Updated July 2026 · Government fees, every jurisdiction
Business Setup Cost in Dubai
From AED 12,500 in Dubai — and AED 5,565 if you look one emirate over.
What a company actually costs depends far more on which jurisdiction you pick than on who sets it up. This page puts every option side by side at real government cost — Dubai free zones, Dubai mainland, and the cheaper northern-emirate zones — so you can see the trade-off before anyone quotes you.
Cheapest Dubai option from
AED 12,500
zero-visa free-zone licence · government cost
- Dubai free zonefrom AED 12,500
- Dubai mainland (DET)from AED 13,900
- Outside Dubaifrom AED 5,565
- Premium (DMCC / DIFC)AED 46,780+
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In brief: Setting up a company in Dubai costs from about AED 12,500 in government fees for a zero-visa free-zone licence (Meydan or IFZA), or from AED 13,900 for a Dubai mainland licence with the Department of Economy & Tourism. Premium Dubai jurisdictions cost far more — DMCC from about AED 46,780 and DIFC from about AED 104,079. If Dubai is not a legal requirement for your activity, free zones in the northern emirates start much lower: Ajman from AED 5,565, RAKEZ from AED 6,010 and Sharjah's SHAMS and SPC from AED 6,875. Every figure is government cost only; professional fees, office rent and residence visas are additional, and the right choice depends on where your customers are, not on the licence price alone.
What it costs — line by line
These are the government line items. Ranges are real variation by activity and legal form, not padding — where a figure genuinely moves, we show the span rather than a flattering minimum.
| Government item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence (free zone) | AED 5,565 – 49,160 | The single biggest variable — set by the zone you pick |
| Trade licence (Dubai mainland) | AED 11,500 – 13,500 | Plus name approval, initial approval, Tasheel and MoA |
| Establishment / immigration card | AED 750 – 2,000 | One-off per company, required before any visa |
| Investor / partner visa | AED 3,500 – 6,000 each | Includes medical, biometrics and Emirates ID |
| Employee visa | AED 5,000 – 8,000 each | Higher on mainland, which adds a labour card |
| Office / desk | From AED 0 – 15,000+ | Bundled in many free-zone packages; separate on mainland |
| Typical all-in — one owner, one visa | AED 12,000 – 22,000 | Government cost across the mainstream Dubai and northern-emirate options |
Indicative government costs as at July 2026. They exclude Avyanco’s professional fee, office rent, VAT where applicable and external-approval charges for regulated activities. Government fees are set by the authorities and change — confirm the live figure for your activity and visa mix before budgeting.
Every option, side by side
Government cost for a licence, from the cheapest package each authority offers. Sorted by price, not by what we would rather sell you — if a northern-emirate zone suits your business, it is the honest answer even though it bills less.
| Jurisdiction | Licence from | With 1 visa | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | |||
| Meydan Free Zone | AED 12,500 | AED 20,670 | Cheapest Dubai licence; fast, fully digital setup |
| IFZA Free Zone | AED 12,900 | AED 17,700 | Flexible activity list and dual-licence options |
| Dubai Mainland (DET) | AED 13,900 | AED 18,750 | Trading UAE-wide and bidding for government tenders |
| JAFZA | On application | On application | Port-side logistics and large-scale warehousing |
| DMCC Free Zone | AED 46,780 | AED 46,780 | Commodities, crypto and businesses that need the DMCC name |
| DIFC | AED 104,079 | AED 108,579 | Regulated finance, funds and family offices |
| Cheaper alternatives outside Dubai | |||
| Ajman Free Zone | AED 5,565 | AED 13,141 | Lowest entry cost in the UAE |
| RAKEZ Free Zone | AED 6,010 | AED 12,010 | Light industrial and manufacturing at low cost |
| SHAMS Free Zone | AED 6,875 | AED 14,300 | Media, creative and consultancy on a budget |
| SPC Free Zone | AED 6,875 | AED 14,325 | Fast issuance and a broad activity list |
Government cost only, from the cheapest package each authority publishes — Avyanco's professional fee, office rent beyond what a package bundles, and external approvals for regulated activities are additional. Where a zone prices its visa-inclusive package below its zero-visa one (DMCC does), we show that cheaper figure rather than a higher headline. Figures are indicative as at July 2026 and change; confirm the live price for your activity before budgeting.
What the price includes — and what it doesn’t
Most “cheap setup” quotes fall apart here. This is the honest split.
Included in the figures above
- Trade licence issued by the chosen authority
- Company registration and incorporation documents
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- The desk or flexi-office bundled into most free-zone packages
Additional, quoted separately
- Residence visas, medicals and Emirates ID — charged per person
- Office rent beyond what the package bundles
- External approvals for regulated activities (medical, legal, food, financial)
- Corporate bank-account opening and minimum balances
- VAT and corporate-tax registration, bookkeeping and audit
- Avyanco's professional service fee, quoted separately
See the complete Dubai Business Setup breakdown
The table above answers the headline question. The fact sheet answers the next ten — every visa tier priced out, what year two costs, and how it stacks up against the cheaper free zones. It is the same one-pager our advisers send to clients, and it is free.
Free · instant access
See the full Dubai Business Setup breakdown
The one-page sheet our advisers quote from — every number, on one page. Yours free.
- Every zone priced for 0, 1, 2 and 3 visas
- Renewal costs — the figure that decides year two
- Which zones can license your activity
- What a realistic all-in budget looks like
What actually moves the price
Two companies registered on the same day can differ by more than AED 10,000. These are the factors that decide where you land in the range.
