Mainland companies get access to over 2,000 business activities. Our team will guide you through selecting the correct activities and guaranteeing your business fully maximizes the advantages of a mainland license.
A mainland license allows you to engage in various business activities in the UAE. Certain business activities, however, may require further permits from other government departments.
Here is a list of the most popular mainland business activities in Dubai and the UAE:
With the construction sector projected to reach AED 352.6 billion by 2030, and manufacturing expected to hit AED 300 billion by 2031, the UAE's industrial and infrastructure landscape is on a strong growth trajectory.
These sectors present abundant opportunities for both businesses and investors looking to tap into the country's expanding economy.
Involves the planning, design, and execution of buildings, infrastructure, and civil works. This includes both large-scale developments and niche structural projects across the UAE.
Examples: Building contractors, residential construction firms, roadwork projects, infrastructure development, demolition contractors.
Refers to companies licensed to carry out specialized or technical contracting services, often as part of larger construction or industrial projects.
Examples: Electrical, plumbing and air conditioning contractors, aluminum fabrication, interior fit-out contractors, steel structure installers.
Refers to the large-scale industrial production of goods using labor, machinery, and raw materials. Covers both light and heavy industries.
Examples: Garment factories, plastic molding plants, printing presses, electronics assembly lines, industrial packaging units.
Comprises businesses involved in transforming raw ingredients into packaged food products, beverages, and processed items for commercial distribution.
Examples: Snack and bakery production, beverage bottling, meat processing plants, dairy factories, frozen food packaging units.
Deals with the extraction and processing of raw materials from the earth, including minerals, aggregates, and fossil-based products.
Examples: Sand and gravel quarries, marble extraction units, limestone mining, rock crushing plants, mineral processing.
Comprises skilled manual trades and traditional crafts practiced by individual artisans or small workshops.
Examples: Tailoring shops, carpentry workshops, blacksmithing, embroidery services, handmade accessories.
As the leading regional hub for consulting, finance, and professional services, the UAE is expected to see continuous growth in these sectors in the coming years.
If you want to position your business at the heart of the UAE’s corporate ecosystem, here are the key business activities you can explore.
Comprises expert advisory firms offering specialized knowledge in various fields including business, technology, finance, and legal matters. These services are essential for corporate governance, innovation, and operational excellence.
Examples: Business consultancies, IT advisory firms, HR consultancy, engineering consultants, legal advisors, branding agencies.
Involves the management and facilitation of financial resources, credit, investment, and insurance services across individual and corporate sectors.
Examples: Commercial banks, insurance companies, asset management firms, forex trading offices, credit institutions.
Encompasses property-related transactions, leasing, and business support services including virtual office operations and admin outsourcing.
Examples: Real estate brokerages, property management firms, business centers, leasing companies, document clearing services.
Covers promotional strategies, market research, brand communication, and customer engagement across traditional and digital platforms.
Examples: Advertising agencies, media buying houses, SEO and digital marketing firms, branding studios, market research companies.
Broad commercial category for the buying, selling, importing, and exporting of goods, along with associated services like distribution.
Examples: General trading companies, specialty product traders, electronics importers, packaging material suppliers.
With the UAE’s communications and information market projected to grow to USD 85.24 billion by 2030, the country is fast becoming a global hub for tech-driven businesses.
The sector spans media, digital platforms, innovation, and connectivity, presenting businesses with plenty of opportunities to scale.
Focuses on digital infrastructure, IT systems, software development, and electronic communication.
Examples: Web development firms, software houses, cybersecurity providers, data centers, mobile app developers.
Involves the creation, production, and distribution of content and experiences across media formats.
Examples: Film and TV production studios, event management companies, publishing houses, animation and gaming firms.
Includes all services related to moving goods or people, warehousing, and telecom or IT-based communication operations.
Examples: Cargo and freight services, cold storage, courier companies, telecom infrastructure providers, warehousing.
The UAE’s lifestyle and tourism sectors are thriving, with travel and tourism expected to contribute AED 245 billion to the country’s economy.
As the country aims to welcome 40 million visitors annually, there’s rising demand for businesses in hospitality, wellness, healthcare, and education.
Includes businesses providing short-term lodging, dining, and catering services. This sector supports the UAE’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem with a wide range of culinary and accommodation experiences.
Examples: Hotels, resorts, guest houses, fine dining restaurants, cafeterias, catering services, cloud kitchens.
Includes licensed F&B establishments that offer prepared food and beverages for on-site consumption or takeaway.
Examples: Coffee houses, dine-in restaurants, quick-service outlets, specialty dessert cafes, food trucks.
Encompasses services that support leisure, cultural, and adventure tourism for local and international visitors.
Examples: Tour operators, desert safari companies, cruise and yacht charters, sightseeing guides, ticketing and reservations.
Covers the operation of institutions providing academic, technical, and professional learning at various levels. Includes both formal education and continuous skill development services.
Examples: International schools, universities, vocational training centers, e-learning providers, language institutes, coaching centers.
Includes the provision of preventive, diagnostic, curative, and rehabilitative medical services, along with support for social welfare and community health.
Examples: Hospitals, dental clinics, physiotherapy centers, mental health clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers.
Covers services aimed at individual well-being, grooming, lifestyle support, and household maintenance.
Examples: Salons and spas, home cleaning services, pet grooming, domestic help agencies, personal coaching.
Enter high-value sectors that shape the nation—energy, agriculture, diplomacy, and beyond. With the right setup, you can unlock powerful opportunities in regulated industries.
Covers all activities related to cultivating crops, raising animals, aquaculture, and modern farming methods designed to support food production and sustainability within the UAE's arid environment.
Examples: Vegetable farms, livestock breeding, poultry production, hydroponic greenhouses, date farming, aquaculture facilities.
Focuses on marine and freshwater activities including harvesting, breeding, and processing of fish and other seafood resources.
Examples: Commercial fishing fleets, aquaculture farms, fish drying and packing units, seafood trading and export.
Relates to the generation, transmission, and distribution of essential utilities to support residential, commercial, and industrial needs.
Examples: Power generation plants, water desalination units, natural gas supply networks, utility management companies.
Refers to the operation of international or diplomatic organizations functioning independently of national regulations but within UAE territory.
Examples: Embassies, consulates, UN offices, regional trade commissions, non-governmental international organizations.
While mainland businesses now enjoy 100% foreign ownership in most activities, there are specific economic activities that still require a local partner. These include:
E-financing and e-banking; life insurance; real estate financing; commercial banking; investment banking; Islamic banking; reinsurance; coin minting; banknote printing; money exchangers; remittance of local and foreign currencies; and activities of a similar nature.
Radio broadcasting station; satellite communication services; television and radio broadcasting via encrypted and open channels; wired telecommunications services; and more.
Manufacturing and trading of military garments or uniforms; military equipment or weapons manufacturing and trading; military tools and spare parts trading; defence and security companies’ representation; military consultancy; control and command systems development; missiles and weapons technology development; and other similar activities.
Commercial agencies; Hajj and Umrah organizing activities; Holy Quran recitation institutes; and catching of fish, natural pearls and marine animals.
Fill in your details and our advisors will assist you in choosing the right activities for your business setup.
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