The ranges, in one place
The numbers below are indicative first-year figures taken from public free zone and consultant rate cards as of October 2026. They are indicative, not government tariffs, and they exclude VAT of 5 percent where a consultant adds it. These are typical Dubai figures; in the other emirates costs are often similar or somewhat lower.
A mainland LLC licence from the emirate's economic department (the Department of Economy and Tourism, DET, in Dubai; ADDED in Abu Dhabi; SEDD in Sharjah), with a flexi-desk or a small registered office, typically costs AED 12,000 to 25,000 in the first year for licence and registration.
A free zone package, which bundles the licence, a registered desk and a visa allowance, runs from about AED 5,750 to 15,000 at the lower-cost zones and rises to AED 20,000 to 30,000 at premium zones such as DMCC in Dubai.
Those headline figures are the entry price. The sections below show what gets added before you can actually trade.
What sits inside the licence price
A licence quote normally combines several government charges: trade name reservation, initial approval, the licence fee, the memorandum of association, and chamber of commerce membership for mainland companies. On top of that sits the consultant's fee.
Ask for the quote in two columns: government fees and the consultant's fee. Reasonable consultant fees on a mainland set-up run from about AED 2,000 to 6,000, and less on a free zone package that the zone prices itself.
Quotes also depend on the activity. A professional or consultancy licence costs less than trading, and a licence for restaurants, health or education involves extra approvals and fees.
Office and tenancy registration
Mainland companies need a registered address backed by a registered tenancy contract: Ejari in Dubai, Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi. A flexi-desk costs roughly AED 3,000 to 8,000 a year where the activity allows it. A real office starts around AED 15,000 to 30,000 a year for a small unit in Dubai areas such as Business Bay, Deira or Al Quoz, and climbs steeply in prime towers.
Some licensed activities require a minimum office area. Check the activity requirement with the emirate's economic department (in Dubai, on the Invest in Dubai portal) before you sign a tenancy.
Free zones generally include a desk or shared office in the package. If you want a private office or a warehouse, ask for the price per square foot and the deposit separately.
Visas, medical and Emirates ID
Each residence visa for an owner or employee is a chain of small charges: the entry permit, the medical fitness test, the Emirates ID, visa stamping and health insurance. Typically that adds up to AED 3,500 to 6,000 per person for a two-year visa, with the insurance premium as the most variable part.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi require health insurance for residents, and the cheapest compliant plan in Dubai costs from about AED 700 to 1,200 a year per adult.
A company also needs an establishment card with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) before the first work permit, which is typically AED 1,500 to 3,000 through a Tasheel service centre including the typing fee.
Free zones bundle a visa allowance into the package, usually one to three visas, but the medical, Emirates ID and insurance remain extra.
Three worked examples
These are rounded totals for the first year, built from the ranges above. Your quote will differ.
Solo consultant in a free zone, one visa. Package AED 12,000 to 16,000, visa processing and medical AED 3,500 to 5,000, insurance AED 800 to 1,500, bank account fees AED 0 to 1,000. Total roughly AED 17,000 to 24,000.
Small trading company on the mainland, two visas. Licence and registration AED 15,000 to 25,000, small office AED 15,000 to 25,000, two visas AED 8,000 to 12,000, establishment card AED 1,500 to 3,000, consultant AED 2,000 to 5,000. Total roughly AED 42,000 to 70,000.
Online business in a low-cost zone, no visa. Package AED 5,750 to 9,000, bank minimum balance held rather than spent. Total roughly AED 6,000 to 10,000, plus the cash you must keep in the account.
Costs that quotes leave out
Ask about every item below before you pay a deposit.
- Bank minimum balance. Typically AED 10,000 to 50,000 held in the account, not spent, and monthly fees if you fall below it.
- Renewal. The second year often costs the same as the first, and some free zones raise the price once the introductory offer ends.
- Audit. Several free zones, including DMCC and JAFZA in Dubai, ask for audited financial statements annually, typically AED 3,000 to 10,000.
- Accounting and tax. Bookkeeping of AED 500 to 2,000 a month, and Corporate Tax and VAT registration. See our guide to corporate tax and VAT registration.
- PRO services. Typically AED 2,000 to 6,000 a year, as our guide to what a PRO does explains.
- Activity add-ons. Each extra licensed activity often costs AED 1,000 to 3,000.
A quote that lists none of these has not been prepared for you. It has been prepared to win.
How to compare two quotes
Put the two quotes side by side and rebuild each one as a first-year total, using the same assumptions: same number of visas, same office type, same activity and same year of renewal. The cheaper headline is often the more expensive total.
Check that each quote names the licensing authority, the legal form, the number of shareholders and the validity of the licence. Check what is promised on timing. A free zone licence in 3 to 7 working days is realistic once documents are complete, and a mainland licence takes about 1 to 3 weeks.
Pay a deposit only after you have the consultant's trade licence checked. Our guide to mainland versus free zone helps you choose the structure first, so that the comparison is between like and like.
If a consultant took the deposit and nothing moved
Write to the consultant and ask for the trade name approval or the application reference from the economic department (DET in Dubai) or the free zone. A real application always has a reference number.
If there is none after ten working days, ask in writing for a refund of the unspent amount, and give a deadline of seven days. Keep the agreement, the receipts and the chat history.
If the consultant does not answer, file a complaint with the consumer protection section of the emirate's economic department (DET in Dubai), and if the licence turns out to be false, report it to the police in your emirate. A bank can sometimes act on a recent transfer, so call yours on the same day.
Any AED amounts in this guide are typical ranges for Dubai as of October 2026; prices in other emirates are often similar or lower. They are not quotes and not offers: real prices depend on the job, the company and the date, so ask for written quotes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to start a company in the UAE?
A free zone package at a lower-cost zone, from about AED 5,750 to 9,000 in the first year, without a visa. Costs rise once you add visas, a private office, audit and the bank minimum balance, so compare totals rather than packages.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up a company?
Many free zones let you complete the application online, but a residence visa needs a medical test and Emirates ID biometrics in the UAE. Mainland set-up often needs signatures from owners or a notarised power of attorney.
Is the licence price the same every year?
Often the renewal costs about the same as year one, and some zones raise it after an introductory offer. Ask for the renewal price in writing before you pay for the first year.
Is VAT added to set-up fees?
Consultant fees carry VAT at 5 percent if the consultant is VAT-registered. Many government fees are not subject to VAT. Check that the invoice shows the consultant's Tax Registration Number.
