Setup cost, 2026
Business setup cost in Dubai: what the total is made of
Every Dubai company cost is the same handful of lines added up differently. Here is each line, who charges it, and where the authority publishes the figure.
- Since 2015Working from Deira, Dubai
- ItemisedGovernment fees shown separately from ours
- Fixed quoteIn writing, before anything starts
- SourcedPublished fees link to the authority
Written by Tabish Ahmed, Senior ManagerReviewed by Auj Afreen Ahmad, Founder and Chief Executive OfficerLast updated
The short answer
What makes up the business setup cost in Dubai?
There is no single business setup cost in Dubai. The total is the licence and registration fee set by the authority you choose, an immigration establishment card, government fees for each residence visa, an office or flexi-desk and, on the mainland, Dubai Chambers membership. Year one also carries one-time fees that renewals do not.
The short answer
How much does it cost to set up a company in Dubai?
There is no fixed figure: the total depends on four choices, namely the jurisdiction (mainland, a free zone or offshore), the business activity, the number of residence visas and the office. Almost every quote uses the same lines: licence and registration, the establishment card, per-visa costs, the office, Dubai Chambers membership on the mainland, and Aizaa's fee shown separately.
It depends on four choices: the jurisdiction (mainland, a particular free zone, or offshore), the business activity, how many residence visas you need, and the office. Change any one and the total moves, sometimes by more than the licence itself.
What does not change is the structure. Almost every quote is built from the same lines:
- Licence and registration, charged by the licensing authority: the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) on the Dubai mainland, or the free zone authority.
- Establishment (immigration) card, which lets the company sponsor visas, and in many free zones an e-channel registration on the immigration system.
- Per-visa costs for each person: entry permit, medical fitness test, Emirates ID, residence permit and health insurance.
- Office: from a flexi-desk in a free zone to registered premises on the mainland.
- Dubai Chambers membership, for companies licensed by DET.
- Our fee, which we always show as a separate line.
Your own estimate
How does the Dubai company setup cost calculator work?
You pick a jurisdiction, activity, visas and office, and the calculator names each cost line that applies, showing a figure only where it comes from a verified fee schedule. It is a starting point, not a quote: regulated activities, corporate shareholders and unusual visa needs are priced in writing after a call.
The calculator is a starting point, not a quote. Regulated activities, corporate shareholders and unusual visa needs are priced in writing after a call.
Your estimate, in writing
Have the estimate sent to you
We send the itemised estimate for the selection above by email, and on WhatsApp if you prefer. Where a line shows “confirmed in your quote”, the written version carries the figure.
- WhatsApp, fastest+971 55 786 7621
- Call+971 55 786 7621
- Emailinfo@aizaa.ae
Line by line
Who charges what in a Dubai business setup cost breakdown?
The licence is charged every year by DET on the mainland or by the free zone authority, and registration usually once by the licensing authority. GDRFA Dubai and ICP charge for the establishment card and visas, DHA for medical tests, MOHRE for mainland work permits, an insurer for health insurance, and Dubai Chambers for membership.
The cost lines in a Dubai company setup
| Cost line | Who charges it | Once or every year |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | DET (mainland) or the free zone authority | Every year |
| Registration, application, company documents | The licensing authority | Usually once, in year one |
| Establishment (immigration) card | GDRFA Dubai; in a free zone, usually applied for and invoiced through the free zone authority | Renewed while the company sponsors visas |
| E-channel registration | Listed by several free zones in their fee schedules | At registration; some list a renewal |
| Entry permit, residence permit, Emirates ID | GDRFA Dubai and ICP | Per person, at issue and at each renewal |
| Medical fitness test | DHA in Dubai | Per person, at issue and renewal |
| Health insurance | An insurer, paid by the employer or sponsor | Every year, per person |
| Work permit (mainland) | MOHRE | Per employee |
| Office or flexi-desk | Landlord or free zone | Every year |
| Dubai Chambers membership | Dubai Chambers | Runs with the licence and is renewed with it |
Health insurance is not optional. Under Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013 an employer must enrol its employees and bear that cost, and a sponsor must enrol the people it sponsors.
