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Ownership guide · 2026

100% Foreign Ownership in Dubai Mainland

What Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 changed, which activities qualify, and what is still restricted.

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    Mainland and ownership structuring since 2009.

Ownership rules

What is 100% foreign ownership?

Since Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 you can own a mainland company outright, with no local partner on more than 1,000 activities.

2022Current law: Decree-Law 32 of 2021
1,000+Activities eligible by default
8Restricted strategic-impact categories
Check if your activity qualifies
Start here

Introduction

At a glance
2022

Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 came into force, replacing the 2015 Companies Law entirely.

1,000+

Commercial and industrial activities eligible for 100% foreign ownership by default.

8

Strategic-impact categories under Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2021 that remain restricted.

9%

Corporate tax rate, identical whether you have a local partner or not.

Why it matters

Why 100% ownership actually matters

The law changed in 2021. What it changed in practice is who controls the business.

70%

of shares a joint stock company can now sell through an IPO, up from 30%.

Ready to find out if your activity qualifies?

Talk to a specialist

Full profit retention

Every dirham of profit is yours, no partner entitled to a share by law.

Sole decision-making control

No local partner's sign-off needed on hiring, contracts, or strategy.

No partner-exit risk

A dispute with a local partner can't threaten your license or your shares.

Higher IPO flexibility

Convert to a joint stock company and sell up to 70% of shares, not 30%.

No local agent for branches

Foreign company branches no longer need a UAE national agent on file.

A cleaner cap table

Simpler ownership structure makes due diligence and financing easier.

Which is right for you

Mainland vs Free Zone

Both now offer 100% foreign ownership. The real difference is where you're allowed to trade, not who can own the shares.

Best for UAE-facing business
MainlandDET license
Free ZoneZone authority license
Foreign ownershipWho can hold the shares
100%, on eligible activities
100%, always
UAE market accessSell directly to local clients
Anywhere in the UAE
Needs a distributor or dual license
Government contractsBid for public-sector work
Fully eligible
Not eligible
Strategic activitiesBanking, defence, telecom, etc.
Restricted, regulator approval needed
Same restrictions apply
Setup routeWhich authority licenses you
DET, direct application
Zone authority, direct application
Corporate tax9% above AED 375k
9% standard rate
Possible 0% on qualifying income
Legacy conversionExisting partner-held company
MOA amendment, DET update
Free zones had 100% by default
Best for
UAE-facing trading, retail, and government-contract businesses.
Export-focused, holding, or fully international operations.
The honest verdict

If your customers are in the UAE, mainland wins even with an identical ownership percentage, free zone still can't sell directly to local clients without a distributor or dual license.

The legal timeline

How Dubai Got to 100% Ownership

Four legal instruments over four years, not one single reform. Knowing which one is actually in force is the difference between accurate advice and a superseded citation.

In force since 2 Jan 2022
2022Current law in force
1,000+Eligible activities
8Restricted categories
0%Tax impact from ownership
Four laws, one reform
  1. 2018

    FDI Law introduced

    Federal Law No. 19 of 2018 set the first framework and a Negative List of excluded activities.

  2. 2020

    Positive List issued

    Cabinet Resolution No. 16 of 2020 approved case-by-case 100% ownership for listed activities.

  3. 2020

    Companies Law amended

    Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 removed the 51% Emirati shareholder default requirement.

  4. 2021

    Strategic Impact Resolution

    Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2021, effective 1 June 2021, set the current restricted-activity list.

  5. 2022

    New Companies Law in force

    Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 fully replaced the 2015 law from 2 January 2022.

  6. Now

    1,000+ activities open

    Default 100% ownership on most mainland activities, with 8 categories still restricted.

What's still restricted

Not Every Activity Qualifies

Cabinet Decision No. 55 of 2021 carves out categories where a sectoral regulator, not DET, decides.

