Setting up a company in Dubai starts from AED 4,888 for a free zone licence, or from around AED 15,000 for a mainland licence with an office. A free zone licence can be issued in as little as two hours; a Dubai mainland licence typically takes 3 to 7 working days. Foreign investors can own 100% of the company under either route.
Below are our actual package prices, what each one includes, and how to tell which route fits your business.
Complete package prices in UAE dirhams. Each figure covers the licence and a flexi desk. Where a tier includes visas, the establishment card and visa allocation are included too.
| Free zone | Licence only | + 1 visa | + 2 visas | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANC — Ajman NuVentures | from AED 4,888 | from AED 10,800 | from AED 16,200 | Lowest legitimate entry cost. Licence in ~2 hours |
| Shams — media package | AED 5,760 | AED 13,175 | AED 17,670 | Media, creative and content businesses |
| Shams — standard package | AED 6,885 | AED 14,300 | AED 18,795 | Consultancy, trading, e-commerce, tech |
| RAKEZ — Ras Al Khaimah | from AED 6,000 | from AED 12,000 | from AED 18,000 | Industrial, trading and light manufacturing |
| Dubai South | AED 12,540 | AED 21,055 | AED 27,650 | A Dubai address near Al Maktoum airport and Expo City |
| IFZA — Dubai | AED 12,940 | AED 18,605 | AED 26,060 | A Dubai licence with 600+ activities |
Prices updated: September 2026. We are also authorised agents for DAFZA and SPC Free Zone — ask us for current packages on those.
A note on how we quote. These are complete package prices, not headline figures with fees added later. Where a price says “from”, the final number depends on your activity and visa count, and we confirm the full itemised figure in writing before you pay anything. Government fees change; these were current in September 2026.
The cheapest licence is not always the cheapest company. Three things move the real number:
| Mainland | Free zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism | The free zone authority |
| Trade inside the UAE | Yes, anywhere | Within the zone and internationally; mainland sales need a distributor or branch |
| 100% foreign ownership | Yes, for most activities | Yes |
| Office required | Yes — leased premises with Ejari | Flexi desk included in the package |
| Visa quota driven by | Office size | Package tier |
| Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 | 0% on qualifying income, if conditions met |
| Typical issuance | 3–7 working days | 2 hours to 3 days |
| Entry cost | Higher — office lease is the big line | From AED 4,888 |
The single question that decides it: are your customers inside the UAE?
If you are selling to UAE consumers or businesses, running a shop, clinic, restaurant or contracting firm, or bidding for government work — you need mainland. If you consult, run an agency, sell online to customers abroad, or hold assets — a free zone licence is cheaper and faster.
Full comparison: Free zone vs mainland in 2026
A Dubai mainland licence has more moving parts than a free zone package, and the office lease is usually the largest single item.
| Component | What it is |
|---|---|
| Trade name reservation | Reserving your company name with DET |
| Initial approval | Government’s no-objection to proceed |
| DET licence fee | The licence itself — varies by activity category |
| MOA notarisation | Required for an LLC |
| Ejari registration | Registering your tenancy contract |
| Office or flexi desk | Annual rent — also sets your visa quota |
| Establishment card | Registers the company with immigration |
| External approvals | Only for certain activities — health, education, food |
Where mainland budgets go wrong: people budget for the licence and forget the lease. A tenancy contract is not optional on the mainland, it is an annual commitment, and the space you sign for determines how many visas you can ever issue. Size it for where you will be in two years, not where you are today.
Call us on +971 4 343 7273 and we will price your exact activity and visa count.
Step-by-step detail: How to start a business in Dubai
The commonest cause of delay is sequencing, not paperwork. Reserving a name before confirming the activity, leasing before approval, or starting visa applications before the establishment card exists — each costs a week or more.
The rate. 9% on taxable profit above AED 375,000. Below that, 0%.
Free zone companies can access 0% on qualifying income as a Qualifying Free Zone Person, subject to substance, activity and transfer pricing conditions. Income from mainland UAE customers is generally not qualifying — which is why the trading question above matters financially, not just legally.
Small Business Relief — extended. A business with revenue at or below AED 3 million can elect to be treated as having no taxable income. This relief was legislated to end on 31 December 2026. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026, issued 29 July 2026, extended it to tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. Most guides online have not been updated.
Also on the calendar: corporate tax registration with the FTA, VAT registration once you cross the threshold, and e-invoicing — voluntary pilot from July 2026, mandatory for large taxpayers from January 2027.
Confirm current thresholds and deadlines with the Federal Tax Authority. UAE tax rules have changed repeatedly since 2023.
Free zone licences start at AED 4,888 with ANC in Ajman, or AED 12,540 with Dubai South for a Dubai address. With one residence visa included, expect from AED 10,800 to AED 21,055 depending on the free zone. Mainland licences cost more because a leased office with an Ejari contract is required.
An ANC (Ajman NuVentures Centre) licence at AED 4,888 is the lowest-cost legitimate route we offer, including a flexi desk. It does not include a residence visa at that tier — the licence with one visa is from AED 10,800.
Yes, for the large majority of commercial and industrial activities on the mainland, and for all free zone companies. A limited set of strategic-impact activities still carries ownership restrictions.
An ANC licence can be issued in as little as two hours. Most free zone licences take 24 to 72 hours. A Dubai mainland licence typically takes 3 to 7 working days, longer if your activity needs external approval.
A mainland licence requires leased premises with a registered Ejari contract. Every free zone package listed above includes a flexi desk, which satisfies the requirement.
It can be 0% on qualifying income if it meets the Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions. It is not automatic, and income earned from mainland UAE customers generally does not qualify.
No. ANC and most free zones allow fully remote incorporation. You will need to visit for the medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics and, in most cases, to open the bank account.
Send us your activity, where your customers are, and how many visas you need. We will tell you which route is cheaper — including the times the answer is the one that earns us less.
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