Last updated: August 2026

UAE company setup cost: real 2026 price breakdown

The advertised licence fee is rarely what you pay. This guide shows the complete year-one cost by structure — including the eight fees most providers leave off the invoice.

Year-one total by structure

These are realistic totals for a single-owner company with one investor visa. They assume a basic office arrangement (flexi-desk for free zone; managed office for mainland) and no regulated activity approvals.

Free Zone

AED 12,500 – 30,000+

Wide range depending on zone choice and package tier. Entry-level: Meydan or Ajman FZ. Mid-range: IFZA, RAKEZ. Premium: DMCC, DIFC.

Mainland (DED)

AED 30,000 – 50,000+

Ejari (office tenancy) is the main cost driver. Professional activities (no physical retail) are at the lower end; retail and regulated activities add approval fees.

Offshore (RAK ICC / JAFZA)

AED 8,000 – 15,000

Licence only. No visa, no office, no establishment card. Used for holding, IP, or international trading structures. Annual renewal: AED 5,000–8,000.

Line-item cost breakdown

Every cost you should budget for. Figures are 2026 ranges — exact amounts vary by specific jurisdiction, activity, and provider fees.

Cost item	Free Zone	Mainland	Offshore
Trade licence fee	AED 5,500 – 15,000	AED 10,000 – 20,000	AED 6,500 – 10,000
Name reservation	Usually included	AED 750	Usually included
Establishment card	AED 1,500 – 2,500	AED 2,000 – 3,000	Not applicable
Office / flexi-desk	AED 2,000 – 8,000/yr	AED 10,000 – 30,000/yr (Ejari)	Not required
Investor visa (one)	AED 3,000 – 5,000	AED 3,500 – 6,000	Not applicable
Medical fitness test	AED 350 – 700	AED 350 – 700	Not applicable
Emirates ID (2 years)	AED 370	AED 370	Not applicable
Typing / service fees	AED 500 – 1,500	AED 1,000 – 3,000	AED 300 – 800
Notarisation / attestation	AED 300 – 800	AED 1,500 – 3,000	AED 500 – 1,500

The hidden cost trap: AED 8,000–15,000 extra

Most UAE company setup advertisements show only the licence fee. The fees below are not hidden — they are mandatory — but they are routinely excluded from the headline price.

Establishment card

Required before any visa application. Issued by MOHRE (mainland) or the free zone authority. Renewed annually.

AED 1,500–3,000

Investor visa entry permit + medical

Entry permit, medical fitness test (mandatory), and visa stamping are separate fees not included in the licence package.

AED 2,500–4,000 per person

Emirates ID

Mandatory for UAE residents. Renewed every 2 years alongside the visa. Biometric registration requires a personal visit.

AED 370 for 2 years

Office requirement (Ejari)

Mainland DED licences for most activities require a confirmed tenancy agreement (Ejari) before issuance. A shared or serviced office is acceptable for many activity types.

AED 10,000–30,000+/year (mainland)

Regulated activity pre-approval

Healthcare, financial services, education, food, and others require a sector authority letter before the DED or free zone will issue the licence.

AED 500–10,000 (varies by authority)

PRO / typing service fees

Government form processing and typing centre fees are ubiquitous and rarely itemised in packages.

AED 500–3,000

What does annual renewal cost?

Free zone annual renewal

Licence renewal: AED 9,000–15,000 (80–90% of year-one fee)
Establishment card renewal: AED 1,200–2,000
Office / flexi-desk renewal: AED 2,000–6,000
Investor visa renewal every 2 years: AED 2,500–4,000

Mainland annual renewal

DED licence renewal: AED 8,000–18,000
Ejari (office tenancy) renewal: AED 10,000–30,000+
Establishment card renewal: AED 1,500–2,500
Visa renewal every 2 years: AED 3,000–5,000

Offshore annual renewal

Licence renewal: AED 5,000–8,000
Registered agent fee (mandatory): AED 1,500–3,000
No visa or office renewal costs

Corporate bank account: minimum balance, not a setup fee

Opening a UAE corporate bank account has no application fee, but most banks require a minimum monthly average balance to avoid service charges. Common requirements:

Emirates NBD Business: AED 25,000 monthly average (some accounts AED 50,000+)
Mashreq Business Edge: AED 50,000 minimum average
RAKBank Business: AED 25,000 minimum (lower tier available for startups)
ADIB Business: varies by product; AED 10,000–50,000
Digital-first banks (Wio, Zand): lower or no minimum balance requirements

Full guidance on bank selection and what banks check in the UAE corporate bank account guide.

CostsCheapest Free Zone in UAE: Honest 2026 Comparison

JurisdictionsBest Free Zone in UAE for Your Business Type (2026)

ProcessHow to Register a Company in UAE: Step-by-Step 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the total cost to set up a company in the UAE?

Realistic year-one totals depend on structure: free zone AED 12,500 to AED 30,000+ (including one investor visa), mainland AED 30,000 to AED 50,000+, and offshore AED 8,000 to AED 15,000 (no visa, no office). The advertised licence fee is usually AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 — the rest comes from establishment card, visa fees, medical test, Emirates ID, and office requirements.

What are the hidden costs of UAE company setup?

Common costs not included in advertised licence fees: establishment card (AED 1,500–3,000), investor visa entry permit (AED 1,000–1,500), medical fitness test (AED 350–700), Emirates ID (AED 370 for 2 years), typing fees and application fees (AED 500–1,500), and mandatory office (flexi-desk from AED 3,000/year for free zones, or Ejari tenancy for mainland). Most founders spend AED 8,000–15,000 more than the headline licence price in year one.

How much does UAE company renewal cost?

Annual renewal is typically 80–90% of the year-one licence fee. For a free zone licence in the AED 12,500–20,000 range, expect renewal at AED 10,000–18,000. Mainland renewals are higher due to Ejari, activity approvals, and establishment card renewal. Visa renewal (every 2 years) costs approximately AED 2,500–4,000 per visa.

What is the cheapest UAE company setup?

The lowest realistic year-one cost is AED 12,500 to AED 15,000 for a basic free zone licence with one investor visa. Meydan Free Zone and Ajman Free Zone consistently offer the most affordable entry-level packages. Offshore structures (RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore) start from AED 8,000 but do not include any UAE visa entitlement.

Want a precise cost estimate for your specific setup?

Simobi provides a complete cost breakdown for your activity, structure, and visa needs before you commit to anything. The conversation is free.

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