Why we do not print one number
Why is there no honest headline price for a Dubai company?
Because a single advertised price has to leave something out, usually the visas, the immigration card or one-time year-one fees. First year and renewal also differ: DMCC publishes a standard Trading & Service licence at AED 20,285 a year, renewing at AED 20,265, plus a one-time AED 9,020 registration fee. DET and IFZA publish no fee tables.
A single advertised price has to leave something out. Usually it is the visas, the immigration card, or the one-time fees that only appear in year one. It may also assume an activity or office that does not fit your business.
First year and renewal are different numbers. DMCC's published schedule shows this clearly:
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Trading & Service licence | AED 20,285 a year | Renewal AED 20,265 |
| Registration fee | AED 9,020 | One-time, in year one, on top of the licence |
| Application fee | AED 1,035 | In year one, on top of the licence |
| Establishment card | AED 1,805 to issue | AED 2,205 to renew |
Some authorities publish nothing at all. DET prices mainland licences by activity and does not publish a fee table on its public pages, and IFZA publishes no prices on its website. For those, the honest answer is "not published; quoted on request", and we quote from the activities you choose.
We do not estimate, average or round fees. If a figure on this page is not linked to an authority's own page, it is not here.
Published fees
How much does a free zone company cost in Dubai at Meydan, DMCC and JAFZA?
Meydan Free Zone publishes a licence of AED 12,500 a year with no visa allocation, including registration, three activity groups and a flexi-desk, and each visa allocation costs AED 1,850, up to six per licence. DMCC charges registration, application and licence separately, with a standard licence at AED 20,285 a year. JAFZA prices by activity group.
They price differently. Meydan Free Zone sells a licence of AED 12,500 a year with no visa allocation, which includes company registration, three activity groups and a flexi-desk; each visa allocation is AED 1,850, up to six per licence. DMCC charges registration, application and licence separately. JAFZA prices by activity group. None of this makes one zone right for you: activity range, office rules and visa quotas matter as much as the fee.
| Fee | AED | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fawri – Instant License in Dubai | 15,000 | Authority | meydanfz.ae |
| Shared office | 15,000 | Authority | meydanfz.ae |
| Dubai trade license (LLC-FZ, 0-visa allocation) | 12,500 | Authority | meydanfz.ae |
| Dedicated desk | 3,500 | Authority | meydanfz.ae |
| Additional shareholder (beyond 6 included) | 2,000 | Authority | meydanfz.ae |
| Immigration and Establishment Card | 2,000 | Government | meydanfz.ae |
| Additional business activity | 1,000 | Authority | meydanfz.ae |
Figures from the authority’s own fee page, last checked 17 October 2026. Some exclude VAT. This is not the whole cost: visas, office, our fee and any approvals are separate. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
| Fee | AED | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Trading licence | 50,265 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Flexi Boost package (1 year) | 43,720 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Basic Flexi Package | 35,564 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Licence (standard Trading & Service) | 20,285 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Flexi-Desk (DMCC Business Centre) | 16,000 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Registration (new company, standard activities) | 9,020 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Industrial licence 50-100 sq m (1-2 units) | 8,265 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| FreelanceUAE Package 1 (1-year licence) | 4,020 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Articles of Association (AoA) preparation | 2,020 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
| Issue company Establishment Card | 1,805 | Government | dmcc.ae |
| Application (company setup) | 1,035 | Authority | dmcc.ae |
Figures from the authority’s own fee page, last checked 17 October 2026. Some exclude VAT. This is not the whole cost: visas, office, our fee and any approvals are separate. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
| Fee | AED | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holding license | 30,000 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Logistics license | 15,000 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Trading license, more than two groups (General Trading) | 15,000 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Trading license, two groups (up to 6 activities each) | 8,500 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| National Industries license, one group | 5,500 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Industrial license, single manufacturing facility (one group) | 5,000 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Service license, one group (up to 7 activities) | 5,000 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Trading license, one group (up to 7 activities) | 5,000 | Authority | jafza.ae |
| Additional activity | 500 | Authority | jafza.ae |
Figures from the authority’s own fee page, last checked 17 October 2026. Some exclude VAT. This is not the whole cost: visas, office, our fee and any approvals are separate. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
Comparing zones? See IFZA vs Meydan, DMCC vs IFZA or the full list of jurisdictions.
