𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐢’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.

A major policy milestone that reshapes Dubai’s business landscape.

Under Executive Council Resolution No. (11) of 2025, issued by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Free Zone establishments are now officially permitted to conduct their activities on the mainland, subject to approval from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

🏛𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

Free Zone entities may now apply through DET for:
✅ A Mainland Branch Licence
✅ A Branch Operating Out of the Free Zone
✅ A Temporary Permit (valid 6 months, renewable)

🧭𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

✅Prior approval from the Free Zone Licensing Authority is mandatory.
✅Mainland operations must comply with all federal and local legislation.
✅Separate financial records must be maintained for Free Zone and Mainland activities.
✅DET Fees: AED 10,000 per year (branch licence) and AED 5,000 (temporary permit).
✅Free Zone employees may continue to work under Free Zone contracts and enjoy related benefits.

⚖️ 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐄𝐓 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

➡️Entities licensed under this framework will be subject to audit and inspection by DET and relevant authorities.
➡️Existing establishments already operating on the mainland must regularize within one year, extendable once by the DET Director General.
➡️The Resolution came into force upon publication in the Official Gazette on 3 March 2025 (3 Ramadan 1446 AH).

Alia Noor (FCMA, CIMA, MBA, GCC VAT Comp Dip, Oxford fintech programme, COSO Framework)

Associate Partner
Ahmad Alagbari Chartered Accountants