Serve Dubai mainland clients from your free zone company without forming a second company. PROXPAT checks eligibility, prepares the tax-ready record keeping and files the permit on Invest in Dubai.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit in Dubai
For years the most common question from free zone founders was the same: can we work for clients on the Dubai mainland? Since 8 October 2025 there is a direct route for many of them. Dubai Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2025 introduced the Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit, issued by DET's Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC) in collaboration with the Dubai Free Zones Council.
The permit lets eligible free zone companies that hold a Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) operate on the mainland in an initial set of non-regulated sectors, for AED 5,000 per six-month period, without setting up a separate mainland company or recruiting new staff.
PROXPAT checks whether your activities fall within the eligible sectors, confirms your DUL record, helps you set up separate financial records for mainland revenue and files the application. If the permit does not fit, we compare it with a mainland branch or mainland company.
The Permit at a Glance
| Topic | As announced by the Government of Dubai |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Dubai Executive Council Decision No. 11 of 2025 |
| Issued by | Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC), part of DET, with the Dubai Free Zones Council |
| Launched | 8 October 2025 |
| Who can apply | Free zone companies holding a Dubai Unified Licence (DUL) |
| Sectors in the initial phase | Non-regulated sectors: technology, consultancy, design, professional services and trading |
| Not yet covered | Regulated sectors, with extension planned in future phases |
| Validity and fee | Six months for AED 5,000, renewable every six months for the same fee |
| How to apply | Fully online through the Invest in Dubai platform |
| Staff | Existing staff may be used for mainland operations without new recruitment |
| Records and tax | Separate financial records in line with Federal Tax Authority requirements; related revenues subject to 9% corporate tax. See corporate tax registration |
Please note: this summary reflects the October 2025 announcement. Detailed eligibility, activity mapping and conditions are set by DET and can be refined. We confirm them on the Invest in Dubai platform before filing.
How Free Zone Companies Reached the Mainland Before
Free zone companies can operate within their zone and internationally, but selling directly on the mainland has traditionally required an extra arrangement. The main options were:
- A local distributor or agent selling the free zone company's goods or services on the mainland.
- A mainland branch of the free zone company, licensed with DET, with its own premises and approvals.
- A separate mainland company, often under a common holding structure.
The permit adds a lighter, time-limited option for eligible sectors. The older routes remain relevant for regulated activities, for long-term heavy mainland operations and for businesses outside Dubai.
Permit, Mainland Branch or Mainland Company?
| Mainland operating permit | Mainland branch | Separate mainland company | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set up as | A permit attached to the free zone company | A DET-licensed branch of the free zone company | A new legal entity licensed by DET |
| Activities | Initial non-regulated sectors only | Activities licensed for the branch | Any activity the company is licensed for |
| Cost pattern | AED 5,000 every six months | Branch licence, premises and renewals | Full company licence, premises and renewals |
| Staff | Existing staff, no new recruitment required | Depends on branch set-up | Own visas and work permits |
| Commitment | Six-month renewable cycles | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Suits | Testing or serving mainland demand in eligible sectors | Established, recurring mainland operations | Regulated or large-scale mainland operations |
See UAE company types for how branches and subsidiaries differ legally.
Eligibility Checklist
Your company is licensed in a Dubai free zone
The company holds a Dubai Unified Licence and its record is current
The mainland work falls within technology, consultancy, design, professional services or trading
The activity is not in a regulated sector
You can keep separate financial records for mainland revenue
The existing team can deliver the mainland work
Not sure whether your activity counts as regulated? Our business activity consultation maps your licence activities against the permit scope.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm your DUL record and licence validity
Step 2: Map activities to the eligible sectors
Step 3: Set up separate accounting for mainland revenue
Step 4: Submit the application on Invest in Dubai
Step 5: Pay the AED 5,000 fee
Step 6: Receive the permit and start mainland work
Step 7: Diarise the six-month renewal
Step 8: Review whether a branch or company becomes better value
Tax and Accounting Points to Plan For
The announcement ties the permit to two accounting conditions: separate financial records kept in line with Federal Tax Authority requirements, and 9% corporate tax on revenues related to mainland operations.
- Separate the revenue from day one. Mainland invoices, costs and contracts should be identifiable in the books, not reconstructed at year end.
- Review your free zone tax position. If your company relies on free zone tax treatment for its other income, take advice before applying so mainland revenue is handled correctly.
- Keep contracts clear. Mainland client contracts should reference the permit period and scope.
Please note: this page is not tax advice. Confirm your position with a qualified UAE tax adviser before starting mainland work under the permit.
What Is Expected Next
The Government of Dubai described the permit as a first phase. Regulated sectors are planned for future extension, cross-jurisdictional activity is expected to grow by 15 to 20% in the first year, and more than 10,000 active free zone firms are expected to benefit.
It also builds on the Dubai Unified Licence, which gave every Dubai business a single verified identity across mainland and free zones.
How PROXPAT Helps
Eligibility and activity mapping
DUL record check and corrections
Invest in Dubai application
Six-month renewal tracking
Coordination with your accountant on separate records
Comparison with a mainland branch or company
Mainland company or branch setup where needed
Ongoing PRO and licence support
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the right route to the mainland.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
The licence is the start of the government work, not the end of it
Once the trade licence is issued, the sequence that actually lets you operate begins: the establishment card, the MOHRE and immigration files, your employee quota, then employee visas and work permits. After that it repeats every year — renewals, cancellations when people leave, and licence renewal and amendments.
Companies that would rather not build that function in-house put it on a monthly PRO retainer from AED 700, or use it per transaction. Government fees stay separate and itemised either way.
The first six months after incorporation
- Establishment card issued through immigration
- MOHRE file opened and e-signature completed
- Employee quota checked before hiring
- Offer letters, work permits and entry permits
- Medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping
- Corporate tax and VAT registration where they apply
More in Structures and Costs
Take Your Free Zone Company Onto the Mainland
PROXPAT confirms eligibility, prepares the record keeping, files the permit on Invest in Dubai and tracks renewals, or sets up a branch or mainland company when that fits better.