The short answer
Use Dubai’s free-zone expansion framework to assess a specific mainland operation, then confirm the relevant permission and ongoing requirements. It is an expansion decision involving licensing, records and tax—not a blanket entitlement attached to every free-zone licence.
Which operating route should you discuss?
Dubai Resolution 11 of 2025 describes DET licences for branch operations and permits for specified activities. [1] Give the authority the proposed work location, activity and workforce details so it can confirm the appropriate route. Do not rely on a generic permit name to establish eligibility.
Compare expansion through the existing entity with a mainland entity where appropriate. Ask how client contracts, premises, employment arrangements and future activity changes would work. The simplest administrative route may not fit the company’s intended operations.
What should the expansion file contain?
Keep the current company documents, authority correspondence, proposed activity details and the approved scope. Request the current fee, validity, permitted activities and renewal requirements for the selected route. Older headline prices and suggested processing times are unsuitable as a current commitment.
The resolution requires separate financial records for operations outside the zone and separate permission for operations beyond Dubai where required by the other jurisdiction. [1] Make those requirements part of the accounting and expansion plan from the start.
How should you evaluate the commercial case?
Forecast expected sales, incremental costs and cash requirements using your actual pipeline. Have the tax treatment assessed separately, including any effect on qualifying free-zone status. [2] Avoid assuming a permit automatically preserves tax treatment or that the reform guarantees a particular increase in revenue.
A checklist to take into your next meeting
- Describe the planned mainland activity precisely.
- Confirm the DET and zone authority route.
- Get current fees and renewal terms in writing.
- Set up separate records where required.
- Review commercial forecasts and tax treatment.
Official sources
Source pages checked 10 October 2026. Numbered references in the guide correspond to the sources below.
Your next step
Choose the support that fits this decision. Each link takes you to the relevant service page.
This guide is practical preparation, with official sources where relevant. Company-specific requirements need an assessment of your circumstances. How these guides are prepared.
