Company setup consultants in Dubai have shared what it costs to register a business in 2026. The figures come from Company Setup Consultants Dubai, a Bestax company.
A basic free zone license starts at AED 5,750 a year. A mainland setup with one visa can cost more than AED 30,000 in the first year.
Most of that gap is not the license. Visas, office rent and tax deadlines drive it, and you also need cash set aside for bank balances and deposits.
What company setup consultants in Dubai see in registration costs
Your cost depends on three choices: where you license, what activity you choose and how many visas you need. The figures below come from the firm’s 2026 business setup cost guide, which combines published government and free zone fees with the firm’s own client estimates.
Compare free zone starting packages
Free zones sell licenses as packages. These are starting package prices, not guaranteed renewal prices:
| Package | Emirate | Starting price (AED) | What the package covers |
| SHAMS media license | Sharjah | 5,750 | License only, no visa |
| RAKEZ Basic | Ras Al Khaimah | 6,000 | Starting license; confirm shareholder, activity and workspace terms in writing |
| Meydan Free Zone | Dubai | 12,500 | Flexi desk and up to three activity groups; visas cost extra |
| DMCC Basic Biz | Dubai | 35,484 | Workspace and one residence visa, subject to DMCC’s terms |
The cheapest package is not always the cheapest year. Ask for an itemized quote that covers visas, office upgrades and renewal before you compare.
Budget for a mainland license
A Dubai mainland license from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) covers your approved activities. Some sectors need extra approvals, and so does operating in other emirates.
The firm’s client estimates for the yearly license are:
| License type | Estimated yearly cost (AED) |
| Professional | 10,000 to 15,000 |
| Commercial | 12,000 to 25,000 |
| General trading | 15,000 to 25,000 |
| Ecommerce | 15,000 to 20,000 |
Some activities carry a surcharge when the license is issued. DET lists AED 15,000 for general trading and AED 25,000 for a business centre activity. Ask whether your quote already includes the surcharge, so you do not count it twice.
A mainland company also needs an Ejari-registered office. Ejari registration costs AED 177.75 through the online channels. The firm estimates the Dubai Municipality market fee at about 5% of your annual rent.
Price your visas
Each visa adds its own costs. The firm’s client estimates are:
- Establishment card: about AED 1,200 to 2,000
- Investor or partner visa: about AED 4,700 to 7,000 per person
- Each extra employee visa: about AED 3,500 to 6,000
- Visa renewal: about AED 3,000 to 5,000 per person, usually every two years
Medical tests, Emirates ID and health insurance can come on top, depending on the quote. If you plan to hire, multiply these costs by your headcount for the next two years.
The costs company setup consultants in Dubai see founders forget
Most budgets cover the license and the first visa. The items below are easy to miss when you compare quotes.
Expenses, refundable deposits and cash requirements
Some of these items are costs. Others are money you set aside but still own:
| Item | Type | Typical amount (AED) |
| Attestation of a foreign commercial document | Expense | 2,000 Ministry of Foreign Affairs charge per document, plus any other authority, translation or courier fees |
| Bookkeeping | Expense | From a few hundred dirhams a month |
| Landlord security deposit | Refundable deposit | About 5% to 10% of rent (firm estimate) |
| Bank account minimum balance | Company cash | About 25,000 to 100,000 for the firm’s selected client accounts |
| Charge if your balance falls short | Expense | About 100 to 500 a month (firm estimate) |
A minimum balance remains your company’s money. If your average balance falls below the bank’s requirement, the bank can charge you, depending on your account terms.
Avoid tax penalties that cost more than the license
Corporate tax registration is free. Missing the deadline is not. New UAE resident companies subject to corporate tax generally must apply for registration within three months of incorporation. The Federal Tax Authority’s corporate tax registration page confirms an AED 10,000 penalty for late registration.
You can qualify for a waiver of that penalty if you meet the FTA’s conditions. One condition is filing your first tax return within seven months of the end of your first tax period.
Corporate tax is 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Small Business Relief runs to tax periods ending on or before December 31, 2029, under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026. Your revenue must stay at or below AED 3 million in the current period and every earlier tax period, and you must meet the other eligibility conditions.
VAT registration is required once your taxable supplies and imports pass AED 375,000 over 12 months, or are expected to pass it in the next 30 days. You can register voluntarily from AED 187,500 in taxable supplies or qualifying expenses.
For a closer look at corporate tax, VAT and filing obligations, read our guide to UAE business financial compliance in 2026.
Compare a free zone and a mainland setup
Take a hypothetical consultant who needs one investor visa. Using the firm’s figures, here are the listed items for each route:
| Cost item (AED) | Meydan free zone | Dubai mainland, professional license |
| License | 12,500 | 10,000 to 15,000 |
| Office | Flexi desk included | About 15,000 rent, plus 178 Ejari and a market fee of about 750 |
| Visa allocation or establishment card | 1,850 visa allocation | About 1,200 to 2,000 establishment card |
| Investor visa | About 4,000 | About 4,700 to 7,000 |
| Subtotal of listed items | About 18,350 | About 31,800 to 39,900 |
Neither subtotal is a full price. Both exclude medical tests, Emirates ID, insurance and service charges, and the Meydan column also excludes a separate establishment card. Ask for an itemized quote for your case before you decide.
The right route depends on your activities and where your clients are. Eligible Dubai free zone companies can also apply for a mainland operating permit for approved activities. Under Executive Council Resolution No. 11 of 2025, the six-month permit costs AED 5,000.
How company setup consultants in Dubai keep your costs under control
The team prices your full first two years before you choose a route. Each setup follows five stages:
- The team reviews your activities, clients and hiring plans, then gives you an itemized free zone and mainland quote for your case.
- The team selects activity codes that avoid surcharges you do not need.
- The team matches your office and visa package to your two-year headcount, so you do not pay to upgrade later.
- The team prepares your bank file and registers you for corporate tax within the deadline.
- The team tracks renewals, VAT thresholds and tax filings, so you file before each deadline.
The firm estimates about 48 hours for a free zone registration once your documents are complete. A mainland license usually takes five to 10 working days, depending on approvals.
“Founders compare license prices, but the license is often the smallest part of the bill,” said Haseeb Hamdani, FCCA, UAE-CA, of Bestax Chartered Accountants. “We show you the two-year cost of each route, including visas, office and tax deadlines. Then you choose with the full picture.”
Read the full business setup cost guide for every fee, or book a free 30-minute consultation for a cost plan built around your business.
About Company Setup Consultants Dubai
Company Setup Consultants Dubai is a Bestax company. The team handles mainland, free zone and offshore company formation, licensing, visas and bank account support, along with accounting, VAT and corporate tax.
The firm reports more than 10 years of experience and more than 3,000 companies set up. Bestax is a Federal Tax Authority registered tax agency (No. 30008692).