Estimate what your UAE company will cost in its first year, using the prices free zones and authorities publish, then get an exact quote from PROXPAT before you commit.
Page last updated: . Requirements, government fees and processing times are set by the relevant UAE authority and can change.
Business Setup Cost in Dubai and the UAE (2026)
The honest answer to "how much does business setup in Dubai cost?" is a range. The range depends on three decisions: where you license the company, how many residence visas you need, and whether you need an office. A licence advertised at AED 6,000 and a package at AED 43,780 can both be the right answer for different founders.
This page puts the published numbers side by side. It covers package prices listed by RAKEZ, SPC Free Zone, Meydan Free Zone, DMCC and Jebel Ali Free Zone, mainland fee components, visa and family costs, and what you pay again every year. Every figure names its source, and figures that are PROXPAT estimates say so.
Use the calculator for a first-year estimate. Then ask us for an exact quote, because activity, shareholder structure and office choice move the final number.
Business Setup Cost Calculator
Choose a jurisdiction, the number of visas and any add-ons. The estimate updates as you change the options.
Estimated first-year cost
AED 0
| Item | Estimate | Basis |
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Estimates combine prices published by each authority and PROXPAT's published visa estimates, checked on 14 September 2026. They exclude PROXPAT's service fee, deposits and share capital, and office rent unless a package includes it. Authorities change prices, so we confirm the current figure before you pay anything.
Published Starting Prices by Free Zone (2026)
Prices below are as published by each authority when checked on 14 September 2026. Free zones change packages and run promotions, so treat them as a starting point, not a quote.
| Free zone | Package | Published price | What the authority lists as included |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) | Basic | AED 6,000 | One shareholder, one business activity, co-working access; issued instantly; valid one year |
| RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah) | Lite | AED 12,000 | Up to 5 shareholders, up to 5 activities, co-working access, one residence visa |
| SPC Free Zone (Sharjah) | Pay-as-you-go | AED 6,875 | One-year licence with no visa, up to 5 activities, up to 100 shareholders |
| Jebel Ali Free Zone (Dubai) | Business licence | From AED 5,000 | Trading, service, industrial and logistics licences; facility lease and registration are additional |
| Meydan Free Zone (Dubai) | Base setup | From AED 12,500 | LLC-FZ licence, up to three activity groups, flexi desk, no visa allocation |
| DMCC (Dubai) | Basic Biz | AED 35,484 | Licence and flexi desk for individual shareholders |
| DMCC (Dubai) | Jump Start | AED 43,780 (flexi desk) or AED 49,941 (co-working) | Licence, workspace and one UAE residency visa, for start-ups and SMEs |
| DMCC (Dubai) | JLT Resident | AED 29,205 | Licence and flexi desk for JLT residents |
Headline prices are not totals. RAKEZ Basic and SPC exclude visas, Jafza excludes the facility lease, and DMCC's guide adds share capital. See RAKEZ, Sharjah, JAFZA, Meydan and DMCC.
What Goes Into a DMCC Cost
DMCC is one of the few free zones that publishes a component breakdown. Its cost guide (February 2026) puts a typical first year at AED 35,000 to AED 50,000, built from these items:
| Component | Amount listed by DMCC | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Application | AED 1,035 | Per application |
| Articles of Association | AED 2,020 | Per application |
| Company registration | AED 9,000 | One-time |
| Business licence | AED 10,000 to AED 50,000 | Annual |
| Flexi desk | AED 15,000 to AED 20,000 | Annual |
| Establishment card | AED 1,825 | Annual |
| Share capital | AED 50,000 | Refundable |
DMCC states that setup takes 2 to 3 weeks through its digital process. Packages bundle these components at a set price, which is why they are usually easier to budget.
Dubai Mainland Cost Components
Mainland licences are priced by the Department of Economy and Tourism according to activity group, legal form and office. There is no single package price, so the cost is built from components:
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Around AED 620 | PROXPAT indicative figure |
| Licence issuance | From around AED 8,000 | PROXPAT indicative figure; varies by activity group and legal form |
| Market fee | Calculated on the annual rent | DET; depends on the office |
| Local service agent contract | Around AED 700 admin fee | PROXPAT indicative; professional licences owned by expatriates |
| Establishment card | AED 100 per year, AED 1,000 electronic subscription, AED 100 smart service fee | ICP |
| Work permit per employee | AED 250 to AED 3,450, by company category | MOHRE |
The office is the swing factor on the mainland. The tenancy both costs money and drives the market fee, so choose the space before you finalise the budget. See Dubai mainland company formation.
Mainland Costs in Sharjah and Ajman
| Emirate | Authority | Published figures |
|---|---|---|
| Sharjah | Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) | First-year fees of roughly AED 15,000 to AED 30,000; instant licences within one day for activities without external approvals; regular licences in 5 to 7 business days |
| Ajman | Ajman Department of Economic Development | Licence issuance AED 600, commercial register AED 200, LLC instrument publication AED 3,000, plus other applicable charges |
Visa Costs on Top of the Licence
Visas often cost more than the licence. These are PROXPAT's published all-in estimates, alongside the government components authorities list:
| Visa or step | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employment visa, applicant outside the UAE | AED 3,600 to AED 5,900 | PROXPAT published estimate, including quota, labour fees, entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping |
| Employment visa, applicant inside the UAE | AED 5,100 to AED 7,400 | PROXPAT published estimate; higher because of the status change |
| Free zone employment visa | Around AED 5,000 | PROXPAT estimate based on a DMCC two-year visa; varies by zone |
| Spouse visa | Around AED 2,100 from outside, around AED 3,300 inside | PROXPAT published estimate |
| Child visa | Around AED 1,500 from outside, around AED 5,700 inside (includes a refundable deposit of roughly AED 3,000) | PROXPAT published estimate |
| Residence permit government fee | AED 200, plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 Innovation Dirham and AED 20 delivery | GDRFA Dubai |
| Applying from inside the country | An extra AED 500 | GDRFA Dubai |
| Medical fitness test | AED 250 plus printing (employees) | Emirates Health Services |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 per year of residence plus AED 100 smart application fee | ICP |
See employment visa and investor and partner visa.
