DED - Dubai Mainland Trade License and Business Setup | Startup Zone — startupzone.ae

The Department of Economic Development (DED) is the government body responsible for issuing licenses to all legal entities in mainland Dubai. Law no. 13 of 2011 explicitly stipulates that the DED is responsible for the control of economic activities for all businesses outside the free zones. The DED was established to guarantee economic development and compelling execution of pertinent policies within the emirate of Dubai. The DED works towards accomplishing the government’s vision of development and improvement of various economic segments. Setting up a DED company guarantees that businesses are able to access the entire UAE marketplace to help increase brand visibility and business growth. In the UAE, the most common legal form of business is a Limited Liability Company or LLC. The maximum legal shareholding of an expat in LLC Company registered in Mainland Dubai is 49%. It is mandatory to have local partner who will hold the remaining 51% of the shares in the company. LLC companies in Dubai can be formed by a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 50 shareholders whose liability is limited to their shares in the businesses capital. A UAE national service agent, sometimes referred to as a ‘sponsor’ must, be appointed to represent a mainland entity in all administrative dealings with Government departments (such as immigration formalities). The remuneration of the sponsor is normally agreed on an annual fixed fee basis, and is a matter of commercial agreement and can vary depending on the prominence of the sponsor and the precise contribution he makes to the business. The typical annual Sponsorship fee for Dubai LLC company formation can range anywhere from AED 15,000 per year for a startup to several millions for a large multinational company. Startup Zone is a reliable place where you can get the expert advice on mainland Dubai company formation, LLC company formation or any type of business setup in Dubai. We can provide a solution which allows clients to maintain 100% ownership control of their business. Startup Zone can act as a corporate nominee shareholder (company acting as a sponsor), holding the 51% of the shares as a nominee shareholder for, and on behalf of, the foreign investor. Rather than the name of a local individual appearing as the 51% shareholder on the trade license, a Startup Zone owned company name will appear instead.

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