Business setup in Dubai
Business setup in Dubai starts with one decision. Make it the right one.
Mainland, free zone or offshore decides where you can trade, how many visas you can hold and what your company costs every year after. We help you choose on the facts of your business, then handle the whole setup.
- 3 routesMainland, free zone, offshore
- 40+UAE free zones to choose from
- Up to 100%Foreign ownership for most activities
- In writingRecommendation and fixed quote
Watch · 30 seconds
Free zone or mainland: which questions decide your Dubai route?
Three questions decide it: where your customers are, how many visas you need and what you sell. Your customers matter most, because selling across the UAE usually needs mainland reach and a wrong choice can mean paying twice. Aizaa gives its recommendation in writing, with the reasons, before you buy a licence.
Read the transcript
Free zone, or mainland? Pick wrong, and you pay twice. Your customers decide the route. Selling across the UAE usually needs mainland reach. Three questions decide it. Where are your customers? How many visas? What do you sell? You get our recommendation in writing, with the reasons, before you buy a licence. Start with the right decision. Book a free call, or message us on WhatsApp.
Why the decision matters
What are the most expensive business setup mistakes in Dubai?
The three we are most often asked to fix are a free zone licence for a business that sells to the mainland, a package with too few visas, and an activity that does not match the business. Each starts with a licence bought before the questions were asked, and each is avoidable in a 30-minute conversation.
- Customers in the UAE
A free zone licence for a business that sells to the mainland
Invoicing UAE customers directly can need a mainland licence, a branch or a permit. Finding that out after year one means paying twice.
- Visas
A package with too few visas
Visa quotas are tied to the package or office size. Adding visas later can mean a bigger office, a new package or a second entity.
- Activity
An activity that does not match the business
The wrong activity can trigger extra approvals, block a bank account or limit what you can invoice for. It is the most common reason we amend licences.
60-second jurisdiction finder
Mainland, free zone or offshore: which suits my Dubai business?
Three answers decide it: where most of your customers are, whether you need a shop, site or government contracts in the UAE, and how many residence visas you need. UAE customers and premises usually point to mainland, international clients to a free zone, and holding assets with no UAE trading to offshore.
The three routes
What is the difference between mainland, free zone and offshore in Dubai?
The main difference is where you can trade: a mainland company can trade anywhere in the UAE, including government contracts; a free zone company trades inside its zone and internationally; an offshore company trades outside the UAE only. Mainland and free zone companies can sponsor residence visas, while an offshore company cannot and has no office.
The short version we walk through on every first call. The full comparison is in mainland vs free zone, and offshore has its own guide.
| Factor | Mainland | Free zone | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you can trade | Anywhere in the UAE, including government contracts | Inside the free zone and internationally; the UAE market usually through a distributor, branch or permit | Outside the UAE only |
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% for most activities | 100% | 100% |
| Office | Registered premises; business-centre options for some activities | From a flexi-desk to a warehouse, set by the package | Registered agent address, no office |
| Residence visas | Yes, linked to office size | Yes, set by the package quota | No |
| Licensing authority | Department of Economy and Tourism (Dubai) | The individual free zone authority | JAFZA or RAK ICC offshore registries |
| Usually best for | Retail, local services, contracting, serving UAE clients | Consulting, e-commerce, trading, international clients | Holding assets and international structures |
General guide as at October 2026. Rules change and vary by authority and activity; we confirm your position in writing before you commit.
Free zones we commonly compare for clients
DMCC, IFZA, Meydan Free Zone, DWTC Free Zone, Dubai South, Dubai Silicon Oasis, JAFZA, SHAMS and RAKEZ, among others. Each has different package prices, visa quotas, permitted activities and renewal conditions, which is why we compare them for your activity rather than recommending one by default.
What is included
What does Aizaa's business setup service in Dubai include?
Both the decision and the execution: a written jurisdiction recommendation, a free zone comparison, the activity and trade name, licence and company documents, an office or flexi-desk sized to your visas, visas and Emirates ID, the corporate bank account file and a first-year compliance calendar. Aizaa's consultancy can also provide the decision on its own.
- Jurisdiction recommendationMainland, free zone or offshore, with the reasons in writing.
- Free zone comparisonPackages, visa quotas and renewal costs for your activity.
- Activity and trade nameChosen to match what you will actually invoice for.
- Licence and company documentsApplications, memorandum of association and approvals.
- Office or flexi-deskSized to your visa needs, not the biggest package.
- Visas and Emirates IDFor you, partners, family and staff.
- Corporate bank account filePrepared for the bank’s compliance review.
- First-year calendarRenewal, UBO and registration dates set from day one.
How it works
How do I start a business in Dubai, step by step?
Typically: a free consultation on day 1, a written plan and fixed quote by days 1 to 2, the trade licence around week 1 for a free zone setup with complete documents, then visas, Emirates ID and the bank account in weeks 2 to 6, with one UAE trip. Mainland and regulated activities take longer.
- Day 1
Free consultation
We ask what you are building, who you sell to and how many people need visas.
- Days 1 to 2
Written plan and fixed quote
Jurisdiction, activity, package, visas and timeline, itemised.