Mainland
What does a Dubai mainland company cost with DET, Dubai Chambers and MOHRE?
The DET licence is priced by activity and not published, so it is quoted on request. On top come Dubai Chambers membership, listed from AED 50 up to AED 2,200 a year depending on activity and legal form, a MOHRE work permit for each employee priced by company category, and usually registered premises.
A mainland company is licensed by DET, which prices the licence by activity. Two other lines are specific to the mainland. A company licensed by DET becomes a member of Dubai Chambers when the licence is issued, unless it falls in an exempt micro or small category; Dubai Chambers lists annual membership fees from AED 50 for simple handicrafts up to AED 2,200, depending on activity and legal form. And each employee needs a MOHRE work permit, priced by the company's category.
| Fee | AED | Charged by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Chambers membership, general trading | 1,200 | Government | dubaichambers.com |
| Dubai Chambers membership, handicraft/e-trader/Intelaq | 300 | Government | dubaichambers.com |
Figures from the authority’s own fee page, last checked 3 November 2026. Some exclude VAT. This is not the whole cost: visas, office, our fee and any approvals are separate. Lines older than 90 days drop off until re-checked.
Mainland companies usually need registered premises, and the visa allocation follows the space. That is why we size the office to your headcount rather than the other way round.
Per person
What is the Dubai visa cost per person in government fees?
Published government fees include AED 200 for an entry permit linked with a job contract (plus 5% VAT), AED 200 for a private sector residence permit for 2 years, AED 250 for a regular medical fitness test and AED 100 per year of residence for a new Emirates ID. Free zones often charge their own visa packages.
Government fees per visa in Dubai, as published
| Fee | Authority | AED |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit linked with a job contract (plus 5% VAT) | GDRFA Dubai | 200 |
| Additional fee if the person is already inside the UAE | GDRFA Dubai | 500 |
| Status amendment (change of status) registering fee | GDRFA Dubai | 500 |
| Residence permit, private sector employee, 2 years | GDRFA Dubai | 200 |
| Green residence permit, partner or investor, 5 years | GDRFA Dubai | 200 |
| Knowledge Dirham, per transaction | GDRFA Dubai | 10 |
| Innovation Dirham, per transaction | GDRFA Dubai | 10 |
| Medical fitness, regular service (24 working hours) | DHA | 250 |
| Medical fitness at Smart Salem (30 minutes) | DHA | 700 |
| Medical fitness, VIP service (2 working hours) | DHA | 1,020 |
| New Emirates ID, per year of residence | ICP | 100 |
| Emirates ID smart service fee, per application | ICP | 100 |
| Work permit, 2 years, Category 1 company (mainland only) | MOHRE | 250 |
GDRFA adds smaller charges, such as delivery, to several services, and medical fees exclude typing charges. Health insurance is priced by the insurer. We list each one in your quote rather than folding them into a single "visa cost".
Visas are granted by the authorities, not by us. We cannot guarantee one, and nobody honestly can.
Mainland, free zone, offshore
How do mainland, free zone and offshore change the cost structure?
Mainland has the most lines: a DET licence priced by activity, Dubai Chambers membership, registered premises, MOHRE work permits and GDRFA visas. A free zone usually sends one authority invoice for licence, registration and often the desk, with visas per allocation or package. Offshore means a registry fee and registered agent, with no office or visas.
| Route | Cost lines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland | DET licence priced by activity, Dubai Chambers membership, registered premises, MOHRE work permits and GDRFA visas | More lines, and full access to the UAE market. See mainland vs free zone |
| Free zone | Usually one authority invoice covering licence, registration and often the desk; visas priced per allocation or package | The quota is set by the package or office |
| Offshore | A registry fee and a registered agent; JAFZA lists offshore company registration at AED 10,000 | No office, no visa allocation and no trading inside the UAE. See offshore company UAE |
Setting up from outside the UAE changes the order of steps more than the cost. See starting a Dubai company from abroad.
