How much does it cost to set up a company in the UAE?

There is no single fee. Jurisdiction, activity, licence class, office, visa quota, shareholders, external approvals, and package inclusions all change the first-year total.

Is a UAE free-zone company always cheaper than mainland?

Entry packages can be cheaper, but bundled inclusions, local market access, visa count, office needs, renewals, and activity restrictions must be compared on the same scope.

Does this calculator provide a binding company setup quote?

No. It is a planning estimate built from published fee and package ranges. Obtain an itemised quote from the relevant licensing authority before committing.

Are UAE residence visas included in setup packages?

Sometimes. RAKEZ publishes a package including one residence visa, while other packages may only be eligible for visas. Always check what is included, what is refundable, and what renews separately.

Free UAE founder utility

Business setup cost calculator

Build a realistic first-year planning range for a UAE mainland or free-zone company. Compare licence class, visas, office format, and regulated-activity approvals.

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Published ranges and method

An estimate, never a quote

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism confirms that mainland licensing depends on the activity and approvals. There is no universal public sticker price. Published 2026 research places a simple single-shareholder mainland setup with a low-cost desk and one visa broadly around AED 30,000–45,000, with wider totals when activities, facilities, or approvals change. This calculator separates licence and registration, visas, office, and approvals so unlike-for-like quotes are easier to compare.

Mainland base

Professional AED 18,000–26,000; commercial AED 21,500–30,000; industrial AED 30,000–55,000 before separately modelled visas and office. These are Shabang planning bands, not DET tariffs.

Free-zone base

Calibrated against current authority packages: RAKEZ publishes AED 14,000 including a visa and coworking; DMCC publishes entry and standard packages from roughly AED 10,345 to AED 35,484 and above.

Add-ons

Visas, office format, and regulated approvals are added as separate low/high ranges. A real package may bundle one or more lines, so compare the scope rather than the headline.

Sources checked 10 August 2026: RAKEZ’s AED 14,000 all-inclusive package, DMCC setup packages, DMCC’s schedule of charges, and the published Dubai mainland component breakdown. Fees, promotions, refundability, VAT treatment, visa medical/ID costs, share capital, deposits, translations, agent fees, banking, tax registration, annual compliance, and renewal charges can differ or be excluded. Verify every line directly with the licensing authority.

Before choosing

UAE company setup FAQ

How much does a UAE company cost to set up?

There is no single total. Activity, jurisdiction, licence class, office, visa quota, shareholder documents, and approvals determine the amount.

Is a free-zone company always cheaper?

No. Entry pricing can be lower, but market-access needs, renewals, visa count, office requirements, and package exclusions can reverse the comparison.

Why does this show a range?

Published packages are not directly comparable, and mainland fees depend on exact activity codes. A range is more honest than false precision.

Are visas included?

Some packages include a visa; others only make the company eligible to apply for one. The calculator itemises visas so you can compare quotes on the same basis.

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