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What will your Dubai company cost?

Answer five quick questions about your plans. We'll turn them into an itemised quote, with every government and service fee listed.

Where do you want to set up?
How many residence visas will you need?

Include yourself, partners and employees. Family visas can be added later.

What kind of office?

Your office type affects how many visas you can apply for.

Anything else you need?

Optional.

Answer the first four questions to continue.

What a Dubai company costs in its first year

There is no single price for a Dubai company. The first-year total is the licence, plus everything that comes with the people and the premises: the company's immigration file, each residence visa, the office and the bank account. Two founders with the same activity can pay very different amounts because one needs three visas and an office, and the other needs one visa and a flexi-desk.

Use the estimator above to see which of these costs apply to you. When a figure depends on a choice you haven't made yet, such as which free zone, we send an itemised quote instead of guessing.

The costs that make up the total

Cost components of a Dubai company setup
CostWhat it coversPaid
Licence and registrationThe trade licence from DET or the free zone authority, and any approvals your activity needsAt setup, then every year
Establishment cardThe company's file with the immigration authorities, needed before any visaAt setup, then on renewal
Residence visasEntry permit or change of status, medical test and Emirates ID for each personPer person, on issue and renewal
OfficeA flexi-desk, shared office or private office; mainland leases are registered with EjariUsually yearly
Bank and accountingAccount minimum balances, bookkeeping, and corporate tax and VAT registrationOngoing

Why two quotes for the same company can differ

  • One quote includes visa costs and the other leaves them out
  • A low first-year package price that rises on renewal
  • Approvals for regulated activities, which some quotes don't mention
  • Office requirements: a flexi-desk may not allow the number of visas you need
  • Deposits, such as an immigration deposit, that are refundable but still need cash up front

Common questions about setup costs

Is the estimate a final price?

No. It shows which costs apply to your plans. Government fees change and free zones price their packages differently, so we send an itemised written quote, with government fees and our fees listed separately, before you commit to anything.

Is a free zone always cheaper than the mainland?

Often in the first year, not always over time. Free zone packages can bundle the licence and a flexi-desk, while a mainland company usually needs a registered office. But visa needs, renewal prices and whether you must sell to UAE customers directly can change the comparison.

Which costs come back every year?

The licence renewal, the establishment card, office rent and any visas that fall due, plus accounting and tax filings. Ask for renewal prices in writing before you choose a package, because a cheap first year can be followed by a more expensive second one.

Do I need to deposit share capital?

It depends on the jurisdiction and legal form. Many free zones state a share capital amount without requiring it to be deposited, while some structures and banks ask for proof. We confirm the rule for your jurisdiction before you apply.

How much does each extra visa add?

Each residence visa has its own government costs: the entry permit or change of status, the medical test and the Emirates ID, plus any immigration deposit. The total depends on the jurisdiction and whether the person is already in the UAE, so we price visas individually in the quote.

Guides on setup costs and choices