Questions
Business setup cost in Dubai: common questions
Anything else? Ask on WhatsApp and the person who handles it will answer.
How much does it cost to open a company in Dubai?
There is no single figure. The total combines the licence and registration fees of the authority you choose, an establishment card, government fees for each residence visa, health insurance, an office or flexi-desk and, on the mainland, Dubai Chambers membership. Published authority fees are shown on this page with their sources; we put your own figures in a fixed, itemised quote.
Is a free zone cheaper than the mainland in Dubai?
Not automatically. A free zone often has fewer cost lines, because licence, registration and desk come from one authority. But visa packages, office rules and activity charges vary, and a free zone licence can cost more if you then need a branch or permit to serve mainland customers. Compare the full first-year and renewal totals for your activity.
What is the cost of a Dubai visa per person?
For a residence visa sponsored in Dubai, GDRFA lists an entry permit of AED 200 plus 5% VAT and a two-year private sector residence permit of AED 200, plus Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams of AED 10 each. DHA's regular medical fitness test is AED 250, and ICP charges AED 100 per year of residence for a new Emirates ID plus a AED 100 smart service fee. Health insurance is extra.
Why is the first year more expensive than renewal?
Year one carries one-time items: company registration, application and document fees, establishment card issue and the first visas. DMCC, for example, charges a one-time registration fee of AED 9,020 and an application fee of AED 1,035 in addition to the annual licence. Renewal is mostly the licence, the establishment card and any visas falling due.
Is Dubai Chambers membership mandatory?
For companies licensed by DET, yes: under Dubai Chambers Board Resolution No. 4 of 2023, a DET licensee becomes a member when its licence is issued, unless it falls in an exempt micro, small or elementary trade category. Membership runs for the licence's validity. Free zone companies may join voluntarily.
Are there hidden costs in Dubai company setup?
Nothing is hidden if every line is written down. The ones most often missing from advertised prices are the establishment card, e-channel registration, per-visa medical and Emirates ID fees, health insurance, the in-country status change fee and the one-time registration charges. Our quote lists each of them, with government fees separate from ours.
Can Aizaa give me a fixed price?
Yes. After a free 30-minute call we send a fixed, written, itemised quote before anything starts, with government fees shown separately from our fee. What we will not do is guarantee a visa or a bank account, because the authorities and the banks decide those.
Sources
Where these facts come from
The official pages we checked. Rules and fees change; we confirm the current position before we advise you.
- DMCC licence, registration, application and establishment card fees — DMCC schedule of charges: dmcc.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Meydan Free Zone AED 12,500 starting licence cost, visas not included — Meydan Free Zone: meydanfz.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Meydan visa allocation AED 1,850, up to six per licence — Meydan Free Zone: meydanfz.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- JAFZA licence fees by activity group — Jebel Ali Free Zone: jafza.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- JAFZA offshore company registration AED 10,000 — Jebel Ali Free Zone: jafza.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Dubai Chambers membership fees, AED 50 (simple handicrafts) to AED 2,200 — Dubai Chambers: dubaichambers.comChecked 3 November 2026
- Membership automatic for DET licensees, voluntary for free zones, runs with licence validity — Dubai Chambers Board Resolution No. 4 of 2023, Dubai Legislation Portal: dlp.dubai.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Entry permit, inside-country fee, Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams — GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Residence permit issuance, private sector employee — GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Green residence permit, partner or investor — GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Status amendment registering fee — GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Establishment card for private sector and free zone establishments — GDRFA Dubai: gdrfad.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Medical fitness service fees — Dubai Health Authority: dha.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Emirates ID fees for residents — ICP: icp.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Work permit fees by company category — MOHRE: mohre.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- Employer must enrol employees in health insurance and bear the cost — Dubai Law No. 11 of 2013, Dubai Legislation Portal: dlp.dubai.gov.aeChecked 3 November 2026
- E-channel registration listed as a fee line — SHAMS packages: shams.aeChecked 3 November 2026
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