- Around week 1
Trade license issued
For a typical free zone setup once documents are complete.
- Weeks 2 to 6
Visas, Emirates ID and bank account
One trip to the UAE for the medical and biometrics. Bank timelines are set by the bank.
- Month 1 onwards
Running and compliant
Your calendar of renewals and filings, kept by the same team.
Fees
What is the business setup cost in Dubai?
There is no single headline price, because four things set the cost: the jurisdiction, the activity and any regulated approvals, the number of residence visas, and the office, from flexi-desk to premises. After a free call, Aizaa gives a written, itemised quote with government charges shown separately from its fee, before you commit.
What sets your cost
- Jurisdiction: mainland, which free zone, or offshore
- Activity, including any regulated activity approvals
- Number of residence visas
- Office requirement, from flexi-desk to premises
Government charges are always shown separately from our fee, so you can see exactly what you are paying us for.
Get your number
Use the finder above for a starting point, then book a free call for a written, itemised quote. Prefer a range first? Try our cost estimator, or read the business setup cost guide.
What we will not promise
Bank accounts are approved by banks and visas are granted by the authorities. Anyone guaranteeing either is telling you something that is not true. We commit to a complete, correct application and a straight answer, including when the cheapest option is the right one.
Client reviews
Clients on working with Aizaa
From the initial consultation through to the completion of the process, the team was very professional and supportive. They explained each step clearly, answered all my questions and kept me updated whenever there was progress. I particularly appreciated how responsive they were whenever I needed clarification. The entire experience was smooth and well organised, and I would be happy to recommend their services to anyone looking for professional assistance in the UAE.
Excellent service and very good communication throughout the process. Everything was explained clearly and handled professionally. I always received quick responses when I had questions, which made the whole experience much easier.
I had a very positive experience working with the team. From the beginning, they took the time to understand what I needed and guided me through the different steps in a clear and practical way. The communication was consistent, and I never felt that I was left without an update. Their attention to detail and willingness to assist made the process much more straightforward than I expected. Overall, I am very satisfied with the service.
Client feedback is published with the respective clients’ permission.
Business setup in Dubai FAQs
What should I ask before choosing a business setup in Dubai?
Ask where most of your customers are, how many visas and how much office you need, whether your activity allows 100% foreign ownership, how a free zone company could serve mainland clients, and what the itemised cost will be. Mainland usually suits UAE customers, while a free zone often suits clients abroad, international trade and online sales.
Anything else? Ask on WhatsApp and the person who handles setups will answer.
Is mainland or free zone better for a new business in Dubai?
If most of your customers are in the UAE, or you need a shopfront, a site or government contracts, mainland is usually right. If you serve clients abroad, consult, trade internationally or sell online, a free zone is often simpler and cheaper to run. The finder above gives a first answer; we confirm it in writing.
Can a free zone company work with mainland UAE clients?
Often yes, but with conditions. Depending on the activity and the free zone, it may need a distributor, a branch, or a dual licence or permit. We check this for your activity before you choose.
Can foreigners own 100% of a Dubai company?
For most commercial and professional activities, yes, on the mainland as well as in free zones. A small number of strategic activities still have restrictions, which we check before you commit.
Do I need an office?
Free zones offer flexi-desks and shared offices that support a limited number of visas. Mainland companies need registered premises. The right size depends on how many visas you need.
What is an offshore company used for?
Holding assets, shares or intellectual property and international structuring. An offshore company cannot trade in the UAE or sponsor residence visas.
How much does business setup in Dubai cost?
It depends on jurisdiction, activity, visas and office. Any single advertised price has to ignore at least one of those. A free call gets you a written, itemised quote with government fees separated from ours.
What are the steps to set up a company in Dubai?
Most setups follow five steps. Choose mainland, a free zone or offshore. Pick the business activity and trade name. Submit the application with your passport and company documents. Receive the trade license. Then apply for residence visas, Emirates ID and the corporate bank account. For a typical free zone setup with complete documents, the license usually arrives in around a week; mainland and regulated activities take longer.
Can I set up a Dubai company from India, the UK or abroad?
Usually, yes. Many free zones let you apply and receive the trade license without travelling to the UAE. Residence visas are different: you need one trip to the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. Mainland setups and bank accounts can need more in-person steps, and we tell you which apply on the first call.
Setting up from abroad: India, Pakistan, the UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, China, Russia & Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany, France, Spain & Mexico, Brazil & Portugal
Related services
Often needed alongside this
Free, 30 minutes, no obligation
Get your free setup plan
A 30-minute call with the person who handles setups. You leave with a recommended jurisdiction, a timeline and a written, itemised quote.
You will speak with our team, led by Auj Afreen Ahmad and Tabish Ahmed.
- WhatsApp, fastest+971 55 786 7621
- Call+971 55 786 7621
- Emailinfo@aizaa.ae
- Office, by appointmentAl Shaikh Building 5, Al Khabaisi, Deira, Dubai
- HoursMonday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 GST
Not sure which route fits?
Free call, written recommendation, fixed quote. No obligation.