Commercial
Trading, retail, and general business activities. The most common category.
Mainland Company Setup in Abu Dhabi
ADDED license, approvals, Tawtheeq address, and visas, delivered as one engagement.
We secure the ADDED license, route the regulator approvals, arrange the Tawtheeq address, and process the visas. Tax registration completes inside the setup. Bestax is an FTA-approved tax agency and formation specialist.
Activity and Approvals License Categories Tawtheeq and Office Visas and Tax
- FTA Approved
Tax AgencyNo. 30008692 - Business Setup Partner
for Dubai Free Zones - 10+YEARSof Experience
You Can Count On - out of 5from 200+Google Reviews (opens in a new tab)out of 5from 75+Trustpilot Reviews (opens in a new tab)
Start My
Mainland License
Tell us your activity, your ownership and how many visas you need. We confirm which approvals your file has to clear, what ADDED and the regulators typically charge, and the timeline — in writing, before you commit.
Why Mainland
Expand Across the UAE with Mainland Abu Dhabi
A mainland license lets you trade across the whole UAE, serve government clients, and open branches anywhere. Most activities allow 100% foreign ownership.
ADDED's list runs over 3,000 permitted activities, so almost any business model fits. Zone licenses suit exporters and digital firms, and we compare both routes with you first.
Whole UAE
Trade reach
Trade across the whole UAE, in every emirate
100%
Ownership
Foreign ownership allowed on most activities
3,000+
Activities
On ADDED's permitted list, so almost any model fits
Anywhere
Branches
Open branches anywhere, and serve government clients
Choosing between routes? Read our mainland vs free zone guide.
License Categories
The License Categories, and Two Options Worth Knowing
Professional
Services and consultancy. Many professional activities no longer need a Local Service Agent. Where one is still required, the agent holds no shares and no control.
Industrial
Manufacturing and production, licensed alongside facility approvals.
The Instant License
Activities without external approvals can license within hours. A business premises follows within the first year.
The two-year license
ADDED issues two-year licenses for most activities. One renewal cycle instead of two saves fees and admin, and we advise when it fits.
Regulator Approvals
The Approvals We Route Before ADDED Can License
Some activities answer to a second regulator, and the file must reach them first.
| Sector | The approving authority |
|---|---|
| Healthcare and clinics | Department of Health |
| Education and training | ADEK |
| Food businesses | ADAFSA |
| Financial activities | The relevant financial regulator |
| Industrial facilities | Facility and environmental bodies |
We flag your approvals at activity selection, because a wrong code discovered late restarts the clock. Files routed the first time correctly keep the timeline short.
What It Costs
How We Budget Your Setup
Every figure below is a typical government range, never a Bestax fee. For our service fee, contact us for a written quote.
| Item | Typical government range |
|---|---|
| ADDED license, standard activities | AED 15,000 to 25,000 |
| Complex or approval-heavy activities | Toward AED 35,000 |
| External approvals, where required | AED 2,000 to 10,000 |
| Visas | AED 4,000 to 7,000 per person |
| Tajer micro route for home businesses | AED 7,000 to 10,000 |
One Detail Worth Knowing
Late license renewal brings fines of around AED 150 per day.
Your office cost depends on size, and size sets your visa quota. We track your dates.
Every figure above is a typical government range, never a Bestax fee. Contact us for a written quote, agreed before any work starts.
The Process
How We Register Your Mainland Company in Abu Dhabi in 6 Simple Steps
15 to 20 working daysFor a standard file. Eligible activities take the Instant License route within hours.
Activity and structure
Days 1 to 2We shortlist from over 3,000 ADDED activities and confirm the structure. The LLC fits most commercial plans, and our LLC page covers it in depth.
Name and initial approval
Days 2 to 5We reserve the name and file the approvals on the TAMM platform (opens in a new tab).
External approvals, where flagged
Days 5 to 15Regulated activities route to their authority first. We prepare each file to that regulator's own format.
