Updated July 2026 · Dubai DET government fees
Dubai Mainland Company Formation Cost
From AED 13,900 in government fees — here is exactly where every dirham goes.
A zero-visa Dubai mainland company typically costs AED 13,900 – 16,200 in DET and related government fees. Add about AED 4,850 for your first investor visa. Professional fees and office rent are quoted separately — and we show both.
Government cost from
AED 13,900
zero-visa mainland company · DET fees
- Zero visaAED 13,900 – 16,200
- With 1 investor visaAED 18,750 – 21,050
- Setup time~1–3 weeks
- Ownership100% (most activities)
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In brief: A Dubai mainland licence costs about AED 13,900 – 16,200 in government fees with no visas — trade-name approval (AED 620), initial approval (AED 120), Tasheel (AED 464), MoA typing and notarisation (AED 1,200–1,500) and the trade licence itself (AED 11,500–13,500). With one investor visa, budget roughly AED 18,750 – 21,050, which adds the establishment card (AED 750) and the visa itself (AED 4,100, including medical, biometrics and status change); employee visas cost more because they carry a labour card. Avyanco's professional fee and office rent are quoted separately. Government fees vary by activity and change over time, so confirm the live figure before you commit.
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 name approval | AED 620 | One-off, paid to DET |
| Initial approval | AED 120 | DET pre-approval to proceed |
| Tasheel / typing | AED 464 | Government service centre |
| MoA typing & notarisation | AED 1,200 – 1,500 | Varies with shareholders and legal form |
| Trade licence (issuance) | AED 11,500 – 13,500 | The largest item — varies by activity |
| Establishment / immigration card | AED 750 | Only if you will sponsor visas |
| Typical total — zero visa | AED 13,900 – 16,200 | Excludes the establishment card, which is only needed for visas |
Visa costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Investor / partner visa | AED 4,100 each | Includes medical, biometrics and status change |
| Employee visa | AED 7,000 – 8,000 each | Includes the labour card |
| Labour card (per employee) | AED 1,000 | Charged per employment visa |
| Establishment / immigration card | AED 750 | One-off per company, before any visa |
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.
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 name reservation and DET initial approval
- Memorandum of Association drafting, typing and notarisation
- Trade licence issuance under your chosen activities
- Establishment card so the company can sponsor visas
- Chamber of Commerce registration
Additional, quoted separately
- Office rent — from a desk arrangement to a fitted office
- Residence visas, medicals and Emirates ID (priced per person above)
- 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
Download the complete Dubai Mainland fact sheet
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 PDF · instant download
Download the full Dubai Mainland fact sheet
The one-page sheet our advisers quote from — every number, on one page. Yours free.
- Every cost priced for 0, 1, 2 and 3 visas
- What year two costs — the renewal figure nobody quotes
- Mainland vs free zone, side by side
- Document checklist so nothing stalls your licence
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.
Business activity
The single biggest factor. Regulated activities — medical, legal, financial services, food — need external approvals from other authorities and cost meaningfully more than a standard trading or consultancy licence.
Number of visas
Each visa adds cost. The establishment card is a one-off per company, but investor and employee visas are charged per person, and employee visas carry a labour card on top.
Office type
A desk or lease arrangement is far cheaper than a fitted office — and your visa quota scales with the office space you hold, so the two decisions are linked.
Shareholder structure
More shareholders, or corporate shareholders, mean longer MoA drafting, more attestations and higher notarisation fees.
Legal form
An LLC, sole establishment, civil company and foreign branch are each priced differently by DET, and a branch carries additional attestation costs for the parent's documents.
How long it takes
- 1
Day 1 — Activity & structure
We confirm the activity list, legal form and shareholding, and flag any external approvals that would change the cost.
- 2
Day 1–2 — Name & initial approval
Trade name reserved and DET initial approval obtained.
- 3
Day 2–5 — MoA & notarisation
Memorandum drafted, signed and notarised; tenancy or lease arrangement put in place.
- 4
Day 5–10 — Licence issued
DET issues the trade licence and you register with the Chamber of Commerce.
- 5
Week 2–3 — Establishment card & visas
Immigration card issued, then entry permit, status change, medical and Emirates ID per person.
- 6
After licensing — Compliance
Corporate tax registration, VAT registration if you cross the threshold, 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 dubai mainland company formation page for the structure itself, then compare the alternatives:
Cost FAQs
How much does a Dubai mainland licence cost in 2026?
Budget from about AED 13,900 to AED 16,200 in government fees for a zero-visa mainland company. That covers name approval (AED 620), initial approval (AED 120), Tasheel (AED 464), MoA typing and notarisation (AED 1,200–1,500) and the trade licence itself (AED 11,500–13,500). Visas, office rent and professional fees are additional.
What does a Dubai mainland licence cost with one visa?
Roughly AED 18,750 – 21,050 in government fees if that visa is an investor/partner visa. On top of the zero-visa cost you add the establishment card (AED 750) and the visa at about AED 4,100, which includes the medical, biometrics and status change. An employee visa costs more — AED 7,000 to 8,000 including the labour card.
Is Dubai mainland more expensive than a free zone?
Usually yes on the licence itself — several free-zone packages start lower. But a mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE and bid for government tenders, which a free-zone company generally cannot do without a local distributor. The right comparison is cost against market access, not licence price alone.
Does the AED 13,900 include Avyanco's fee?
No. Every figure on this page is government cost paid to Dubai DET and related authorities. Our professional service fee is quoted separately and transparently, so you always see which part is government and which is us.
What is the cheapest way to set up on Dubai mainland?
Keep the activity simple and unregulated, start with zero or one visa, and use a lease arrangement rather than a fitted office. If a free zone would genuinely be cheaper for your activity, we will tell you — we would rather place you correctly than sell you the wrong licence.
Are there recurring annual costs?
Yes. The trade licence renews annually, the establishment card renews, residence visas renew on their own cycle (typically every two years) and office rent is ongoing. Renewal is usually cheaper than first-year setup because the one-off approvals are not repeated.
Do I need an office to get a Dubai mainland licence?
You need a registered address — but that can be a desk or a lease arrangement rather than a full fitted office. Your visa quota is tied to the space you hold, so if you plan to sponsor several visas the office decision affects both cost and capacity.
Do mainland companies pay corporate tax?
UAE Corporate Tax applies at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Mainland companies are not eligible for the free-zone 0% qualifying-income regime. VAT registration is separate and becomes mandatory once taxable supplies cross AED 375,000 in twelve months.
Can I get 100% ownership on Dubai mainland?
Yes — 100% foreign ownership is permitted across most commercial and professional mainland activities under Dubai DET. Only a small number of strategic-impact activities still require a UAE national partner or agent.
How long does a Dubai mainland setup take?
Typically one to three weeks from a complete document set to a licence in hand, assuming no external approvals are required. Regulated activities that need approval from another authority take longer, and visa processing runs after the licence is issued.
Can I convert a free-zone company to mainland later?
You cannot convert the entity itself, but you can register a mainland company or a branch and move the operations across. It is cheaper to choose correctly at the start, which is why we ask about your customers before recommending a jurisdiction.
What happens if I under-budget?
The usual squeeze is external approvals and visas — both are activity-dependent and are missed in quick online estimates. Ask for a written quote that separates government fees from professional fees, with the visa count stated; that is the quote we issue.
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.