
Usually attractive for entrepreneurs starting with a smaller budget. 100% foreign ownership is generally available. Packages can include the trade licence, establishment card and visa options. Good for consulting, digital marketing, e-commerce, trading, IT and many other activities. Free zones are designed as one-stop setup hubs. However, a free-zone company has specific rules for directly selling into the UAE mainland market
Do You Need Visa ? Yes for Indian We need to have pre- appoved Visa to enter UAE
| Visa type | Best for | Typical validity |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Visa | People employed by a UAE company | Usually 2 years |
| Investor/Partner Visa | Business owners/shareholders | Usually 2 years, depending on setup |
| Green Residence Visa | Skilled professionals, freelancers, investors/partners | Up to 5 years |
| Golden Visa | Investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talents and other eligible categories | 5 or 10 years |
| Freelance Visa/Residence | Independent professionals/freelancers | Often up to 2 years |
| Family Residence Visa | Spouse, children and eligible dependants | Linked to sponsor’s residence |
| Student Residence Visa | Students studying in UAE | Generally linked to study period |
| Remote Work Visa | People working remotely for an overseas employer/business | 1 year |
| Property Owner Residence | Eligible UAE property owners | Depends on the specific programme/value requirements |
| Visit/Tourist Visa | Visiting UAE before deciding to relocate | Short-term |