If you are a non Gulf Cooperation Council national looking to start a business in Dubai or any other Emirates you would essentially require a local sponsor to support your entity. You would retain 49% ownership of the entity in Mainland LLC with 51% retained by the local sponsor. The sponsor does not have a say in day to day activities of the business.

‘Local sponsor’ is a local service agent and nominee shareholders (sleeping partners) in mainland companies with foreign investment. A sponsor has to be a UAE national with a family membership card. Operating a business in the Dubai Mainland area requires a local sponsor to be mandatorily appointed.

Though local sponsor does not come into picture in day to day routine functioning of a business, but he is a necessary entity and has signatory authority when it comes to immigration and labour related affairs.

Many entrepreneurs and firms may be wary of having a local sponsor associated with them. Corporate sponsorship comes in handy for such clients. Corporate sponsors are sought through incorporation of a holding company one that possess ample expertise about the kind of business you engage in and helps in representing your business in the best possible manner.

Through Corporate sponsorship you are in 100 percent control of all operations and in a way protect your shareholding rights too. The corporate sponsorship service offers the business with professional legal counsel and expert corporate level documentation protecting your financial rights. Through corporate sponsorship the clients are provided with a reliable nominee who acts as the sponsor.