Mainland LLC —
the workhorse structure.
Limited Liability Company on the UAE mainland. 1–50 shareholders, limited liability, 100% foreign ownership for most activities since 2021.
- Shareholders
- 1–50
- Min capital
- AED 1
- Foreign ownership
- 100%
- Liability
- Limited
Definition — Mainland LLC
A UAE mainland LLC (Limited Liability Company) is the most common business structure for mainland operations. Allows 1 to 50 shareholders, limited liability protection (shareholders not personally liable for company debts beyond their capital contribution), AED 1 minimum paid-up capital since the 2015 Commercial Companies Law reform (regulated activities have higher capital requirements), and 100% foreign ownership for most activities since 2021 amendments. Standard structure for SMEs, professional services, trading, retail, food service, and most industries.
LLC vs alternative mainland structures.
LLC is the workhorse. Sole Establishment and Civil Company suit narrow cases. Sub-branches and representative offices have their own fit.
| Structure | Shareholders | Liability | Activities | Min capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC (workhorse) | 1–50 | Limited | All | AED 1 (regulated activities higher) |
| Sole Establishment | 1 | Unlimited (personal assets) | Professional only | Not required |
| Civil Company | 2+ | Unlimited | Licensed professionals only | Not required |
| Branch of foreign co. | Parent only | Parent guarantees | Same as parent | Per parent + bond |
| Representative office | Parent only | Parent | Marketing only — no trading | Not required |
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between LLC, Sole Establishment, and Civil Company?
LLC: 1–50 shareholders, limited liability (your personal assets safe), all activities. Sole Establishment: single owner, unlimited personal liability, professional licences only. Civil Company: 2+ partners, professional services only (consultancy, lawyers, doctors), unlimited personal liability. LLC is the workhorse — covers 90% of mainland setups.
Can I have a single-shareholder LLC?
Yes — UAE Commercial Companies Law allows single-shareholder LLCs (sometimes called One-Person LLC). Same legal protection as multi-shareholder LLCs. Useful for solo founders who want limited liability without partners. Common for consultancy, IT services, e-commerce.
What's the minimum capital for an LLC?
Statutory minimum is AED 1 since the 2015 Commercial Companies Law reform. However, regulated activities require higher: real estate brokerage AED 300,000, financial advisory AED 500,000, banking-adjacent AED 1M+. Most banks expect AED 25,000–100,000 paid-up capital before account opening regardless of legal minimum.
Also useful.
Get started with mainland llc
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This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.