01
Commercial Licence
Operational Focus: Designed for enterprises engaged in trading, buying, selling, and distributing goods across local and global supply chains.
MAINLAND LICENCES
Mainland Trade Licences
Obtain the ideal trade licence for your Dubai mainland business with complete legal compliance and administrative support. Trilliant Business Services manages your entire licensing setup from activity classification and initial approvals to document clearance and corporate banking onboarding.
- Five licence categories
- Approvals handled for you
- Amendments and renewals
FULL-SERVICE EXECUTION
Mainland Trade Licence Types in Dubai and the UAE
Acquiring a mainland trade licence issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) allows your organization to trade directly across the local UAE market, tender for public sector projects, and build an unrestricted onshore commercial presence. Structuring your licensing framework requires exact alignment with official government activity codes.
Trilliant Business Services provides complete licensing advisory. We evaluate your operational model, secure mandatory authority permits, coordinate legal documentation, and manage regulatory filings to establish your company without legal friction.
LICENCE TYPES
Mainland Licence Categories
Select the legal licence category structured to support your exact business activities and long-term expansion plans.
02
Professional Licence
Operational Focus: Engineered for service providers, skilled professionals, consultancies, and digital agencies delivering specialized expertise.
Key Activities
- Management Consultancy
- IT & Tech Advisory
- Marketing Services
- Architectural Design
03
Industrial Licence
Operational Focus: Tailored for businesses manufacturing, processing, assembling, or packaging physical products within designated industrial sectors.
Key Activities
- Product Manufacturing
- Food Processing
- Material Assembly
- Packaging Operations
04
Tourism Licence
Operational Focus: Built for companies operating across hospitality, travel facilitation, excursion planning, and leisure management.
05
Branch / Representative Office
Operational Focus: Created for foreign or existing UAE parent corporations expanding commercial operations without creating a separate legal entity.
Key Activities
- Foreign Company Branch
- Regional Corporate Office
- UAE Branch Registration
- Parent Entity Extension
COMPARISON MATRIX
Compare the Five Categories
Review the foundational features across each mainland licence category to align your enterprise goals.
| Licence Type | Foreign Ownership | Workspace Requirement | Activity Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 100% Ownership Available | Physical Office / Store | Onshore & Global Product Trading |
| Professional | 100% Equity Ownership | Office Space / Shared Office | Direct B2B & B2C Professional Services |
| Industrial | 100% Foreign Ownership | Industrial Unit / Warehouse | Manufacturing & Material Assembly |
| Tourism | Subject to Sector Rules | Dedicated Commercial Space | Travel, Hospitality & Leisure Services |
| Branch Office | 100% Parent Ownership | Physical Commercial Office | Commercial Scope of Parent Enterprise |
Need guidance matching your business activities to the right licence type? Connect with our corporate advisors today.
LICENCE FAQS
Licence Questions
Can a foreigner hold 100% ownership of a mainland licence?
Yes. Recent Commercial Companies Law updates allow foreign investors full legal ownership across the majority of commercial and professional mainland activities.
Which mainland licence type is right for my business?
The optimal category depends on your business operations: Commercial licences cover product trading, Professional licences suit specialized service provision, and Industrial licences support manufacturing. Our advisors assess your model to select the exact activity codes.
Is a physical office space mandatory for a mainland licence?
Yes. All DET-issued mainland trade licences require an official commercial office lease or registered Ejari workspace agreement. Our corporate team assists in identifying compliant commercial properties.
Can I combine multiple activities under one trade licence?
Yes. Multiple related business activities can often be combined under a single licence, provided they fall within approved DET regulatory groups.
Will Trilliant assist with corporate bank account setup?
Yes. We compile your official licensing dossiers, align your commercial background with institutional compliance criteria, and coordinate directly with leading banks across the UAE.
GET STARTED
Which Licence Do You Need?
Speak directly with an experienced corporate setup advisor to define your licensing requirements and launch your mainland entity.