Dubai's business district at dusk, seen from above

Security, Defence & Military

Ministry of Defence & Ministry of Interior

HIGH RISK

Banking, Finance & Insurance

Central Bank of the UAE

HIGH RISK

Telecommunications

Telecom & Digital Gov. Regulatory Authority

MEDIUM RISK

Hajj, Umrah, Quran & Fisheries

Sector-specific, confirm before filing

MEDIUM RISK
Who benefits

Sectors 100% Ownership Opens Up

Most searches for this land on one of these eight sectors. Here's what changes for each.

  • General Trading

    Import, export and wholesale distribution

    ScenarioYou buy and resell goods across the UAE and internationally.
    Why it fitsFull ownership plus unrestricted access to the local market.
    Risk noteSome regulated product categories still need extra approval.

  • Professional Consultancy

    Management, IT, marketing and technical advisory

    ScenarioYou sell expertise, not products, to UAE and regional clients.
    Why it fitsNo local service agent needed for most consultancy activities.
    Risk noteA few licensed professions still require a local service agent.

  • Manufacturing

    Production, assembly and processing

    ScenarioYou manufacture goods and need a physical UAE production base.
    Why it fitsFull ownership plus direct access to UAE and GCC distribution.
    Risk noteRequires suitable premises and Municipality approval regardless of ownership.
  • A Dubai technology and e-commerce startup workspace

    Tech & E-commerce

    Software, platforms and online retail

    ScenarioYou run a digital platform or online store billing UAE customers.
    Why it fitsFull ownership, mainland licensing, and direct local invoicing.
    Risk noteData-handling and payment activities may need separate approval.
  • A welcoming Dubai restaurant and hospitality interior

    F&B and Hospitality

    Restaurants, cafes and food outlets

    ScenarioYou run a physical outlet serving customers across the city.
    Why it fitsFull ownership of the operating company and the premises lease.
    Risk noteFood, hygiene and municipality approvals apply regardless of ownership.
  • A Dubai real estate advisory workspace with property plans

    Real Estate Services

    Brokerage and property management

    ScenarioYou broker or manage UAE property and earn commission locally.
    Why it fitsFull ownership of the brokerage entity itself.
    Risk noteIndividual brokers still need RERA registration and certification.
  • Construction planning materials for a Dubai contracting project

    Contracting

    Civil, MEP and general contracting

    ScenarioYou execute construction projects and bid for onshore work.
    Why it fitsRequired for government tenders and major onshore contracts.
    Risk noteCertain activities need approval from the relevant authority.
  • A logistics planning desk representing Dubai transport operations

    Logistics & Transport

    Freight, courier and fleet operations

    ScenarioYou move goods and run vehicle fleets across the Emirates.
    Why it fitsFull ownership plus nationwide delivery rights.
    Risk noteVehicle and RTA permit requirements scale with fleet size.

The process

How to Actually Get 100% Ownership

Two tracks: a new company applies directly. An existing partner-held company converts.

  1. Critical stage

    Confirm activity eligibility

    Check your exact activity against DET's current list before doing anything else.

  2. New company: reserve your name

    Apply for trade name and initial approval directly through DET.

  3. New company: draft your MOA

    Draft the Memorandum of Association with 100% foreign shareholding from the outset.

  4. New company: submit for license

    Submit documents and receive your trade license, no local partner required.

  5. Critical stage

    Existing company: secure partner consent

    Get the outgoing UAE partner's written consent to transfer their shares.

  6. Existing company: notarise the MOA

    Draft and notarise the updated MOA reflecting the new ownership structure.

  7. Existing company: update records

    Submit to DET for a license and CR update, then refresh UBO and bank KYC filings.

Straight answers

100% Ownership Myths, Corrected

The misreadings that cost founders time and legal fees.

Myth

Only new companies can get 100% ownership

Reality

Existing partner-held companies can convert, an amended, notarised MOA and a DET update is all it takes on eligible activities.

Myth

Free zones are the only route to full ownership

Reality

Mainland has offered it since 2021. The real difference is market access, not ownership percentage.

Myth

100% ownership is automatic for every activity

Reality

Eight strategic-impact categories aren't. Banking, defence, and telecom still need sectoral regulator approval.

