In 2025, Dubai expanded its 100% foreign ownership regime—originally enacted via Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020—to cover over 1,000 mainland economic activities, removing the need for an Emirati local sponsor in most sectors. This builds on the June 2021 amendment that first allowed full foreign shareholding for LLCs, provided certain strategic industries remain restricted2.
Three key changes introduced in 2025 include:
- 100% ownership eligibility for the vast majority of onshore activities, from trade and services to technology and e-commerce.
- Streamlined administrative procedures by eliminating mandatory local partner negotiations, reducing setup time and paperwork.
- Near-complete opening of onshore zones, matching free-zone ownership benefits without geographic limitations.
Latest Requirements
- Comply with Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2020 and its 2025 expansion covering more than 1,000 onshore activities.
- Update the Memorandum of Association with the Dubai Department of Economic Development to reflect 100% foreign shareholding.
- Note exclusions for defense and security, telecommunications, banking and regulated financial services, and energy and natural resources, which still require a local partner or special approvals1.
Key Benefits
- Total managerial and financial control without an Emirati sponsor, enabling faster decision-making and governance flexibility1.
- Unrestricted access to the UAE mainland market, including eligibility for government and semi-government contracts nationwide.
- Full repatriation of profits and capital with no mandatory local shareholder profit share.
- Simplified licensing process and reduced administrative red tape by bypassing sponsor negotiations.
- Ability to operate across most onshore sectors while enjoying the same ownership freedoms as in free zones.
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