Invest in a City
The cities
| City | Emirate | Mainland licences |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) |
| Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Sharjah | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development |
| Ajman | Ajman | Ajman Department of Economic Development |
| Fujairah | Fujairah | Fujairah Municipality |
| Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain Department of Economic Development |
| Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Kalba | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Dibba | Fujairah | Dibba Municipality (Fujairah side) |
| Hatta | Dubai | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) |
| Al Dhaid | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Mleiha | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Madinat Zayed | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Ruwais | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Liwa | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Masfout | Ajman | Ajman Department of Economic Development |
| Falaj Al Mualla | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain Department of Economic Development |
| Ghayathi | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Al Mirfa | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Al Sila | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Delma Island | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) |
| Al Madam | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Al Hamriyah | Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) |
| Jebel Ali | Dubai | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) |
| Al Jazirah Al Hamra | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development |
Source: UAE Government Portal: Steps to start a business on the mainland; UAE Government Portal: National Economic Register, business licensing authorities; UAE Government Portal: Sharjah; UAE Government Portal: Abu Dhabi1,2,4,5
Mainland or free zone
Free zone companies are licensed by their free zone authority, usually within 14 working days, instead of the emirate's economic department.6
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is also on the list of licensing authorities, alongside the seven emirates' authorities and Dibba Municipality.2
Frequently Asked Questions
Who licenses businesses in each UAE city?
Each emirate licenses its own mainland businesses: economic departments in six emirates, and Fujairah Municipality and Dibba Municipality in Fujairah. Free zones license their own companies.
The cities
Dubai
Eight mainland licence types, ten free zones, Jebel Ali.
8 Mainland licence types
Read moreAbu Dhabi
2.8 million people in the region, seven licence types.
2,823,340 Residents of the Abu Dhabi Region, 2024
Read moreSharjah
Three free zones, a dry port and an international airport.
3 Free zones listed by the government
Read moreAl Ain
986,910 residents, UNESCO oases and an airport.
986,910 Residents of the Al Ain Region, 2024
Read moreRas Al Khaimah
Two free zones, an airport and an industrial economy.
2 Free zones listed by the government
Read moreAjman
A free zone and a port in the smallest emirate.
18.9% Manufacturing's share of GDP
Read moreFujairah
Municipality licences, two free zones, a port and an airport.
314,829 Residents of the emirate, mid-2024
Read moreUmm Al Quwain
A free trade zone, a port and a fishing economy.
1 Free trade zone
Read moreKhor Fakkan
Sharjah's port outside the Strait of Hormuz.
3.5m TEU a year, current capacity
Read moreKalba
Sharjah's east coast town of mangroves and reserves.
500+ ha Protected mangroves at Al Qurm
Read moreDibba
Three villages: Fujairah, Sharjah and Oman.
3 Seaside villages
Read moreHatta
Dubai's mountain town and its development plan.
130 km From Dubai city
Read moreAl Dhaid
Sharjah's inland oasis town of farms and dates.
3rd Town in Sharjah by size
Read moreMleiha
Sharjah's World Heritage desert landscape.
210,000 Years, the oldest archaeological layer
Read moreMadinat Zayed
Al Dhafra's inland town, festival and new rail station.
60% Of Abu Dhabi emirate's land is in Al Dhafra
Read moreRuwais
ADNOC's refinery and LNG town in Al Dhafra.
245 km West of Abu Dhabi city
Read moreLiwa
The oasis on the Empty Quarter and its festivals.
300 m+ Height of Tal Moreeb dune
Read moreMasfout
Ajman's mountain town, Best Tourism Village 2025.
2025 Best Tourism Village, UN Tourism
Read moreFalaj Al Mualla
Umm Al Quwain's farming oasis inland.
50 km South-east of Umm Al Quwain city
Read moreGhayathi
Al Dhafra's inland town on the road to Ruwais.
AED 252m E15 upgrade, Ghayathi to Ruwais (2021)
Read moreAl Mirfa
Al Dhafra's coastal town and its sea festivals.
160 km West of Abu Dhabi city
Read moreAl Sila
Al Dhafra's coastal town near the Saudi border.
350 km From Abu Dhabi city
Read moreDelma Island
The pearling island off the Al Dhafra coast.
7,000+ Years of archaeological finds
Read moreAl Madam
Sharjah's desert town on the road to Hatta.
65 km Al Badayer from Sharjah city
Read moreAl Hamriyah
Sharjah's Gulf coast town and its industrial free zone.
1995 Hamriyah Free Zone established
Read moreJebel Ali
Dubai's port and free zone district.
15.5m TEU Containers handled in 2024
Read moreAl Jazirah Al Hamra
Ras Al Khaimah's former pearling town.
500 Houses in the early 20th century
Read more
Sources
- UAE Government Portal: Steps to start a business on the mainland
- UAE Government Portal: National Economic Register, business licensing authorities
- UAE Government Portal: Accessing services for mainland companies
- UAE Government Portal: Sharjah
- UAE Government Portal: Abu Dhabi
- UAE Government Portal: Starting a business in a free zone
Figures checked 23 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.