Key takeaways
- There is no single accurate figure for company setup cost in the UAE: structure, activity, visas, office, approvals and banking readiness decide it.
- Structure is the biggest lever, then jurisdiction, activity and visas, and workspace. Together they set most of what you pay, not the headline licence.
- Whatever the structure, plan beyond the licence for the establishment card, visas, medicals, security deposit, office fees and next year's renewal.
Why structure drives cost
The headline licence is only the starting point. The rest depends on choosing the right structure and jurisdiction for what you do, so the company can bank, sponsor your visas and meet UAE compliance.
UAE setup fees by zone
Licence packages start at AED 3,999, and tapping what you need lights up the zones that fit.
Zones we set up in
- ANCFZTen activities and a lease in one Zero Visa package.
- RAKEZBiz Starter for founders already in the UAE.
- MeydanA Dubai address.
- IFZAA Dubai licence we form remotely while you stay abroad.
- Ajman Free ZoneLease included.
- SPC Free ZoneFive activity groups.
- ShamsFive media activities and a flexi desk in Sharjah.
Every zone below, A to Z by emirate.
| Jurisdiction | Package | Price | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADGMAbu Dhabi | SPV registration | USD 1,900 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Ajman Free Zone We set up hereAjman | Kickstarter, no visa | AED 4,444 | 30 Oct 2026 |
| Ajman Media CityAjman | Business Club, no visa | AED 4,999 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| ANCFZ We set up hereAjman | Zero Visa Package | From AED 4,888 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| DIFCDubai | SPV (prescribed company) | USD 1,100 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Expo City DubaiDubai | Standard Licence | AED 18,080 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| IFZA We set up hereDubai | Our IFZA offer, no visa, until 30 Nov | From AED 11,500 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| JAFZADubai | Licence, one activity group | AED 5,000 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Meydan We set up hereDubai | Dubai Company Formation | AED 12,500 | 30 Oct 2026 |
| Creative City FujairahFujairah | Media Package | AED 3,999 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| RAKEZ We set up hereRas Al Khaimah | Biz Starter, UAE residents | AED 6,000 | 30 Oct 2026 |
| SEDD (Sharjah mainland)Sharjah | Instant Licence | AED 5,000 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Shams We set up hereSharjah | Media Package | AED 5,760 | 29 Oct 2026 |
| SPC Free Zone We set up hereSharjah | Business setup package | From AED 5,750 | 30 Oct 2026 |
| SRTI ParkSharjah | Zero Visa Package | AED 5,500 | 31 Oct 2026 |
Tax after setup is covered on our corporate tax and VAT page.
Not sure which fits?
Tell us what you sell and where you live, and we match the zone and the package to your plans.
Where founders lose money
None of these appears on a price list, and each can cost more than the setup itself.
The headline-price trap
The lowest advertised licence is real, and so is the spending needed to make that company bankable, visa-ready and compliant. Choosing on the smallest figure often ends up costing the most.
The structure you outgrow
A free-zone licence taken to invoice mainland clients. An offshore vehicle expected to hire. Changing structure later costs more than choosing well on day one.
The bank that says no
One decline does not blacklist you, though the same weak file sent to several banks builds a pattern later banks notice. Getting the first application right costs less than a second.
The five-year number
Judge the structure over five years. Renewals, visas and compliance add up, and the cheapest zone today can be the expensive choice by year three.
What affects company setup cost?
Structure comes first, then the zone or emirate, the activity and visas, the workspace, any sector approvals, and how ready the file is for a bank. Settle these and the cost follows from them.
These six inputs decide where your setup lands, and we agree the full scope with you before you commit to a UAE company setup. For the yearly layers after setup, see the cost of running a company in Dubai.
What a headline quote usually leaves out
Founders often miss these. None is hidden, but they are rarely on the banner.
The immigration file and each visa, refundable deposits, the office a bank or visa quota asks for, sector approvals, tax registration and bookkeeping, and next year's renewal. Your written quote shows what recurs, so nothing arrives later as a surprise invoice.
We do not compete on price, and we will not recommend a cheaper licence that does not fit.
Our job is the right structure and a bankable file, with a written quote before any work begins.
