← Support library Vantablack Support / Dubai Mainland

Mainland company setup, mapped from start to operation.

A practical itinerary showing what happens at each stage, what documents are needed, when physical presence matters, and how long the standard steps can take.

12 milestonesFormation + immigrationBanking + employee visa
01License
→
02Immigration
→
03Visa
→
04Operate
VANTABLACK / THE CONNECTED ROUTE

Mainland formation, then readiness to operate.

Follow the numbered route
Select a checkpoint for detail
  1. 01Confirm activity & ownersView checkpoint

    Business facts and scope to clarify

  2. 02Plan premises & initial stepsView checkpoint

    Sources, evidence and open questions

  3. 03Prepare the signing routeView checkpoint

    Required records and responsibilities

  4. 04Check the issued licenceView checkpoint

    Evidence, review and unresolved gaps

  5. 05Plan visas & bankingView checkpoint

    Written scope and acceptance

Requirements depend on activity and shareholder profile. Physical appointments and operational permissions are checked separately.

Open full-size topology ↗
Read the steps
  1. Confirm activity & owners — Business facts and scope to clarify
  2. Plan premises & initial steps — Sources, evidence and open questions
  3. Prepare the signing route — Required records and responsibilities
  4. Check the issued licence — Evidence, review and unresolved gaps
  5. Plan visas & banking — Written scope and acceptance
How to use this guide

This itinerary is rebuilt from the supplied mainland process document.

It separates company formation, immigration, residency and banking so clients can see which steps require documents or physical presence.

Timings are standard estimates from the source and can vary.

The whole journey

Mainland setup on one page.

Twelve milestones in four phases, from the first approval to banking and your first employee, with the standard time for each step and when someone must be inside the UAE.

  • No presence needed
  • Depends on the route
  • Someone must be in the UAE
  1. Phase 1LicenceCompany formation · Steps 1–4
    1. 01
      Initial approval & trade nameShareholder and company documents
      1–2 working daysNo presence needed
    2. 02
      Ejari / rent contractUses the initial approval and trade name
      1–2 working daysNo presence needed
    3. 03
      MOA signingIn person at DET, or virtually via Dubai Courts / MOJ
      1–2 working daysDepends on signing route
    4. 04
      Trade licence issuedNo extra documents at this step
      1–2 working daysNo presence needed
  2. Phase 2ImmigrationCompany files · Steps 5–6
    1. 05
      Establishment card (GDRFA)Opens the company’s immigration file
      1–2 working daysA shareholder in the UAE
    2. 06
      MOHRE file openingOpens the company’s labour file
      3–5 working days
  3. Phase 3ResidencyInvestor visa · Steps 7–9
    1. 07
      Entry permit or status changeStatus change if already in the UAE; entry permit if arriving from abroad
      2–3 working daysApplicant in the UAE
    2. 08
      Medical fitness testRequired before the residence visa is issued
      1–2 working daysApplicant in the UAE
    3. 09
      Emirates ID, biometrics & residence issuedFingerprints where required; residence visa issued, then the Emirates ID card is delivered
      3–5 working daysApplicant in the UAE
  4. Phase 4OperateBanking & first hire · Steps 10–12
    1. 10
      Digital corporate bank accountIndicative; bank checks can extend it
      5–10 working days
    2. 11
      Physical corporate bank accountIndicative; bank checks can extend it
      15–20 working days
    3. 12
      Employee resident visaAttested degree for managerial roles
      10–12 working days

Times are the standard estimates in the supplied mainland itinerary, not guaranteed completion times. Authority review, extra approvals, KYC and bank checks can extend any step. Steps 7–9 show a typical investor or partner visa; the exact order and presence rules depend on the visa route, and we confirm them for your case. Details for each step follow below.

Your setup, illustrated

The mainland journey, in light.

Original concept artwork frames the steps below. Your written checklist and the authority requirements guide the application.

Step 03 · MOA signingSigning the Memorandum of Association. The shareholders sign the MOA in front of the officer, in person at DET, or virtually via Dubai Courts / MOJ. Standard time: 1–2 working days.
Step 01Initial approval & trade name. Applied online with the shareholder and company documents. No presence needed.
Step 02Ejari / rent contract. Your office lease is registered using the initial approval and trade name.
Step 04Trade licence issued. No extra documents at this step. The company now exists.
Steps 05–06Establishment card and labour file. The company’s immigration file (GDRFA) and MOHRE file are opened. A shareholder must be in the UAE for step 05.
Steps 08–09Medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID. The applicant attends in the UAE; fingerprints are taken where required, then the residence visa and Emirates ID follow.
Step 10Digital corporate bank account. Usually applied for in the bank’s app. Indicative timing; bank checks can extend it.

Drawings show typical moments to help you prepare. They are not photos of a specific office, and each authority’s layout and process can differ.

01 / Formation journey

Licence first. Operational readiness second.