Myth

Going 100% foreign-owned raises your tax rate

Reality

It doesn't. The 9% corporate tax rate is identical regardless of ownership structure, and so is the AED 375,000 threshold.

Myth

The 2020 amendment is still the current law

Reality

It was replaced. Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 has governed UAE companies since 2 January 2022.

Myth

The 2021 law only changed who can hold the shares.

Reality

It changed control as well. The same reform lifted the share a joint stock company can sell through an IPO, up from 30%.

Confirm your activity against the current lists before you file, not the 2020 headlines.

The fit check

Is your activity eligible?

Two minutes now beats a rejected filing later.

Recommended
Recommended4 signs

You likely qualify if

  • Your activity is commercial or professionalThe vast majority of mainland activities qualify by default.
  • You're setting up a new mainland LLC or branchNo local partner or agent required from the outset.
  • You hold a company with a local partnerYou can convert via an amended, notarised MOA.
  • You want government-contract eligibility tooMainland licensing keeps that door open, free zone doesn't.
Confirm My Activity's Eligibility
Check first4 signs

You'll need extra approval if

  • Your activity is banking, insurance, or financeCentral Bank of the UAE sets the limit.
  • Your activity touches defence or securityDefence and Interior ministries approve here.
  • Your activity is telecom, Hajj, or fisheriesA sector regulator, not DET, decides this.
  • Your activity is energy or utilitiesA sector ministry, not DET, sets the ownership position.

Many businesses split structures, a 100% foreign-owned mainland trading arm alongside a regulated joint-venture entity.

Why choose us

Ownership handled on the current law

Current Law, Not 2020 Headlines

Every eligibility check runs against Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 and the current Cabinet Resolution 55 list, not superseded provisions.

New Setup or Legacy Conversion

Whether you're forming a new 100% foreign-owned entity or converting an existing partner-held company, the same team handles both.

MOA and DET Filings, End to End

We draft the amended Memorandum of Association, secure partner consent documentation, and manage the DET license update.

Straight Answers on Restrictions

If your activity needs sectoral regulator approval, we say so up front, not after you've paid for a filing that stalls.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for most activities. Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021 removed the old 51% Emirati ownership rule for the large majority of commercial and industrial activities, over 1,000 in total. A short list of strategic categories still needs approval, but the default for mainland is now 100% foreign ownership.
It ended the blanket requirement for a 51% Emirati shareholder on the mainland. Before it, most mainland companies needed a local majority partner. Since it took effect, over 1,000 activities allow full foreign ownership by default, with no local partner and no nominee, subject to a defined list of exceptions.
Eight strategic-impact categories remain restricted, including security and defence, banking and insurance, and telecommunications. These need approval from the relevant regulator, such as the UAE Central Bank or Ministry of Defence, and may still require local participation. We confirm your activity first.
For most activities, no. The local sponsor requirement was removed for eligible activities in 2021, so you own the company outright with no partner and no annual sponsor fee. Only the restricted strategic-impact categories may still require local participation or a service agent, depending on the activity.
Yes, if its activity is eligible. An existing partner-held company can convert by amending and re-notarising its Memorandum of Association and updating the record with DET. You do not need to dissolve and re-form the company. We handle the amendment and the DET update for eligible activities.
Both now offer 100% ownership, so ownership is no longer the deciding factor. The real difference is market access: a mainland company sells directly across the UAE and can bid for government work, while a free zone is often cheaper but reaches the local market only through an agent. Choose by where your customers are.
No. Owning 100% of your company does not change your corporate tax rate. A mainland company pays 9% on profit above AED 375,000 and 0% below, regardless of ownership split. Ownership affects control and profit share, not the tax rate itself.
The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) issues the license, and for eligible activities full ownership is the default, so no special approval is needed. A restricted activity adds a regulator approval step. For a standard eligible activity, ownership adds no time to the normal setup.

Confirm Your Activity's Ownership Eligibility

Send us your exact business activity and we check it against the current DET list and Cabinet Resolution 55, free, and before you commit to any filing. No obligation.

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