Corporate
Business Setup
End-to-end formation, licensing and banking for your UAE entity.
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Mainland vs Free Zone
Each option has clear advantages. Here's how they compare.
| Mainland | Free Zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Trade inside the UAE | Anywhere, directly | Through a local distributor |
| Government contracts | Eligible | Not eligible |
| Office | Physical office (Ejari) required | Flexi-desk options available |
| Setup speed | 1–3 weeks | Often a few days |
| Starting cost | Higher | Lower |
| Visas | Based on office size, no fixed cap | Fixed by package |
| Customs duty | Standard | Exempt within the zone |
| Foreign ownership | 100% for most activities | 100% |
Mainland advantages
- ✓Trade directly with any customer anywhere in the UAE — no local distributor needed
- ✓Eligible to bid for government and semi-government contracts
- ✓Open shops, branches and offices anywhere in the country
- ✓No limit on visas tied to a free zone package
- ✓Not restricted to a specific free zone area for your office
Free Zone advantages
- ✓Lower starting cost — no mandatory office lease (Ejari)
- ✓Customs duty exemption on imports and re-exports within the zone
- ✓Faster, simpler approvals with fewer government departments
- ✓Ideal for international trade, online and consulting businesses
- ✓Specialised zones for media, tech, commodities and logistics