Table of Contents

  1. Overview: Why Dubai Mainland for Car Rentals
  2. License Types & Scope (What You Can Do)
  3. 100% Foreign Ownership: What It Means
  4. Step-by-Step Setup Process
  5. Key Approvals & Compliance (RTA, Insurance, Contracts)
  6. Documents You’ll Need
  7. Cost Factors & Timelines
  8. Operating Checklist (From Fleet to KYC)
  9. Why Choose MajuBiz
  10. FAQs

1) Overview: Why Dubai Mainland for Car Rentals

Dubai’s year-round tourism, business travel, and long-stay expat market create consistent demand for short- and long-term car rentals. A Dubai Mainland license lets you trade across the UAE (not just inside a specific free zone), work directly with hotels, corporates, and aggregators, and position your brand close to customer hotspots (Downtown, Marina, Airport corridor).

MajuBiz advantage: With 14+ years across the GCC and 4,600+ setups, we simplify every step—from business licensing and RTA-related permissions to banking and VAT—so you can launch faster with confidence.

2) License Types & Scope (What You Can Do)

Under Dubai Mainland (Department of Economy & Tourism), the car rental activity typically enables you to:

If you plan chauffeur services, heavy vehicles, or specialized leasing, those are separate activities and may require additional approvals/permits. MajuBiz helps you pick the exact activity codes that fit your model today and your growth plans tomorrow.

3) 100% Foreign Ownership: What It Means

Most commercial activities in Dubai now allow 100% foreign ownership—including car rental (subject to activity selection and approvals). That means:

  • Full control of operations and decision-making
  • 100% profit repatriation
  • Ownership of assets under your company

We’ll validate your chosen activity for 100% ownership eligibility and handle paperwork accordingly.

4) Step-by-Step Setup Process
Step 1: Business Model & Activity Mapping

Short-term rental, long-term corporate leasing, or a hybrid? We map activities to your plan.

Step 2: Trade Name Reservation & Initial Approval (DET)

Short-term rental, long-term corporate leasing, or a hybrid? We map activities to your plan.

Step 3: MOA / Corporate Docs

Draft the Memorandum of Association and prepare shareholder documents.

Step 4: Lease Office & Yard (Ejari)

Secure a compliant office; many operators also maintain parking/yard agreements for fleet.

Step 5: External Approvals (as applicable)

Coordinate with RTA for activity-linked permits, processes, or portal access, as required.

Step 6: License Issuance (Dubai Mainland)

Submit final documents and receive your trade license.

Step 7: Post-License Setup
  • Corporate bank account
  • VAT registration (if applicable)
  • Insurance arrangements (fleet + liability)
  • Importer code (if bringing vehicles from abroad)
  • Contracts & policies (rental agreements, deposits, fines, KYC, privacy)

5) Key Approvals & Compliance (RTA, Insurance, Contracts)
  • RTA-linked requirements: Depending on activity, you may need permits, portal registrations, or compliance with RTA operating standards.
  • Insurance: Comprehensive motor coverage per vehicle; consider excess protection, PAV/PAI, and liability cover.
  • Contracts: Dubai-compliant rental agreements, customer KYC/ID checks, deposit & fines policy, accident handling, and data privacy clauses.
  • Vehicle standards: Road-worthiness, regular servicing, and fleet age/condition standards are best practice (and often required by partners).

(Regulations can evolve. We ensure you follow the latest DET/RTA requirements so you remain fully compliant.)

6) Documents You’ll Need
  • Passports of shareholders and manager(s)
  • UAE entry stamp or residence visa (if applicable)
  • Trade name reservation & initial approval
  • Tenancy contract (Ejari) for office (and yard/parking, if separate)
  • MOA and corporate documents
  • Any required external approvals/permits (e.g., RTA)
  • Payment voucher / fee receipts (licensing stage)

7) Cost Factors & Timelines

Cost depends on:

  • Selected activities (rental only vs. wider scope)
  • Number of visas & establishment card needs
  • Office location/size and yard capacity
  • Insurance configuration and fleet size (owned vs. leased)

Typical timeline: Once documents are ready and external approvals are clear, 7–15 working days is common for licensing and immediate post-license steps. We’ll share a transparent, itemized estimate tailored to your plan (no hidden charges).

8) Operating Checklist (From Fleet to KYC)
  • Fleet acquisition (purchase, lease, or fleet financing)
  • Insurance issuance & annual renewals tracking
  • Telematics for mileage, driving behavior, and recovery support
  • Rental agreement templates (EN/AR), deposit & fines matrix, T&Cs
  • KYC & payments (Emirates ID/passport/driver’s license, card pre-auth)
  • Damage, accident & roadside SOPs
  • Partner channels (hotels, OTAs, corporate contracts)
  • Digital stack (booking engine, CRM, invoicing, fines automation, inventory sync)
  • VAT & accounting cadence, with monthly/quarterly close

9) Why Choose MajuBiz
  • 14+ years GCC experience | 4,600+ setups
  • End-to-end licensing, approvals, banking, VAT, contracts
  • 24/7 assistance and lifetime support after you go live
  • Tailored strategy—we design for scale (subscriptions, corporate leasing, airport partnerships)

Let’s turn your mobility vision into a growth engine.

1) Can foreign investors fully own a rent-a-car company in Dubai Mainland?
Yes—most commercial activities allow 100% foreign ownership (subject to the exact activity selection and approvals).
2) Do I need RTA approvals for a car rental business?
For many rental/transport activities, RTA-linked permissions or compliance are applicable. We’ll confirm what your model needs.
3) Is a physical office mandatory?
Yes. An Ejari-registered office is required for mainland licensing. A parking/yard arrangement for fleet is also standard practice.
4) Can I run chauffeur services under the same license?
Usually no - chauffeur/limousine services are separate activities with additional requirements.
5) What insurance is required?
Comprehensive motor insurance per vehicle is standard; many operators add excess waiver, liability, and passenger accident coverage.
6) How long does licensing take?
After documents and approvals are ready, ~1–2 weeks is common to get licensed and begin post-license tasks.