01

Initial Approval & Trade Name

Submit shareholder and company documents to obtain the trade name and initial approval.

1–2 working days
→
02

Ejari / Rent Contract

Finalize the tenancy documentation using the initial approval and trade-name reservation.

1–2 working days
→
03

MOA Signing

Issue and sign the Memorandum of Association through the applicable signing route.

1–2 working days
→
04

Trade Licence Issued

The company licence is issued once the preceding incorporation steps are complete.

1–2 working days
02 / Documents by applicant type

Different shareholder profiles need different evidence.

INDIVIDUAL / RESIDENT

Resident shareholder

Passport copy, Emirates ID and UAE visa copy for the initial approval stage.

INDIVIDUAL / NON-RESIDENT

Non-resident shareholder

Passport copy plus the latest valid tourist visa or entry stamp where applicable.

CORPORATE / LOCAL

UAE company shareholder

Trade licence, MOA/AOA, share register or certificate, plus authorised-signatory passport, visa and Emirates ID.

CORPORATE / FOREIGN

Foreign corporate shareholder

Attested corporate documents, board resolution authorising the UAE setup and MOA signature, plus authorised-signatory identity documents.

03 / MOA signing

The signing route changes the physical-presence requirement.

ROUTE A

Dubai Economic Department route

PHYSICAL PRESENCE: REQUIRED

Resident individuals require the original Emirates ID. Non-residents require the original passport. Corporate shareholders use authorised-signatory identity documents plus UBO declaration.

Source timeline: 1–2 working days
OR
ROUTE B

Dubai Courts / Ministry of Justice route

PHYSICAL PRESENCE: NOT REQUIRED

The source indicates the signing can be completed virtually by online call, using the relevant original identity documents or authorised-signatory / UBO documentation.

Source timeline: 1–2 working days
04 / Post-licence journey

The trade licence is not the finish line.

05GDRFA Establishment Card1–2 working days
→
06MOHRE File Opening3–5 working days
→
07Entry Permit or Status Change2–3 working days
→
08Medical Fitness Test1–2 working days
→
09Emirates ID, Biometrics & Residence Issued3–5 working days
05 / Presence map

Know when someone needs to be inside the UAE.

Initial approval

No physical presence required according to the supplied itinerary.

Ejari stage

No physical presence required for the step itself.

MOA signing

Depends on signing route: physical presence can be mandatory or the signing may be completed virtually.

Licence issuance

No additional documents or physical presence required at this stage in the source itinerary.

Establishment card

At least one shareholder should be inside the country; Emirates ID may need to be physically presented for machine input.

Investor visa

The applicant must be inside the UAE to proceed.

06 / Banking & employment

After residency, move into operations.

DIGITAL BANKING

Digital Corporate Bank Account

5–10 working days

Indicative timeline shown in the supplied itinerary.

PHYSICAL BANKING

Physical Corporate Bank Account

15–20 working days

Indicative timeline shown in the supplied itinerary.

EMPLOYMENT

Employee Resident Visa

10–12 working days

Additional employment documents may be needed, including an attested degree for managerial positions.

07 / What to prepare

Start with a clean document pack.

Company registration

Clear colour passport copiesLatest UAE residence visa, Emirates ID, tourist/visit visa where applicableUAE entry stamp where applicableClear photograph with white background

Employee visa

Attested degree for managerial positionsOffer letter covering salary, probation and holiday periodPassport-size photographPassport copy and latest visit/residence visa where applicable
Vantablack coordination

One itinerary. One point of management.

The value of an itinerary is not the list of government steps. It is coordinating the client, documents, signatures, physical-presence windows and authority submissions so one delayed item does not stall the rest of the setup.

Document pre-checkTrade name & initial approvalEjari coordinationMOA signingEstablishment cardVisa coordinationBanking preparationEmployee onboarding
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Timeline note

The durations above are standard timelines stated in the supplied itinerary, not guaranteed completion times. Authority review, external approvals, document readiness, KYC, immigration status and banking checks can extend the journey.

Official sources

Checked on 22 October 2026. Rules and fees change; we recheck them before advising on your case.

  1. General provisions for the residence visa (medical fitness, Emirates ID) – UAE Government portal
Apply this to your business

What must happen before the next step can proceed?

Why this matters

Company setup has steps that depend on each other. Check eligibility and key approvals before moving on. Not every step will finish at the same time.

What could change the answer?

A missing document or approval can delay the next step. A target date does not remove these requirements.

Check these details first

  • What must happen first and which documents are missing
  • Activity requirements and extra approvals
  • Premises and signing requirements
  • Requirements following licence issuance

Choose your next step

Understand the decision ↗Understand what to check before choosing a setup option.See the reasoning in a case ↗See how the business needs and limits shaped the advice.Check relevant activities ↗Read the activity description. A listing does not mean your business is approved.Plan my business setup ↗Answer questions about your own business to prepare for a consultation.
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