Jurisdiction
By far the biggest factor. The same consultancy licence is AED 5,565 in Ajman and AED 104,079 in DIFC. Everything else on this list is noise by comparison — get this decision right first.
Where your customers are
A free-zone company cannot trade freely onshore in the UAE without a distributor or a mainland branch. If you sell to UAE businesses or government, a cheap free-zone licence can cost you more in lost revenue than mainland ever would in fees.
Number of visas
Visas are priced per person and are often the largest line after the licence. Free-zone packages bundle a visa quota; exceeding it means a bigger package or a bigger office.
Business activity
Regulated activities — medical, legal, financial services, food — need approvals from other authorities, which add both cost and weeks. Some zones cannot license them at all.
Office type
A flexi-desk keeps costs low but caps your visa quota. Physical offices raise both the rent and the number of people you can sponsor.
Renewals, not just setup
Year one is the number everyone compares. The licence, establishment card and visas all renew, so a zone that is cheap to enter and expensive to renew is a false economy.
How long it takes
- 1
Step 1 — Decide the jurisdiction
The decision that sets your cost. We ask where your customers are, what you sell and who you will hire before naming a zone.
- 2
Step 2 — Reserve the name & apply
Trade name reservation and initial approval, typically 1–3 working days.
- 3
Step 3 — Documents & payment
Incorporation documents signed, government fees paid; mainland adds MoA notarisation.
- 4
Step 4 — Licence issued
Most free zones issue in 3–7 working days; Dubai mainland typically 1–3 weeks.
- 5
Step 5 — Establishment card & visas
Immigration card, then entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID per person.
- 6
Step 6 — Bank account & compliance
Corporate account opening, then corporate tax registration and bookkeeping set up.
Get a quote with the government fees shown separately
Tell us the activity and how many visas you need. You will get a written figure that separates what goes to the authorities from what goes to us — no bundled “all-in” number hiding the difference.
Compare before you commit
Cost is one input. Where you can trade, who your customers are and what banking you need matter just as much. Read the business setup in dubai page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
From about AED 12,500 in government fees for a zero-visa free-zone licence (Meydan or IFZA), or from AED 13,900 for a Dubai mainland licence with DET. Premium jurisdictions cost considerably more — DMCC from about AED 46,780, DIFC from about AED 104,079. Professional fees, office rent and residence visas are additional.
What is the cheapest business setup in Dubai?
Meydan Free Zone and IFZA are the cheapest mainstream Dubai options, from about AED 12,500 and AED 12,900 respectively for a zero-visa licence. If the licence does not have to say Dubai, Ajman Free Zone starts from about AED 5,565 and RAKEZ from AED 6,010 — less than half the price for a company that can still operate across the UAE through the right structure.
Is it cheaper to set up in a free zone or on the mainland?
The cheapest free zones beat mainland on licence cost — Meydan from AED 12,500 against about AED 13,900 for Dubai mainland. But the gap is small, and mainland lets you trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government work. Some free zones, notably DMCC and DIFC, cost several times more than mainland.
Why is DMCC or DIFC so much more expensive?
You are paying for the address and the regulatory regime. DMCC is a commodities and crypto hub with strong banking relationships; DIFC is a common-law financial centre with its own courts and regulator. For a trading company with no need for either, that premium buys nothing you will use.
Do these prices include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure on this page is government cost paid to the licensing authority. Our professional fee is quoted separately and transparently, so you can always see which part is government and which is us.
What ongoing costs should I budget for?
The trade licence renews annually, the establishment card renews, and residence visas renew on their own cycle — typically every two years. Add office rent, accounting, and corporate tax filing. Renewal is usually cheaper than first-year setup because one-off approvals are not repeated, but it is never zero.
Can I set up a company in Dubai without a visa?
Yes. Every jurisdiction offers a zero-visa licence, and it is the cheapest way in. You can add visas later, though on a free-zone licence your quota is tied to the package and office you hold, so it is worth telling us your hiring plans up front.
How many visas can I get?
It depends on the package and office. A flexi-desk typically supports one to three visas; more requires a larger package or physical space. Mainland quota scales with office size and is generally more flexible for larger teams.
Do I need to be in Dubai to set up?
For most free zones, no — incorporation can be completed remotely. You will need to enter the UAE for medical testing and Emirates ID biometrics if you take a residence visa, and some banks require an in-person meeting to open the account.
What is the total realistic budget for a one-person company?
For one owner with one residence visa, budget roughly AED 12,000 to 22,000 in government cost depending on the jurisdiction, plus professional fees and any office beyond a bundled desk. Anyone quoting materially less is either excluding the visa or quoting a promotional package with conditions attached.
Are there hidden costs?
The ones people miss are external approvals for regulated activities, visa costs for dependants, bank minimum-balance requirements, and renewal in year two. We put all four in writing before you commit — the point of a quote is that it holds.
Do companies in Dubai pay tax?
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. A qualifying free-zone person can access 0% on qualifying income, subject to strict conditions. VAT registration becomes mandatory once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000 in twelve months.
Pricing note. Figures on this page are indicative government costs as at July 2026, published so you can budget realistically. They are set by the relevant UAE authorities, vary by activity, legal form, visa mix and office type, and change over time. They exclude Avyanco’s professional service fee, office rent and any external-approval charges. This is general guidance, not a quotation — confirm your specific position with us before acting.