New establishment registration
Registers your company's new establishment file with GDRFA Dubai (Amer) for immigration transactions.
How it works
- 1
Documents
You
- 2
Reviewed by MARIO E.G.S.H AI
MARIO E.G.S.H AI
- 3
Submitted at GDRFA
Runner at GDRFA
- 4
Medical & biometrics
You
- 5
Visa issued
GDRFA
Documents required
Copy of the partners' names appendix of the trade licence (airlines: a copy of the trade licence)
copyPassport copies of the authorised signatories
copyAuthorisation certified by the notary public for the authorised persons (when a manager signs)
in some casesoriginalattestedOnly if: Only when a manager (not a partner named on the licence) appliesExtra approval for special entity types (hotel, boat, farm, charity, consulate, etc.)
in some casescopyOnly if: Only for the special entity types listed by GDRFA (boats, yachts, stables, farms, charities, property, hotels, consulates, churches, clubs, organisations)
Conditions, time and validity
- A valid trade licence (mainland or free zone).
- The labour (MOHRE) establishment file is a separate registration for mainland companies.
- Some entity types need extra documents listed by GDRFA: fishing boats (licence statement from the Ministry of Environment), abras and yachts (ownership from the transport authority), stables, livestock farms and farms (owner's passport with signature form and municipality or land department papers), charities and Quran centres (Community Development Authority licence), property (land department ownership and property map), hotels (Department of Tourism letter on the rating and a hotel letter on rooms), consulates and organisations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs letters), churches (Dubai Municipality no-objection letter) and clubs (decree).
- Processing time
- GDRFA: 48 hours.
- Validity of the result
- Valid with the trade licence; GDRFA charges AED 100 per year of validity. Renew it with the licence.
- Where it is applied for
- GDRFA smart services (website/app), GDRFA main building, or Amer centres (AED 100 extra at Amer).
Steps at the authority
- The centre checks the documents and types the application in the GDRFA smart system or at an Amer centre.
- The fees are paid when the application is submitted.
- GDRFA reviews the application; missing documents must be added within 30 days or the request is cancelled.
- The result is sent by SMS and email; the centre forwards it to the client.
Tips that save you a trip
- Keep the establishment card renewed: an expired card blocks new visas, renewals and cancellations for all staff.
Common reasons for rejection or delay
- Trade licence expired or partners' appendix missing.
- Manager signs without a notarised authorisation.
Questions and answers
Is this the same as the MOHRE company file?
No. GDRFA's establishment card is for residence visas; MOHRE's file is for work permits. Mainland companies need both.
Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.
Legal basis
Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners; Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 (executive regulations)
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