The choice between mainland and free zone for a jewellery business in Dubai comes down to one question: will customers walk in and buy?
- If yes, start with a mainland licence.
- If you trade diamonds, gold, or bullion with other businesses, DMCC is built for that.
- Other free zones depend on the zone.
Your choice also decides who approves your shop’s fit-out. SIRA’s security rules apply whichever route you take.
Based on authorities’ published material as of November 2026. This is a planning guide, not legal or tax advice.
The three routes compared
| Mainland (DET) | DMCC | Other free zones | |
| Licensing authority | Department of Economy and Tourism | DMCC | The zone’s own authority (for example, Jafza licenses the Gold & Diamond Park) |
| Best for | Retail shops and walk-in sales | Diamond, gold, and commodity trading | Depends on the zone and activity |
| Where you can sell | Directly to the public across the UAE | Mainly trade and international business; selling on the mainland needs a branch licence, a permit, or a mainland entity | Confirm before relying on local sales |
| Typical premises | Souk, street, and mall shops | Showrooms and offices in JLT towers, including Almas Tower | Units inside the zone |
| Fit-out approvals | Landlord or mall, plus Dubai Municipality, where required, or the area authority (such as DDA) | DMCC fit-out NOC plus building management | Zone authority and landlord |
| Ownership | 100% foreign ownership for activities on DET’s list, which includes jewellery trading | 100% foreign ownership | Usually 100% foreign ownership |
Until 2025, Dubai free zone companies could operate only within their own zones. To sell on the mainland, they used a distributor or a mainland company. Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025 added two direct routes:
- Branch licence: 1 year, renewable, AED 10,000 a year.
- Temporary permit: For specific activities, up to six months, AED 5,000.
DET is due to publish the list of eligible activities, so check that yours qualifies.
There’s also a tax angle. A DMCC company trading gold or other qualifying commodities may qualify for 0% corporate tax on qualifying income. However, under Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, transactions with individuals are an excluded activity, with no exception for commodity trading or retail. Products packaged for retail sale also don’t count as qualifying commodities. Retail sales from a free zone company can put that tax status at risk, so ask a tax adviser.
Choose by how you sell
- A walk-in jewellery shop (gold shop, boutique, mall store, or kiosk): Start with a mainland licence.
- A trade showroom or private viewing office (diamonds, wholesale): DMCC vs mainland usually favours DMCC. Its Dubai Diamond Exchange houses the UAE’s Kimberley Process office in Almas Tower.
- Both: You may need one structure or two, for example, a DMCC trading company plus a mainland retail company. Confirm with a licensing adviser.
- A kiosk or pop-up: It’s still retail to the public, so check with the mall and the licensing authority which licence and permits apply. We design both kiosks and inline mall units: see our retail interior design service.
Who signs off your shop under each route
- Who approves it. Mall and street units go through the landlord and Dubai Municipality where required, or an area authority such as the Dubai Development Authority. Mall units and units up to 100 sq m are exempt from DM’s decoration permit. DMCC units need a DMCC fit-out NOC and building management approval. Free zone units follow their zone’s rules.
- Drawings and timelines. Each authority has its own submission format and review time, which shapes your programme.
- Security. SIRA approval for a jewellery shop in Dubai applies whatever your licence. Dubai Law No. 12 of 2016 names gold and jewellery shops as a vital sector and applies across Dubai, including free zones.
- Landlord rules. JLT towers and malls publish different fit-out manuals. Ask for the manual before you budget, and see what drives jewellery fit-out cost.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Does the licence activity match exactly what you’ll do?
- Can you sell directly to the public under this licence?
- What ownership structure is allowed for your activity?
- Who approves the fit-out for the unit you want?
- What will it cost, according to the authority’s current price list?
- Do you need a separate trading entity, and how does that affect corporate tax?
How to decide in five minutes
- Public shop or kiosk: Start with mainland.
- Diamond or bullion trading with businesses: Start with jewellery company setup in DMCC.
- Both: Speak to a business setup company.
- Unsure: Book a free fit-out planning call.
Our part in the licence-to-handover sequence
We design and build the shop and handle the fit-out approvals with whichever authority applies: DCD, DEWA, DMCC, and Dubai Municipality, depending on the unit. We don’t handle company licensing.
You arrange the licence, usually through a licensed business setup company. We can introduce you to setup companies we’ve worked with.
Start with our complete setup guide and trading licence guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a shop selling to the public, mainland. For diamond, gold or bullion trading with businesses, DMCC. Other free zones depend on the zone.
For diamond and gold trading, DMCC is the specialist hub. For a retail shop, a free zone is usually not the right route unless the zone has retail units and you’ve confirmed local sales are allowed.
Yes. The mainland allows 100% foreign ownership for most activities, and free zones generally do too. Confirm for your activity.
Yes. Dubai’s security law applies across the emirate, including free zones, and names gold and jewellery shops.
No. It’s a free zone, with business licensing handled by Jafza.
