Dubai Freezone Companies Now Permitted to Operate On the Mainland in UAE

Business Setup Consultant
June 19, 2021
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Free zone companies have typically been restricted to their respective free zones. Earlier, if a free zone company wanted to have a presence on the mainland, it could either open a Branch Office; or it could register another business entity on the mainland. It was also necessary to submit an application to the respective Department of Economic Development and get it approved if one wanted to expand his/her sphere of economic activity to the mainland.

This situation is now changing. The Department of Economic Development proposes to allow free zone companies to operate on the mainland without opening a Branch Office or registering another company with its address on the mainland. The plan envisages a permit system, restricted to companies located in free zones in Dubai. In other words, Dubai free zone companies can apply for a permit and expand their operations to the mainland without opening another office or company on the mainland.

At the moment, this is applicable only for the following business sectors

Accounting and Bookkeeping
Accounting and Office Machinery Rental
Aircraft Cleaning Services
Aircraft Upholstery Services
Business Events Management
Boat Upholstery Services
Cargo Loading and Unloading Services
Cost Control and Risk Management Services
Cyber Security Consultancy
Cargo Loading and Unloading Services
Data Entry Services
Cargo Loading and Unloading Services
Documents Destroying Storage
Electronic Chips Programming
Exhibition Organization Management
Facilities Management Services
Facilities Resource Management Consultancy
Exhibition Organization Management
Feasibilities Study Consultancy
Festival Organization Management
Financial Instruments Quotation Services
Fine Arts Consultancies
Health Consultancy
Health Food Consultancy
Health Planning Consultancies
Information Technology Consultants
Internet Consultancy
Logistics Consultancy
Management Consultancies
Marketing Research and Consultancies
Media Studies and Consultancies
Technical Installation Consultancies
Spa and Fitness Clubs Consultancy
Sourcing and Procurement Consultancy
Science and Technology Consultancy
Radiology Centers Consultancy
Quality and Standardization Consultants
Public Networking Services
Project Management Services
Product Design Services
Pharmaceutical Consultancy
Parliamentary Consultancy
Occupational Safety Training
Noise Control, Vibration, and Acoustics Consultancy
Network Consultancies

Your company needs to be actively engaged in these areas of business – that is to say, it must be one of the primary business activities of the company and not an allied business activity – for you to be eligible to apply for the new permit.

*Otherwise, you have no choice but to open a Branch Office on the mainland.

Documents Required

You will need to attach along with your application for a permit a copy of your Business License, and a No Objection Certificate from the Free Zone Authority which manages the free zone that you are presently located in.

Although there are more than 30 free zones in Dubai, the scheme currently covers only the following free zones.