Tawtheeq and office
Days 5 to 10Every mainland company needs a Tawtheeq registered address. We match the workspace to your visa plan before you sign anything.
License issued
Standard files complete in 15 to 20 working days. Eligible activities take the Instant License route within hours. Your entry in the mainland company register in Abu Dhabi remains with ADDED, updated at every amendment.
Visas, banking, and tax
Days 15 to 28We process the establishment card and visas, then support the bank account. Corporate tax registration completes within the three-month deadline through the Federal Tax Authority (opens in a new tab).
Upgrade Path
Zone Company Today, Mainland Reach Tomorrow
Dual licensing options let some free zone companies extend onshore without a second full setup. Tajer licenses give home businesses a low-cost start. An upgrade path to a full mainland license opens when trade grows. We map the route that fits your stage, then run the paperwork when you step up.
Why Choose Bestax Chartered Accountants
Owners across the emirate use us as their company formation consultants in Abu Dhabi mainland matters.
Approvals routed right the first time
We know which regulator owns which activity, so files reach the right desk before ADDED needs them.
The office is planned backward from hiring
Your workspace size sets your visa quota. We plan the Tawtheeq around your headcount, not the other way round.
The two-year license is used when it saves
One renewal cycle instead of two cuts fees and admin, and we tell you when your activity qualifies.
Tax registration inside the setup
The three-month corporate tax deadline is met before it exists, by the same FTA-approved tax agency.
Our Strength in Numbers
10+ Years
Of experience, in the UAE
35+ Professionals
Chartered accountants, tax and formation specialists
1,000+ Clients
Businesses and founders across the Emirates
4.8 Google Rating
Rated by the clients who left the reviews below
Across the Emirate
Serving Founders Across Abu Dhabi
Demand is strongest among industrial and trading companies in Mussafah. Retail and services follow across the Corniche, Khalifa City, and the island.
Our head office sits in Dubai's Business Bay. We serve Abu Dhabi founders on site and remotely, across every district.
Where our clients are
- Mussafah
- The Corniche
- Khalifa City
- The island
- Business Bay, Dubai
Other Business Services in Abu Dhabi
The license is step one. We keep the company compliant and growing after.
Company Setup in Abu Dhabi
All three routes compared: mainland, free zone, and ADGM.
LLC Abu Dhabi
The structure most founders choose, formed with the MoA drafted for control.
Abu Dhabi Free Zone Formation
All six zones compared, with packages and capital rules checked first.
Accounting Firms in Abu Dhabi
Books built to IFRS from your first transaction.
Corporate Tax Registration
Registration with the FTA, completed within the three-month window.
VAT Registration Services
We register you the moment your sales cross the threshold.
What Clients Say About Bestax
We believe our work speaks for itself. Our clients say it louder. Founders across the Emirates trust Bestax to license them right and stay for what comes next.
Had my first corporate tax filing done through Bestax. They offered a tax planning session that was extremely helpful, especially because I was unsure what expenses could be deducted legally. They kinda guided me through the whole process because, as a healthcare professional, I had no clue how things work around here.
I'm very pleased with the support provided by Athira and her team in completing my Transfer Pricing report and filing the Corporate Tax returns for my company. They are highly responsive, and the quality of their work and reports is truly excellent.
Very smooth and efficient service to open a freezone company. Even while sitting in canada. They are great. Highly highly recommend.
Bestax have been managing my accounts for the past 1 year now and I must say they do an amazing job. My tax returns are always on time and I never faced any penalty.
Maham guided me through the business license renewal process. She even flagged upcoming compliance changes I had no clue about. It’s that extra attention to detail that makes Bestax stand out.
Anusha at Bestax keeps our financials in top shape. Her budgeting advice has improved our cash flow significantly. Highly reliable team!
Read these and more on Bestax on Google (opens in a new tab)
Frequently Asked Questions
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