Mainland or Free Zone — Set Up Right
Choosing between UAE mainland, DIFC, ADGM, DMCC and other free zones decides your ownership, tax, and which courts you answer to. We help you choose and set up correctly.
Trademark & Brand Protection in the UAE
Registering your trademark with the UAE Ministry of Economy to protect your brand across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the Emirates.
10+ Years of Business & Legal Experience
Mainland, DIFC, ADGM & Free Zone Coverage
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah & Across the Emirates
1000+ Contracts Drafted & Reviewed
Our UAE Practice Areas
The One Decision That Shapes Everything: Mainland or Free Zone
In the UAE, the structure you choose at setup determines almost everything that follows — who can own the company, which courts hear your disputes, what you can trade and where, and which compliance rules apply. It is the question we are asked most, and the one most often answered wrongly by generic setup agents.
Free zones (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC and others) offer full foreign ownership and, in DIFC and ADGM, an English-language common-law system with their own courts — familiar to international founders and investors. But a free-zone entity faces limits on trading directly in the wider UAE mainland market.
Mainland companies can trade freely across the UAE and bid for government work, now with full foreign ownership permitted for most activities — but they operate under onshore federal law and the local courts.
We don’t just register a company. We match the structure to how you actually intend to trade, raise, hire, and grow, and draft every contract for the forum that will enforce it. With UAE corporate tax now in effect, getting this right from the start matters more than ever.
Who We Serve in the UAE
Counsel for those building in the Emirates.
From founders setting up in a Dubai free zone to international companies entering the mainland market, find your starting point.
Prakhar Rai | Founder & Attorney
Attorney & Founder
Prakhar Rai
Prakhar Rai founded My Legal Pal after seeing how often businesses entering the UAE were set up in the wrong structure — a free-zone licence when they needed mainland reach, or a mainland entity when a free zone suited them better — by agents who registered companies without advising on the legal consequences. With over a decade in corporate advisory, he built a practice that leads with strategy: the right structure first, then the documents to support it.
A graduate of La Martiniere College, holding an LL.B and a Master of Business Laws from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, with specialization in Corporate, Banking, Intellectual Property, Finance, and Securities Laws, Prakhar has advised founders and companies across the UAE, India, and Southeast Asia.
My Legal Pal works with local UAE counsel where on-the-ground representation is required, combining commercially aware structuring with correct, jurisdiction-specific drafting for businesses across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the wider Emirates.
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Real Stories. Real Success
From founders setting up in the Emirates to established businesses, our clients share how My Legal Pal simplified their legal journey.
We were about to set up in the wrong free zone before speaking to My Legal Pal. They mapped our trading plans to the right structure and saved us a costly mistake.
Clear advice on mainland versus free zone, and contracts drafted for the right courts. Exactly the guidance an international founder needs when entering the UAE.
It was a breeze to work with Prakhar, he was clear, responsive, and very easy going with any required changes.
UAE Legal Services — Frequently Asked Questions
Should I set up on the UAE mainland or in a free zone?
It depends on how you intend to trade. Free zones (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC and others) offer full foreign ownership and, in DIFC and ADGM, a common-law system with their own courts, but limit direct trading in the wider UAE market. Mainland companies can trade freely across the UAE and bid for government work, now with full foreign ownership for most activities. We map the choice to your actual business plan rather than defaulting to one.
What is the difference between DIFC, ADGM and the other free zones?
DIFC (Dubai) and ADGM (Abu Dhabi) are financial free zones that apply their own English-language common-law systems and have independent courts, which international businesses often prefer. Other free zones such as DMCC, IFZA, and Meydan are activity- or sector-focused and operate under the onshore federal framework. The right one depends on your activity, clients, and budget.
Do you draft contracts in Arabic as well as English?
Yes. We provide bilingual Arabic/English contracts where required for onshore enforceability, and English-law-style contracts for DIFC and ADGM entities, drafted for the forum that will actually enforce them.
Can you register a trademark in the UAE?
Yes. We handle trademark search, filing, and opposition through the UAE Ministry of Economy to protect your brand across all seven Emirates, and can coordinate wider GCC and international protection.
Are UAE employment contracts different in the free zones?
Yes. Onshore employment is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, while DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws. End-of-service gratuity, fixed-term requirements, and termination rules differ, so the contract must match where the employee is based. We draft to the correct regime.
Does UAE corporate tax affect how I should structure my business?
It can. With UAE corporate tax now in effect and Economic Substance and other rules to consider, the structure you choose has tax and compliance consequences. We factor this into setup and restructuring advice, working with tax specialists where needed.
Do you work with local UAE lawyers for court matters?
Yes. For matters requiring on-the-ground representation or rights of audience before the UAE courts, we coordinate with local licensed counsel, while leading the structuring, drafting, and strategy.