How Long Does It Take to Start a Company in the UAE? Business Setup Explained
Knowing your Dubai business setup timeline is more than a planning exercise — it protects your budget, keeps hiring on track, and prevents avoidable delays. Whether you choose a Mainland or Free Zone structure, understanding each step and its average duration helps you launch smoothly. This guide from BIMC breaks down realistic timelines, common bottlenecks, and speed-up tactics, including the Instant License option where eligible.
Why Your Timeline Matters
- Cost control: Avoid paying early for offices, staff, or equipment before the license is issued.
- Visa coordination: Align trade license issuance with medicals, biometrics, and Emirates ID so your team arrives on time.
- Regulated approvals: Activities in healthcare, education, food, or media may require external approvals that add days or weeks.
- Compliance checkpoints: Banking KYC/AML, Ejari (for Mainland), and documentation reviews can extend the schedule if not planned.
- Stakeholder trust: A clear, realistic timeline helps you communicate confidently with investors and partners.
Mainland vs Free Zone: What Changes the Clock
Dubai offers two primary routes. Both are efficient, but their process flows and lead times differ.
| Aspect | Mainland Dubai | Free Zone Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership for most activities (subject to current rules) | 100% foreign ownership |
| Market Access | Direct UAE-wide trade and public tenders (where applicable) | Primarily within the zone or via distributor/branch for onshore sales |
| Office | Physical office (Ejari) required | Flexi-desk / co-working / virtual options (varies by zone) |
| Typical Setup Time* | 4–6 weeks incl. visas & banking | 7–10 working days incl. visas & banking |
| Best For | Retail, warehousing, UAE-wide B2B/B2G | Services, e-commerce, export, fast market entry |
*Indicative durations assume complete documents and no external approvals.
Mainland Company Setup: Step-by-Step Timing
- Trade name & initial approval: 1–2 days (complete documents).
- MOA drafting & notarization: 2–3 days (longer if revisions).
- Office lease & Ejari: 3–5 days (depends on property readiness).
- Trade license issuance: 5–7 working days (longer if external approvals).
- Investor/employee visas: 5–7 working days after license, plus medicals & Emirates ID.
- Corporate bank account: 3–7 days (KYC/AML and activity dependent).
Total: ~4–6 weeks for company, visas, and banking when everything flows.
Free Zone Company Setup: Step-by-Step Timing
- Trade name & initial approval: Same day to 24 hours.
- Application & fees: 1–2 days.
- License issuance: 3–5 working days (express packages may be faster).
- Office allocation: Instant to 1 day (flexi-desk or co-working).
- Investor/employee visas: 5–7 working days post-license.
- Corporate bank account: 3–7 days (subject to compliance).
Total: Often 7–10 working days end-to-end with a cooperative bank and complete file.
Dubai Instant License: Fastest Route (Eligibility Applies)
The Instant License is the quickest path for select activities and structures.
- Who qualifies: Specific commercial/service activities; simple structures. Regulated activities are excluded.
- How it works: Online application via the smart portal → immediate license if criteria and documents are met.
- What’s next: You still complete office (Ejari) if needed, open a bank account, and process visas.
Timeline snapshot:
- Online application & issuance: minutes to same day.
- Office registration (if applicable): 1–3 days.
- Bank account: 3–7 days. Visas: 5–7 working days after license.
What Slows Things Down (and How to Avoid It)
- Incomplete documents: The #1 delay. Use a BIMC checklist to pre-validate passports, proofs of address, activity lists, and signatures.
- External approvals: Healthcare, education, food, media can add review cycles. Build buffer time.
- Office lease timing: On Mainland, locating and registering premises (Ejari) can add days or weeks — secure space early.
- Bank compliance: Have a website, contracts/LOIs, and a clear source-of-funds narrative ready to smooth KYC.
- Holidays & system updates: Plan around public holidays and peak periods.
Visa Processing: Investor & Employment (Typical Durations)
After licensing, plan for the business/investor visa process:
- Entry permit: 1–3 working days.
- Medical tests: 1–2 working days for results.
- Emirates ID biometrics & processing: 3–5 working days.
- Visa stamping: 2–4 working days.
Total: Typically 10–15 working days from application to final stamp (standard service). Express channels can compress portions of this.
Practical Timeline Tips from BIMC
- If speed is critical: Choose a Free Zone with digital workflows or check Instant License eligibility.
- If you need onshore sales: Go Mainland and start office search (and Ejari) in parallel with name approval.
- Front-load banking: Shortlist banks early; prepare contracts/LOIs and a concise business profile to expedite KYC.
- Sequence smartly: Tie hiring and onboarding dates to visa milestones, not just license targets.
- Add buffers: Plan for the average, not the best case, and include contingency for regulated approvals.
At-a-Glance: Trade License Processing Times
| License Type | Typical Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland | 7–10 working days | Longer with external approvals; full setup incl. visas/banking ~4–6 weeks |
| Free Zone | 3–5 working days | Express options exist; full setup often 7–10 working days |
| Instant License | Minutes to same day | Eligible activities only; office, banking, visas processed afterward |
Work with BIMC for a Predictable Launch
BIMC streamlines UAE company formation by mapping your activity to the right jurisdiction, sequencing approvals, and pre-clearing documents with checklists that banks and authorities expect. We synchronize licensing, visas, and banking so your go-live date is realistic — and met.
Ready to build a timeline you can trust? Speak to BIMC about Mainland, Free Zone, or Instant License setup, and launch with clarity, speed, and compliance.