Worked Examples
| Scenario | Option | How the figure is built | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo consultant, no visa | RAKEZ Basic | Published package | AED 6,000 |
| Solo consultant, no visa | SPC Free Zone | Published pay-as-you-go licence | AED 6,875 |
| Solo consultant, no visa | Meydan Free Zone | Published base setup with flexi desk | AED 12,500 |
| Founder with one residence visa | RAKEZ Lite | Published package including one residence visa | AED 12,000 |
| Founder with one residence visa | Meydan Free Zone | AED 12,500 + AED 1,850 allocation + about AED 4,000 investor visa | About AED 18,350 |
| Founder with one residence visa | DMCC Jump Start | Published package including one UAE residency visa | AED 43,780 |
| Founder and two employees, all from outside the UAE | Dubai mainland | About AED 620 trade name + from about AED 8,000 licence + AED 1,200 establishment card + 3 visas at AED 3,600 to AED 5,900 | From about AED 20,620 to AED 27,520, before office, market fee and activity fees |
The cheapest headline is not always the cheapest company. Once a visa is added, a package that includes one can undercut a lower licence price plus a separately bought visa.
What You Pay Again Every Year
| Cost | Amount or basis | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Licence or package renewal | Set by the free zone or economic department | Authority price list |
| Establishment card renewal | AED 100 per year, AED 1,000 electronic subscription, AED 100 smart service fee | ICP |
| Late establishment card renewal | AED 100 per month once more than 30 days late, up to AED 1,000 | ICP |
| Emirates ID renewal | AED 100 per year of residence plus AED 100 smart application fee | ICP |
| Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit | AED 5,000 per six months, if used | Government of Dubai |
| Office or flexi desk | Per lease or package | Landlord or free zone |
A lapsed licence or establishment card blocks visa transactions, so renewal dates matter as much as the renewal price. See trade licence renewal and establishment card.
Costs People Forget
- Share capital. DMCC's cost guide lists AED 50,000, refundable. IFZA states no paid-up capital is required, and Jafza has no prescribed minimum.
- Corporate shareholder documents. Parent company documents need attestation, and MOFA lists AED 2,000 per commercial document issued in the UAE. See attestation.
- Work permit category. MOHRE charges AED 250 to AED 3,450 per work permit depending on the company's category.
- Applying from inside the UAE. GDRFA Dubai adds AED 500 per application for applicants already in the country.
- Brand protection. A trade name is not a trademark. Registration with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism costs AED 6,500 across three stages. See trademark registration.
- Mainland reach for a free zone company. The Free Zone Mainland Operating Permit costs AED 5,000 per six months. See the permit guide.
How to Keep the Setup Cost Down
- Start with a licence that has no visa allocation if you do not need residence yet, and add visas when you hire.
- Choose activities that fit within the package allowance. Meydan, for example, charges AED 1,000 for each extra activity.
- Apply for visas before the applicant travels where possible, to avoid inside-country charges.
- Compare the renewal price, not only the first-year price, because you pay it every year.
- For mainland clients, compare the AED 5,000 six-month permit with the cost of a second, mainland company.
- Check whether a cheaper licence, plus separately bought visas, ends up costing more than a package that includes one.
Still comparing? Read the cheapest business licence options and our business setup guide.
How PROXPAT Prices Its Own Work
Government and authority fees are paid at cost. PROXPAT's service fees are stated separately, for example:
| Service | PROXPAT fee |
|---|---|
| Visa service, complete process | AED 350 |
| Family visa, complete process | AED 500 per family member |
| Golden Visa application | AED 1,500 |
| Licence amendment, mainland | AED 1,500 |
| Licence amendment, free zone | AED 1,000 |
| Monthly PRO retainer, up to 10 employees | AED 700 per month |
Fees are subject to 5% VAT. For company formation we quote after confirming your activity, jurisdiction and visa plan. See PRO services and pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turn the estimate into a company.
Explore connected PROXPAT services that support the same client journey.
The licence is the start of the government work, not the end of it
Once the trade licence is issued, the sequence that actually lets you operate begins: the establishment card, the MOHRE and immigration files, your employee quota, then employee visas and work permits. After that it repeats every year — renewals, cancellations when people leave, and licence renewal and amendments.
Companies that would rather not build that function in-house put it on a monthly PRO retainer from AED 700, or use it per transaction. Government fees stay separate and itemised either way.
The first six months after incorporation
- Establishment card issued through immigration
- MOHRE file opened and e-signature completed
- Employee quota checked before hiring
- Offer letters, work permits and entry permits
- Medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping
- Corporate tax and VAT registration where they apply
More in Structures and Costs
Get an Exact Business Setup Quote
Share your activity, jurisdiction and visa plan. PROXPAT confirms current authority prices and sends a line-by-line quote with government fees at cost.